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Oct 14, 2024 · Books have the power to change our lives on a fundamental level, shift our thinking, influence our beliefs, put us in touch with our feelings and help us understand ourselves and one another better. That's why we asked Upworthy's audience to share a book that changed their life.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear. This might be the most practical book ever written on simple behavioral change. Atomic Habits has three big takeaways. The first is that small lifestyle changes compound over a long period of time.
- The Expectation Effect by David Robson. Science shows our expectations can drastically affect how we perceive reality. People who believe they’re capable of doing something are far more likely to do it.
- The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. What if I told you that stress isn’t always a bad thing, that it could even be a good thing? Well, that’s the argument that Kelly McGonigal makes in this important book.
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport. Conventional wisdom tells us to follow our passion. Pick a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life, right?
- The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Straw Dogs by John Gray
- Bullsh*T Jobs by David Graeber
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Humankind by Rutger Bregman
- Numbers Don’T Lie by Vaclav Smil
- The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku
- Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
- Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud
- On Living and Dying Well by Cicero
The Black Swanis one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve ever read. I remember reading it for the first time and being blown away by what Nassim Taleb was explaining. I could have included any of Taleb’s books on this list but as The Black Swanwas the first one I read and the one that made the biggest impression, I decided to include it here. ...
Straw Dogsis a book by the philosopher John Gray that challenges a lot of the assumptions about what it means to be human. Gray’s work is fascinating but his thoughts can be a bit uncomfortable if you’re unfamiliar with his writing. Straw Dogsis an attack on humanism and the negative effect Gray believes it’s had since it came into being. The gist ...
David Graeber is one of my favourite thinkers. David Graeber’s booksare always entertaining to read and offer a unique take on many parts of life that are mundane and often not thought of as interesting. Bullsh*t Jobsis no different. The book looks at the rise of what Graber calls pointless jobs and how this phenomenon came about. His book is based...
There are plenty of great George Orwell books out there but Animal Farmis one of my favourites for its simplicity and devastating message. The book focuses on a farm of animals who overthrow their human farmer in the hope they can create a society where all animals are free and equal. It’s an allegorical tale and mimics the Russian Revolution of 19...
Humankindis a fascinating book by the Dutch historian, Rutger Bregman. It offers an alternative take on the view that humans are a violent species. This is a fascinating read as it dispenses with many of the preconceptions you might have about humanity. Bregman’s thesis is that humans are nicer and kinder than we’re given credit for. He uses the ex...
Vaclav Smil is one of the most interesting thinkers today. Numbers Don’t Lieis his look at a variety of issues through the lens of data to try and present a clear picture of these topics. He tackles a range of issues such as what is the most effective mode of transport with low emissions in mind, spoiler, it’s high-speed rail. He also looks at one ...
Michio Kaku is a fascinating physicist who you might be familiar with if you’ve watched any documentary on the subject or one about space. The Future of Humanityis self-explanatory in that focuses on what our future as a species might look like. Kaku offers up a variety of plausible outcomes from deep space travel to colonies on the moon and Mars. ...
Klara and The Sunis a thought-provoking novel written by the British author Kazuo Ishiguro. It concerns a society in the not-too-distant future where personal robots for children are commonplace. In the book, Klara is a solar-powered Artificial Friend, who is bought by the family of Josie to be her companion. Josie is a ‘lifted’ child, someone who ...
Civilization and Its Discontentsis one of the most profound works by the psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud. In the book, he explores what he believes is one of the biggest clashes in societies around the world, which is the expectations of those societies and the desire for individuality. Freud explores the tension between the individual who seeks freed...
Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest orators and essayists in Rome. On Living and Dying Wellis one of his most interesting pieces of work that examines how to live your life. This is certainly a book that will make you think. We tend to think about how we can live a good life but less thought is given to our inevitable end. It’s crazy tha...
Feb 27, 2023 · What We Think We Want. Dr. Waldinger began by exploring what people think makes a good life. Many across the world, especially millennials, believe that the answer can be found with fame and fortune.
Mar 11, 2019 · The best books are those which hit you in the head with bricks, and reconfigure your entire understanding of reality, people, life, and even yourself. These 9 books would break a lot of myths...
Apr 14, 2019 · What should I do with my life? Books to help you find your purpose. Journalist Ali Roff Farrar shares her recommendations for the books to turn to if you're searching for purpose in your life.
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Dec 1, 2015 · Often, it’s a random assortment of books that ultimately challenge our pre-existing assumptions surrounding topics like family, friendship, love, fear, trauma, hope, and joy and eventually shift...
