10 books everyone should read at least once in their lifetime

I've been thinking a lot about the books that actually changed how I see things. Not just entertained me for a weekend or made me feel smart at dinner parties, but genuinely shifted something in my perspective.

There are plenty of "must-read" lists out there stacked with classics you're supposed to have read but probably haven't. This isn't that. These are books that offer something useful, whether you're trying to understand yourself better, make sense of how the world works, or just figure out what matters.

Some of these I read years ago and still reference regularly. Others I picked up more recently and wished I'd found sooner. All of them gave me something I didn't have before.

1) "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

This book explains why we make the decisions we do, and more importantly, why we often make terrible ones.

Kahneman breaks down the two systems our brain uses. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and runs on autopilot. System 2 is slow, deliberate, and requires actual effort. Most of the time, we're operating on System 1, which is efficient but riddled with biases.

The scary part? We don't realize how often we're wrong. We think we're being rational when we're actually just confirming what we already believe or relying on mental shortcuts that lead us astray.

I read this about six years ago, and I still catch myself referencing it when I'm about to make a snap judgment. It's like having a user manual for your own brain.

2) "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl survived the Nazi concentration camps and came out with a philosophy about finding meaning even in the worst circumstances.

The core idea is simple but profound: we can't always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. Frankl argues that finding meaning in our suffering is what allows us to survive it.

What makes this book different from typical self-help is that it's grounded in the most extreme test case imaginable. Frankl wasn't theorizing from a comfortable office. He was living it in conditions most of us can't fathom.

When you're struggling with something that feels unbearable, this book reminds you that meaning isn't something you find lying around. It's something you create through how you face what's in front of you.

3) "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari

If you want to understand how we got here as a species, this is where you start.

Harari traces human history from the Stone Age to the present, but he's not just listing dates and events. He's asking bigger questions about why we developed the way we did and what that means for where we're headed.

One of the most interesting arguments he makes is about shared myths. Things like money, nations, and human rights only exist because we collectively believe in them. They're fictions, but they're what allow us to cooperate on massive scales.

I picked this up a few years ago during a particularly existential phase, and it gave me a framework for understanding not just history but how culture and belief systems shape behavior. It's the kind of book that makes you see patterns everywhere once you've read it.

4) "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

This book changed how I think about trauma and its effects on the body.

Van der Kolk, a psychiatrist who's spent decades working with trauma survivors, explains how traumatic experiences literally reshape our brains and nervous systems. Trauma isn't just a memory you can think your way out of. It's stored in your body and affects how you react to everything.

What's useful here is that he doesn't just describe the problem. He talks about different approaches to healing, from therapy to yoga to neurofeedback. The takeaway is that healing trauma requires working with the body, not just the mind.

Even if you haven't experienced major trauma, this book helps you understand why people react the way they do. It builds empathy in a way that's grounded in actual science.

5) "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

I know, everyone recommends this one. But there's a reason for that.

Clear breaks down how small changes compound over time. The idea isn't to overhaul your entire life overnight. It's to make tiny adjustments that stack up into significant shifts.

One concept that stuck with me is identity-based habits. Instead of saying "I want to run a marathon," you focus on becoming "someone who runs." The actions follow from the identity shift, not the other way around.

I've mentioned this before, but I used this approach when I was trying to be more consistent with photography. Instead of setting big goals about shooting every day, I just started thinking of myself as someone who always has a camera ready. The behavior followed naturally.

6) "The Myth of Normal" by Gabor Maté

Gabor Maté argues that most of what we consider normal in modern society is actually making us sick.

He connects chronic illness, addiction, and mental health issues to the way we've structured our lives. We're disconnected from community, overworked, stressed, and constantly stimulated. Our bodies are responding to these conditions exactly as you'd expect, but we treat the symptoms instead of the causes.

What I appreciate about Maté is that he doesn't just blame individuals. He looks at systemic issues, how capitalism and culture create environments where it's hard to be healthy.

This book made me rethink a lot of my own habits and assumptions about what's "normal." Sometimes the problem isn't you. It's the water you're swimming in.

7) "How to Do Nothing" by Jenny Odell

This book is a counterargument to our productivity-obsessed culture.

Odell makes the case that constant engagement and optimization are actually draining us. She encourages paying attention to the physical world around you, spending time in nature, and resisting the pressure to always be doing something productive.

It's not about literal idleness. It's about reclaiming your attention from platforms and systems designed to extract it. It's about choosing what you focus on instead of letting algorithms decide for you.

I read this during the pandemic when I was spending way too much time online, and it reminded me that some of the most valuable things I do don't show up on any productivity metric. Walking around my neighborhood with my camera. Noticing birds. Sitting still.

8) "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

This book traces four meals back to their origins, asking where our food actually comes from.

Pollan explores industrial agriculture, organic farming, foraging, and hunting. He's not preachy about it. He's genuinely curious about what it means to eat in modern America and what our choices say about our values.

I read this years before I went vegan, and while it didn't push me in that direction directly, it did make me start questioning things I'd never thought about. Where does this come from? What systems am I supporting when I buy this?

Even if you don't change what you eat after reading it, you'll at least understand the landscape better. And understanding usually precedes any meaningful change.

9) "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle

Tolle's central thesis is simple: most of our suffering comes from living in the past or future instead of the present moment.

He argues that the constant stream of thoughts in our heads creates unnecessary pain. We're either ruminating on what happened or worrying about what might happen, and we miss the only time that actually exists, which is right now.

I'll be honest, parts of this book feel repetitive, and Tolle's writing style isn't for everyone. But the core insight is valuable. When I catch myself spiraling into anxiety, I come back to this idea: what's actually wrong right now, in this moment? Usually, nothing.

It's not a cure-all, but it's a useful tool for interrupting thought patterns that don't serve you.

10) "Letters to a Young Poet" by Rainer Maria Rilke

This is a short collection of letters Rilke wrote to a young man seeking advice about whether to pursue poetry.

Rilke's responses are gentle but profound. He talks about solitude, patience, doubt, and the creative process. His advice applies far beyond poetry. It's about living with uncertainty and trusting yourself even when you don't have answers.

One line that's stayed with me is about how we need to live the questions instead of forcing answers. Not everything needs to be resolved immediately. Some things you have to carry with you until you grow into understanding them.

I keep a copy of this on my shelf and reread it whenever I'm feeling stuck. It's a reminder that confusion and doubt aren't problems to solve. They're part of the process.

The bottom line

These aren't the only books worth reading, but they're ones that gave me something lasting. Some shifted how I think about decisions. Others helped me understand trauma, food systems, or what it means to pay attention.

The goal isn't to read them all at once or treat them like assignments. Pick one that speaks to where you are right now. Let it sit with you. See what changes.

Reading isn't just about collecting information. It's about encountering ideas that challenge you, comfort you, or give you language for things you've felt but couldn't articulate.

That's what these books did for me. Maybe they'll do something similar for you.