Books have changed my life and have provided me an escape for as long as I can remember. Some characters have become my confidants, my friends and my mentors. The one’s I have learned from and who have inspired me. I read books to learn how to handle certain situations in my life, to gain knowledge to help others manage situations in their lives and to generally get to know someone better.
I am drawn to real-life books more often than fictional books because I can continue to follow the characters and stories to see how their life is going and how they have continued to live through their experiences. However, when I do read fictional books, I always find great messages and guides in the stories and characters which have been embedded in my life and how I moved forward.
I hope you get an opportunity to read these 15 books and I would love if you could share with me what stories and books have changed your life. Please tag me on instagram @howdidyoulearntodothat and let me know what books have inspired you!
If you would like more information about any of these books please do not hesitate to connect with me on instagram or by emailing me using the contact form on this site!
15 books that changed my life
1. The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
Khaled Hosseini’s books have opened up a world of my country, Afghanistan, where I resonated and empathized with the people in the stories. Before this book was released, I hardly found myself in a book and rarely related to any characters. I love all of his books but this one started to journey of me understanding my country, my heritage and gave be an opportunity to discuss my family history with my family to better understand what they went through before moving to Canada. It is the first movie that I watched with my Grandparents in then theatre and I still have fond memories of that day. Pick up this book and dive in if you haven’t read it yet!!
2. Black and Blue Sari by Kamal Dhillon
Kamal Dhillon’s memoir is one that I remember and think of often. The violence she experienced at the hands of her husband and his family and the cultural expectations, the feeling of guilt and entrapment kept her living this life day after day until she made the courageous choice to escape. Her story helped me understand the abuse someone close to me was experiencing at the hands of their partner and allowed me to better understand and to help encourage them to leave and end the abuse.
This book is an inspiring story of how you can learn to heal after such trauma and move forward to become an inspiring role model and advocate for women everywhere. Kamal now speaks publicly about her ordeal and continues to spread and advocate for those who can’t share their voice yet. You can find her at https://www.kamaldhillon.com/ to follow along on her journey.
3. A woman among warlords by Malalai Joya
This is another book that brought me closer to where I am from and the plight of women in the country trying to make waves in a country that is set up to favour men. Malalai Joya is a brave and inspiring woman who entered Afghanistan’s parliament despite warnings to not run and to keep quiet instead of revealing the hypocrisies and corruption within the government. She has had multiple assassination attempts which has caused her to sleep in a new place every day or two. However, regardless of her life being in such danger she persevered and continued to speak out against the injustices and continued to advocate for changes. She was called the bravest woman in Afghanistan.
4. In the realm of hungry ghosts by Gabor Mate
This book changed how I understood people with addictions. Gabor Mate has a very special way to relaying information with an empathetic and compassion tone, that allows you to truly feel the stories of the people he talks about in this book. Similar to other books, I read this book to gain understanding on how to navigate an addiction with someone close to me. The only difference between myself and any one of these stories is opportunity. I would highly recommend reading this book if you or someone you know has an addiction and you want to learn how to be more compassionate and kind and to learn how to manage your own feelings.
5. Double Double by Martha Grimes and Ken Grimes
This is a book where a mother and son share their true-life experience with alcoholism, healing and living sober. Their stories are so interesting and their experiences sometimes are not the same, but their journey is filled with motivating stories to keep going and keep committed. I really enjoyed this point of view when trying to understand addictions and healing.
6. Facing the music and living to talk about it by Nick Carter
Of course, I had to include this book in my top 15 books that changed my life. On the same topic of addictions, Nick shares his addictions and how he healed. Nick started in the entertainment industry from the young age of 13 with the Backstreet Boys and the fame, unhealthy relationships and the lack of a childhood catapulted Nick into a life of addiction which was enabled by his status as a celebrity. This book made me look at Nick, not as my favourite Backstreet Boy but as Nick, a child who grew up too quick and who needed to heal for himself and his family.
7. Bali undercover by Malcolm Scott
On our honeymoon, I picked up this book at the Singapore airport on our way to Bali. I am always interested in learning about the underbelly of organizations, countries and people. This book took me by surprise that there was such a raw and emotional side to the serene, tranquil and often exotic place depicted in photos and videos. Learning about places you travel to is important to fully understand the depth of how locals and tourists collide, as well as, flourish. Malcolm Scott has also written another book that I have not read yet but as promised here is the link to this other book Bali Raw.
8. Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg
How many great things can I say about this book and how it has forever changed my life and how I view myself in business, in my career and as a woman! This book is a must read for everyone!!! This book taught me to know my worth, no ceiling exists so blow the roof of whatever you do and more importantly, do not be afraid to negotiate! I can’t say enough good things about this book and could go on forever! Pick it up and let me know what you think!
9. Start with why by Simon Sinek
Start with why is a book focused on the business model, however you can apply his concept of the golden circle to your life as well. Essentially, understand your WHY and why you are doing something will be your most valuable tool to gain buy in and establish yourself and get closer to achieving your goal. He has a great way of making the complex world of business simple with one simple question – what is the intention of this and why?
10. The rules do not apply by Ariel Levy
This book came to me at a time that I was seeking answers and messages after experiencing a huge loss in my life. I was happy to have found this book when I did because it allowed me to realize that she had the same feelings as I did and that I was feeling “normal” for having been through that trauma. I would recommend that you find a story that resonates with what you are going through, and try to understand the perspective and how that person experienced the world that you may be living in. It is always great to see how someone else thinks and feels about something so similar to you.
11. Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Another fantastic book by Sheryl Sandberg and this time in collaboration with Adam Grant. When your option A does not work or can no longer exist, what do you do? You kick the sh*t our of option B! That is what this book teaches you! How to create an option B that is fulfilling, brings about happiness once again and allows you to heal and move forward. This book helped me heal and pave a path forward for my new normal. Highly recommended!!!
12. The subtle art of not giving a f*** by Mark Manson
This book is popular for a reason, it is finally a book that tells us to just stop caring what other people think, expect or feel! We are in control of ourselves and ONLY ourselves as I have mentioned in many previous episode! What can you do to take care of yourself and only yourself!? You have to shift your mindset and this book really drilled that in for me.
13. Becoming by Michelle Obama
What an inspiring story of determination, commitment and perseverance regardless of what other thought of you or what box you were to be put in. Michelle Obama defies all odds to become a self-made success story. She and Barack did not come from families of wealth or power, they created their life for themselves. This book taught me that if I persevere, chase my dreams despite people saying I can’t or shouldn’t, and believe in myself wholeheartedly, I can change my life and the world.
This book also has a journal titled: Becoming: A Guided Journal for discover your voice. This journal guides you to understanding who you are who you are meant to be. It allows you to create a version of you and a life that you wish existed.
14. The path made clear by Oprah Winfrey
Oprah is a huge inspiration in myself and a driving force behind why I began this podcast. Her book, The Path Made Clear, goes through the steps you have to endure to find your purpose and your path in life. I share many of the quotes from though leaders in this book on my social media. This is a great book to read cover to cover or to pick up and flip to a random page and use that quote as your reflection for the day.
15. A new earth: awakening to your life’s purpose by Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle is a humble man who despite his fame, maintains a sense of calm and alignment that is inspiring to see. His thought process and how he shifted his mindset is the gold standard and he even says that he has not been angry a day since he shifted his mindset. Eckhart actually led a life full of trauma and it wasn’t until he tried to commit suicide that he realized this world of shifting his mindset and how it would heal him and allow him to move forward. His podcast series with Oprah really set me forward into this journey and brought home the message that my life is in my hands and my mindset is the gas that I need to go forward.
Other books mentioned:
- The heartbreaking world of a staggering genius by Dave Eggers
- The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
- Girl, wash you face by Rachel Hollis
How did you learn to do that? Podcast
The How did you learn to do that? Podcast shares stories of people who have made small daily commitments that have changed their lives. It has helped them discover their purpose, increase their level of happiness and become a higher version of themselves. Investing in yourself has the ability to catalyze your life from ordinary to extraordinary. Join us weekly as we explore the stories and lives of those around us!
Join us weekly as we explore the stories and lives of those around us!
