Life Changing Books to Read in Your 20s

1. What is a Life-Changing Book?
2. Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
3. The v Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
4. The Molecule of More than: How a Single Chemic in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex activity, and Creativity—and Will Determine the Fate of the Human being Race by Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael E. Long
5. Why Men Don't Listen and Women Tin can't Read Maps: How Nosotros're Different and What to Do Almost It by Allan & Barbara Pease
6. Emotional Intelligence: Why Information technology Tin Affair More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman
7. How-do-you-do, Fears: Trounce Your Comfort Zone and Go Who You're Meant to Exist by Michelle Poler
8. Sapiens: A Cursory History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
9. The four-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
10. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
11. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance past Robert One thousand. Pirsig
12. The Giver by Lois Lowry
13. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
14. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
15. Linchpin by Seth Godin
16. Predictably Irrational: The Subconscious Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
17. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You Most Being Creative by Austin Kleon
18. Self-Pity: The Proven Ability of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
19. Y'all Are a Badass: How to Terminate Doubting Your Greatness and Showtime Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
20. 19 80-Iv by George Orwell
21. Ender'due south Game by Orson Scott Carte

Are yous in your 20s? Existence in your 20s comes with great challenges:

• Finding your true calling in life
• Learning to advance your small talk across, "How'southward the weather?"
• That feeling of wanting to just grow up… only to realize y'all hate being an "developed."

Despite facing these challenges, at that place were sure books that completely changed my outlook in life for the meliorate.

These are the 20 life-changing books that stuck with me. Let's dive in!

What is a Life-Changing Book?

A life-changing volume challenges your current way of thinking or offers deep insight that leaves you lot contemplating for days. Life-changing books milk shake you to your core, latch on, and influence your behavior for years to come.

I found that the best life-changing books accept three components:

• Thought-provoking: Does the volume make you question your current life- or world-view? Does it compel you to brand changes in your life?
• Resonance: How well does the book resonate with you? Is it written in a way that's engaging and meaningful to you?
• Hidden Nuggets: Often, the best life-changing books contain hidden gems that can only be revealed subsequently y'all've reread them.

Hither are my top 20 life-changing books that fulfill these iii criteria. Starting with…

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Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Goodreads score: three.94

Do yous know what you lot're skilful at? This is a smashing volume to read to know your bones strengths. Strengthsfinder helps you find out exactly what y'all're skilful at and what to do with your strengths.

This book gives you lot ideas for activeness and working with others who have these strengths. Excellent to have with others or equally a remote squad!

Key Takeaways:

• At that place are 34 strengths, and each person has five key strengths they are skilful at.
• Instead of fixing our weaknesses, focus on capitalizing our strengths to maximize potential.

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The five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman

Goodreads Score: 4.25

Did yous know every person has one major dear language? Their dearest linguistic communication determines how they adopt to experience loved. Information technology tin be either:

• Physical affect
• Receiving gifts
• Quality time
• Words of affirmation
• Acts of service

I loved this book so much that I even put it in my acknowledged book, Captivate. I LOVE this book because it helps you lot identify how you want to receive beloved. I besides know everyone in my life'southward love linguistic communication so I prove them the beloved they desire!

Do you know your ain beloved language? What virtually the people closest to y'all? Have our Love Language quiz to find out:

Cardinal Takeaways:

1. Nearly romance in relationships merely lasts for two years.
2. You tin use your partner'south honey linguistic communication to do things that make them feel loved.

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The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemic in Your Encephalon Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity—and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race by Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael Due east. Long

Goodreads score: iv.22

If y'all desire to know how you lot work, this one is incredibly helpful. I love dopamine, and most people will know it equally the pleasure or happiness chemic. Just at that place's and so much more to information technology…

This book talks about exactly how motivation and achievement works in a scientific perspective.

Key Takeaways:

• Dopamine controls our levels of passion and willpower.
• Nothing is ever enough for dopamine—winning, feeling proficient, and drugs all lead yous wanting more.
• Dopamine doesn't intendance about the means. It only cares about attaining the result.

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Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps: How We're Different and What to Do Nigh Information technology by Allan & Barbara Pease

Goodreads Score: 3.77

I picked this book upwards from my mother's nightstand (more like stole it), and WOW did it alter my views! This book accurately describes why:

• Men can't detect the mayonnaise in the refrigerator, but women tin can
• Why women are bad at driving at night
• Why men are skilful with maps and women oftentimes plough them upside-down
• Why women are great talkers and tin multitask, while men often grunt and need focus

And wow, did I understand my male parent, brother, and married man a lot more. It too helped me communicate with the precious women in my life.

Key Takeaways:

1. Women accept a wider peripheral vision that allows them to "browse" their environment, while men have tunnel vision.
2. Men can detach themselves from their bug, while women can't stop thinking about them and analyzing them.
3. When talking to a man, keep it unproblematic.
4. If a woman is talking a lot, it'due south a expert sign she likes you.

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Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Thing More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Goodreads score: 4.02

Do you know your intelligence type? Emotional intelligence is key to not only forming successful relationships but controlling your own, too. This book was the gateway that taught me all most emotion management. And yes, you CAN develop these skills!

Key Takeaways:

• Our mind reacts to present situations based on our past experiences, and tin can exist irrational if situations change.
• People with high emotional intelligence are more successful and more resilient to stress.
• Piece of work on emotional intelligence by changing your inner dialogue and mirroring body language.

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Hello, Fears: Crush Your Comfort Zone and Get Who You're Meant to Be by Michelle Poler

Goodreads Score: 4.78

My dear friend, Michelle Poler, wrote this amazing piffling book that is basically the remedy to all your fears. From the cute layout of the volume, to the colorful pictures and helpful infographics, Howdy Fears captivated me correct from the beginning.

This book is also super interactive (you get to write in it) and feels more than than just reading words on paper. If you're in need of some inspiration, what's stopping you? Run into how Michelle conquered her ain fears and how you tin, as well. Feel free to also check out Michelle's TEDx talk:

Key Takeaways:

1. We take our time for granted, so we should say "yes" to the things that we truly want.
2. Write downwardly your own definition of success, not according to society.
3. Fearfulness of the unknown often leads us to believe we don't similar things.
4. Let become of command to truly cherish the moment and become from autopilot to living fully.

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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind past Yuval Noah Harari

Goodreads score: four.42

This one's not exactly brief, simply well-worth information technology! Take you ever wondered about what humans went through to get to where we are today? This volume is literally History 101 in 443 pages—without the extra fluff. Yuval does an excellent chore of summarizing the most of import behavior, technologies, and advances, starting off earlier we could even think and ending the book with what volition happen in the hereafter.

Central Takeaways:

• Large, circuitous communities of Human sapiens seventy,000 years ago allowed them to invent hunting tools and use language, assuasive them to hunt, have mutual understanding, and explore the earth.
• The agronomical revolution allowed huge population increases and allowed us to settle down in one area.
• Scientific advances are now helping the Gilgamesh Projection, the scientific quest to attain eternal homo life.

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The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

Goodreads Score: 3.89

The 4-60 minutes Workweek is one of the most pop books ever… This book taught me to ditch the conventional and has saved me countless hours of work.

Tim Ferriss describes the 4-hour work week as a lifestyle of liberty, where mini-retirements are taken and there's no need to go to the office anymore. And if you recall it'due south non possible, think once again! We are now in a mean solar day and historic period where remote work is more pop than ever.

I've literally saved countless hours (and dollars) every week by applying the principles I learned in this book, such as the Pareto principle and product-testing.

Key Takeaways:

1. 80% of the results are often achieved by 20% of the endeavor.
2. Institute brownie and notice a "muse," or your best idea that can make money.
3. Exam your muse by seeing if people volition buy your idea first before going all-out.
4. Get with a bold hope of your product to gain customer loyalty and conviction.

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Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini

Goodreads Score: 4.20

Influence is ane of the best psychology books ever written, period. First published in 1984, it has since sold three million+ copies and has been translated into 30 languages. The book contains various psychological strategies that smashing persuaders use, and Robert fifty-fifty takes up jobs as a auto salesman and waiter to demonstrate these strategies in-person.

If you're an entrepreneur, salesperson, marketer, or want to influence people in any mode, I highly recommend giving this book a read.

Fundamental Takeaways:

1. People feel obligated to reciprocate "favors." A skillful strategy is to requite something before asking in return.
2. In negotiations, ask a very high amount, then retreat dorsum to what yous really want.
3. When something is hard to go, we want information technology even more.
4. We value something more than if it is harder to achieve.

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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Goodreads Score: 3.77

Nope, y'all don't have to know a thing virtually motorcycle maintenance—or even know how to ride ane—to scrape some valuable tidbits from this book. Robert bridges the scientific train of idea in the Western globe with the Zen-similar spiritual listen of the Due east, creating a magical, idea-provoking volume that aims to help you live a richer, more balanced life.

Central Takeaways:

1. Classically minded people classify and divide things they perceive in the world, creating order out of chaos.
2. Romantics admire the complexities and live in the chaos of it.
3. The approach of "Quality" combines both and strives for residue.

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The Giver by Lois Lowry

Goodreads Score: 4.13

This book is an absolute must for dystopian fans and is virtually a society that has no hurting, fright, or hatred. Sounds astonishing, right? Except it'due south non—anybody is essentially the same, overly-polite, and at that place's no choice. Spouses and jobs are even picked for anybody!

The main character, an 11-year sometime male child named Jonas, is chosen as the "Receiver of Retentiveness," where he receives both good AND bad memories… and this is where he realizes how banal and stale this "perfect" order is. Armed with this new knowledge, Jonas sets out to create change and bring back the human experience.

Key Takeaways:

1. Both adept and bad must coexist in order to have a fulfilling life, and there is no true happiness if there is zilch to compare it to.
2. Emotions are extremely valuable, and should be let free.
3. In life, we accept to make choices. We may not know the result of our choices, but the freedom to make choices is infinitely amend than having things called for the states.

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The Obstacle Is the Fashion by Ryan Holiday

Goodreads Score: 4.16

If you're a fan of Stoic philosophy, you'll love this book. The Obstacle Is the Way focuses on ancient Greek principles and uses many examples of Greek philosophers to explain primal Stoic ideas and how they apply in the modern world.

Key Takeaways:

1. The biggest hurdle to our obstacles is our uncontrolled emotional responses to them.
2. Change your perspective to transform obstacles into your advantage.
3. Consequent, disciplined action leads to constructive results.
4. Having more than important goals to focus on pushes us by our self-imposed limits.

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The Life-Irresolute Magic of Tidying Upwards by Marie Kondo

Goodreads score: three.84

Does what yous own "spark joy"? Or is it sitting in your closet, collecting dust?

This book was recommended to me by a dear friend, and it did not disappoint. This book is more than just cleaning. It's more than just simplifying your life. It'due south a whole philosophy, packaged in a way that makes you excited nigh cleaning up.

You'll beginning to see your possessions in a totally different light.

Key Takeaways:

• Visualize your ideal lifestyle and living space, and go on the things that fit in. Discard the balance; don't even reuse them.
• Ask yourself if current possessions fulfill your hereafter self or your past self. Don't hoard items in others' living space—only requite away items (especially sentimental ones) to family or friends if they add value to their lives.
• Tidying can take a long time. Even months. Take equally much time as you lot need, and you'll see an impact that lasts forever.

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Linchpin by Seth Godin

Goodreads Score: 3.84

Linchpin challenges yous to have your work a step further. Don't just follow the rules yous're assigned—get truly indispensable. Seth says that linchpins are the essential key players in whatsoever corking company, and without these players, the company would not be the same.

Does this sound similar you? If not, this is the book to read to level up in your career, whether you lot're a CEO, manager, or employee. Become a linchpin, and go indispensable.

Primal Takeaways:

1. Linchpins pour all their energy and passion into their work.
2. Making nifty fine art requires emotional labor, or investing your own emotions into your piece of work.
3. The best artists create and ship out their product, despite the fright of criticism.

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Goodreads Score: iv.xiii

Key Takeaways:

1. Don't forget the ability of "free"—people perceive gratis things every bit more valuable than what they are really worth.
2. Our opinions are like objects—nosotros cling stronger to them when we feel as if we "own" them.
3. Nosotros tend to be a little dishonest if we won't become caught, but simply thinking about the value of honesty keeps us from cheating.
4. When we decide on a goal, we must besides decide to close our doors to other options.

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Steal Like an Creative person: 10 Things Nobody Told Yous Near Being Artistic past Austin Kleon

Goodreads Score: iii.92

Did y'all know the greatest creators can actually be quite… unoriginal? As a writer myself, I know the struggles of staring at the letters on your keyboard and wanting magical words to appear. Just Austin brings forth the idea that good artwork is really merely a brew-upward of other pieces of work until finally… yous've got an "original" piece of fine art.

If you've got a artistic block or feel guilty "copying" others' work, I highly recommend this fun, quirky volume. The images and inventiveness alone are worth picking information technology up!

Key Takeaways:

1. All art is not completely original; information technology is influenced by other artists' work.
2. Have backups that distract your mind, such as hobbies or even boring tasks like doing the dishes.
3. Be artistic in your work infinite. Opt for pen and paper, and personalize it the fashion yous like.
4. Change your surround one time in a while. Move away from home at to the lowest degree in one case to avoid colorlessness.

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Cocky-Pity: The Proven Power of Beingness Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff

Goodreads Score: 4.xvi

Are yous lacking kindness and love in your life? This straightforward book doesn't merely talk pity—it's likewise filled with exercises that you can implement! The exercises are simply amazing, the studies are rock-solid and compelling, and this volume inverse my outlook on life in a positive way. No preachy, esoteric writing. Only straight science and application.

The simply regret I have is non reading it 5 years ago!

Central Takeaways:

1. Self-criticism can make u.s.a. anxious and stifle our success.
2. Practicing mindfulness volition assist yous solve problems that cause stress.
3. Reminding ourselves of our shared humanity lets us embrace our mistakes and flaws.

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Yous Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Crawly Life past Jen Sincero

Goodreads Score: 3.95

Recall of this book as the only volume y'all'll ever need for an inspirational heave. In You Are a Badass, Jen uses her humor and inspirational rawness of her writing to motivate readers to take action. Just similar the title suggests, her volume is very straightforward with a "fun" tone that's unlike from other books.

While some people may detect this book off-putting with its "Constabulary of Allure"–based philosophy, in that location are some aureate nuggets in here and many people I personally know take found this book to be life-changing.

Key Takeaways:

1. Exercise your ain affair, despite others' criticisms or lack of involvement.
2. See yourself as a lifelong learner, instead of a professional, to accept more risks and be more than playful.
3. Create a new environment, lifestyle, and surround yourself with people who help you achieve your dream.

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19 Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Goodreads Score: 4.xix

Ahh, the onetime classic by George Orwell. Nearly everyone has read this book, and if y'all haven't… this is THE book to read! Another dystopian book, Nineteen Eighty-Iv is fix in London where the ruling Party sees all. They spotter through TV screens, control the language by eliminating rebellious words, and limit all aspects of individualism.

Information technology'due south a thought-provoking, powerful book on what life could look similar in the future… or, what life looks like correct now in some parts of the world. This book reminds united states of america how important our freedom is and how powerful the government is that "controls" us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Language is and so important—without the right words, nosotros won't exist able to express our ideas or even think.
2. Distractions can serve to take the states away from the big picture and stifle modify for the improve.
3. If we want modify, we must speak and not hold back just to keep the peace.

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Ender'southward Game by Orson Scott Bill of fare

Goodreads Score: 4.30

I'thousand non usually i to dig into sci-fi, but Ender'south Game (also now a pic) is just then proficient. Information technology tells the story of a young boy named Ender Wiggin, who is sent to Battle School to one day become a soldier and salve humanity from the "Buggers," an evil alien race.

This book is more than only fiction—it actually changed the way I interact with others. Since reading Ender's Game, I started thinking a lot more strategically. How could I solve this problem in my business in different means? How do I push button by resistance despite the odds? This volume teaches valuable lessons to teenagers and adults alike.

Key Takeaways:

1. Every puzzle has a solution. And it might non exist that apparent, so it'due south critical to remember exterior the box.
2. Even if you are great or a genius, you might also be lonely. But the world needs nifty people.
3. Existence empathetic is 1 of the greatest traits you tin develop.

What'south your favorite book that didn't brand the listing? Go out a annotate below and allow me know your favorite!

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Source: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/life-changing-books/

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