5 Books That Changed My Life!

I love to read and in the course of my life time I must have read hundreds, if not thousands, of books. I read fiction and non-fiction, self-help and instructional, trashy teenage vampire novels and old school classics.

Sometimes I want to learn something new, to be inspired or to gain insight, other times to escape reality, indulge in romance or philosophy, to be confronted with new ideas and moral issues or simply to be entertained. 

However, despite the fact I have enjoyed a gazillion books in my life, very few I would say are life changing. But those that I consider to be so are such amazing works I thought I should share them with you, because if they meant so much to me, then just maybe they'll hit a nerve with you too. 

So here we go!

 1. Borderliners: A Novel by Peter Hoeg

This is my favourite book of all time. Big call but one I stand firmly behind. However, of all the ones on this list this is probably the hardest to explain why. As its a novel that you should read (yes, you!) I also don't want to say too much. Lets just say its about three children who are 'different' and, with one of them as the storyteller, the book chronicles a year in the life of these children at an experimental boarding school in Denmark, during which in their attempts to figure out what's going on around them they learn to manipulate, and then stop, time. I can't find the words to explain exactly how and why this book so profoundly affected me - it's the only time in my life I have reached the final page and flicked straight back to the beginning to do it all over again. Somehow I relate to these children, even though their reality is a million miles from my own. I guess that's why it's so profound. It worms its way deep inside to the lost, misunderstood and darkly curious child within us all.

2. Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa

I was given this book to read by a lovely Swedish backpacker I met while travelling in India during my very first visit. I was 21 years old and had absolutely no idea what to do with my life. I was in the final stages of recovery from a major illness and was experiencing my first real period of independence in my life. I was alone, in a foreign country, in a small, spiritual town, and I was struggling with the conflict between my Christian upbringing and my fascination with Buddhism and ultimately my utter confusion as to what life was all about. This book is written predominantly from a Buddhist perspective, however, the information and insight within its pages crosses all religions, and even atheists, in my opinion. This book set me on my quasi-spiritual path, one that allows me (and others) to believe in inherent goodness above all else, in whatever form it comes in.

3. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferris

There has been so much written about this book on the Internet over recent years I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard of it. This book really did change my life because it was the first thing I read that basically told me my crazy dream wasn't so crazy after all. I read this book during the weeks before I quit my last full time job and it really did play an important role in my making that decision, the one that turned out the be the best decision of my life! Many things this books deals with turned out not to be so relevant to me, but it provided a huge amount of inspiration and encouragement to me and for this alone, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to escape the ratrace and live on their own terms, however they want to do this.

4. Kabir: Ecstatic Poems (translated by Robert Bly)

Have you heard of Kabir? He was a 15th century mystic and weaver from India whose legacy included a great collection of poetry. This book, a random op shop find that has become one of my most treasured possessions, is a true life changer. As a spiritual person who has struggled to settle into any particular faith, the poetry in this little is literally oozing relevance. It's impossible to really talk about this so I'll just leave you with one of my favourites as a taster….

I don't know what sort of a God we have been talking about.

The caller calls in a loud voice to the Holy One at dusk. 

Why? Surely the Holy One is not deaf.

He hears the delicate anklets that ring on the feet of an insect as it walks.

Go over your beads, paint weird designs on your forehead, wear your hair matted, long, and ostentatious, 

but when deep inside you there is a loaded gun, how can you have God?

5. How to Be Free by Tom Hodgkinson

This is another random secondhand find that absolutely changed my world! The title obvioulsy appealed to me straight up, and then the inside cover reads, "Have you ever wondered why you bother to go to work? Why so much of consumer culture is crap?" Well, yes, actually. I have!

I found this book just before I left Tasmania on a quest to figure out what the hell life was all about. And this book became something of a blue print, a bible even, for that journey. Tom draws on all sorts of philosophies and philosophers to take us on a joyful journey to true freedom. It's a rollicking and inspiring read encouraging us to throw off the shackles of anxiety, bureaucracy, debt, governments, housework, moaning, poverty and so much more. And seriously, with chapter titles like "Reject Career and All Its Empty Promises", Death to Shopping, or Fleeing the Prison of Consumer Desire", " Smash the Fetters of Fear" and "Sail Away from Rudeness and towards a New Era of Courtesy, Civility and Grace", how could you possibly go wrong? 

Have you ever read a book that has changed the way you view the world? Or yourself? Tell me in the comments! I'd love to hear about it.... I'll add it to the reading list!

Jen x