The Five Most Inspirational Reads of All Time
Posted on December 23, 2020
Sometimes we need an extra boost, a kick up the proverbial to get back.. That kick comes in a multitude of guises, not least in the pages of a book.
Books not only introduce us to new characters, they can also introduce us to new versions of ourselves. From mindset and motivation, to autobiographies by inspiring people – it is hard not to find inspiration between the covers of a good read.
Of course, there are the books specifically designed to inspire, motivate and help you to make changes to your life. Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now takes you through a mindset journey to keep you out of your head and in to the present. Bob Burg’s The Go-Giver is designed to help you become a more thoughtful person. In return, the theory says you reap the rewards of success. And Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck somewhat ironically shows you how to care more about the things that matter rather than not caring at all. All great tools for self-improvement, wouldn’t you agree?
But who’s to say you need an instruction manual to be inspired to make positive changes? Perhaps, instead, you find your inspiration in the stories of others. From stars of sport to political powerhouses, everyone has their own lived experiences. We’re lucky to read about many of them in autobiographies, biographies and memoirs.
Inspiring biographies
It is impossible for the extraordinary achievements of Olympic medallists, or those who’ve created extraordinary lives from the humblest beginnings, to inspire you. And, whilst politics is often what divides us the most, there are notes from leaders like Barack Obama that are universally great life advice.
In his latest memoir, A Promised Land, Obama shares the story of his presidency and beyond. Within that, there are snippets of advice that we could all take on board – White House inhabitant or not. A prime example: “Over time I’ve trained myself to take the long view, about how important it is to stay focused on your goals rather than getting hung up on the daily ups and downs.”
Inspiring novels
Then, of course, there are the novels, the new worlds that we escape to. Inspiration may come for you in the depths of the fiction section. I am, unsurprisingly thinking of that now infinitely illustrated, pasted on tshirts, framed and Instagrammed quote of Dumbledore’s in the Harry Potter series: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Who could forget Dr Seuss? No post about inspiring literature could exclude: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
Whilst the title of this post may have been the most inspirational books of all time, it was actually a little misleading. It is impossible for me to write that these are categorically the most inspiring books of all time. It simply would not be true. We all find inspiration in different places, at different times. What inspires me may seem like absolute nonsense to you! With that in mind, please share your most inspirational books in the comments below.
I’d like to end on one of my most inspiring notes from any book. It’s something we all could bear in mind from time to time. This from Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl: “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”