A lot of people are just drifting through life, not knowing what on earth they’re here for. That can be a really sad way to live, isn’t it? If you’re through with feeling rudderless and unsure about your future, it may be time to find books and read the experiences of others who have felt the same way.
We’ve been there ourselves too! That’s why we compiled this list of books that we believe will be helpful in your quest to find yourself.
12 Best Books About Finding Yourself to Check Out Right Now
In this list, we include both fiction and nonfiction books, but rest assured that they will help inspire you to live the best life possible:
1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Perhaps one of the most popular books cited about self-discovery, this is the story of the young shepherd boy Santiago, who dreams about finding treasure in Egypt. This triggers him on a quest for the treaure, and instead, he finds true riches in the people he encounters along the way, and the wisdom they share with him.
2. Educated by Tara Westover
This memoir details the difficulties in Tara Westover’s life, beginning with her difficult childhood with survivalist Mormon parents who keep her isolated from society. Despite the horrific trauma and the lack of education in childhood, she took a step towards educating herself beginning at the age of 17—which pushes her further away from her family.
3. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
This autobiographical account shares Cheryl Strayed’s heartwrenching experience of losing her mom as well as the pain of going through several extramarital affairs. In hopes to get her life back together, she decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) over the course of three months, with nothing but her backpack.
4. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Former US Navy Seal David Goggins shares a surprisingly candid account of his life in this biographical book that also inspires us to harness the power of controlling our minds. Using his real-life trauma and struggles, he then ends each chapter with a Challenge that we believe can help you pinpoint the goals you want to achieve in your own life.
5. Quiet by Susan Cain
If you’re an introvert, this book’s subtitle will probably speak volumes to you: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. The premise of the book is that all of us grew up being encouraged to make ourselves heard, making it seem like there’s something wrong with introverts. Instead, the author presents it as a valuable asset, helping us understand how introverts work and how to work with them.
6. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
If you’re looking for practical steps to find your life purpose, we believe this bestselling book by Rick Warren is one of the most important books you can read. He divides the book into forty days’ of reading, with each day’s reading focused on a specific theme about why we’re put on this earth. He tackles topics like belongingness and making an impact on other’s lives.
7. Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
This classic fiction book follows the life of Abbie Deal, who once dreamed of becoming a world-class singer entrancing thousands, or a painter conjuring up pictures of life and love, or even a writer telling the stories she’s always longed to tell. Instead of marrying a man who could have sent her to voice lessons, she chose Will, a humble farmer who took her west to start a new life there.
8. Called to Create by Jordan Raynor
If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t seem to thrive in a 9 to 5 job, but you enjoy creating things, perhaps this book can help put a finger on what you’re made to do. In this book, Jordan Raynor explores what makes entrepreneurs and creators tick, and gives inspiration and encouragement to pursue what you’re called to do in the first place.
9. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
In this book, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about how we can live a creative life. But, don’t think it’s just for artists or actors or writers; her main premise is that everyone is given the ability to live a life of creativity: perfect for anyone who feels stuck in a rut of daily, mundane activities!
10. How to Be a Heroine by Samantha Ellis
Do you remember some of your favorite characters in your childhood books? Now you can savor your relationship with them a little bit longer! This book creatively points us to take a look at what the great heroines in literature have done as inspiration to live our own lives.
11. Wild At Heart by John Eldredge
How many times were you shushed up as a little boy, or told you needed to sit still? John Eldredge sets out to dispel the myth about how men should act, and gives you freedom to be the warrior and explorer you were created to be.
12. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
One of the classics in the theme of finding the meaning of life, Viktor Frankl was a survivor of the Holocaust who pondered on the meaning of life even while in the cell of a concentration camp. Discover some of the timeless nuggets of wisdom he discovered in his quest.
Reading Books About Finding Yourself
Books are a great guide to having insights about your life, happiness, and purpose. We appreciate the way that those who have gone before us have documented their journey, so that we can all benefit from these.
But in the greater scheme of things, you will still have to live your own life, so be sure to find ways to apply whatever you learn, so that they don’t just get stuck in your head and not make their way to your heart!
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
