10 Best Inspirational Books to Help You Face Life’s Obstacles

We had a lot of fun creating this reading list of the best inspirational books for life’s challenges for our amazing readers at Everyday Power.

If life was supposed to be all about joy and happiness, we would love it a lot more.

Everyone faces hardships, but your own troubles are the greatest burden to carry.

No matter how minor your problem seems to other people, it still makes you feel bad.

For example, a hard assignment may discourage you from continuing with your studies.

Maybe it’s time for a good book?

In situations like this, the right source of inspiration can give you strength to carry on.

Instead of blaming yourself and everyone else, you’ll find the meaning behind each obstacle and you’ll be able to rise from the ashes.

The only question is: which book should you start reading?

Inspirational books about how to level up in life

1. An Enemy Called Average by John Mason

Do you feel like a failure because you haven’t achieved anything extraordinary in your life?

People’s creativity has been tamed by the limiting educational system.

As a result, we lost touch with our need to be special.

Is there a way to discover the hidden muse?

John Mason encourages you to push the limits.

This is not your typical motivational book that talks nonsense and tells you to discover your own dreams.

It offers practical principles that will lead you to success.

2. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino

When you believe in yourself and you know you’re capable of helping others, you’ll find motivation to get through the hardest periods of your life.

Hafid is the perfect character to analyze.

He was a poor camel boy who achieved a life of abundance.

However, he did not use any ‘strategies’ for making money most people rely on – he simply tried to become a better man.

3. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is still the perfect book to pick up when you need a motivational boost.

Most gulls didn’t bother to learn more than the simplest methods of flying, because eating was what mattered.

Jonathan was different, and different was considered wrong.

As you keep reading, you realize that everyone has a higher purpose in life.

If you have an ambition and you know you were meant to follow it, other people’s opinions don’t matter.

4. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

Oprah Winfrey has talked about this book many times, saying that it helped her get through more crises than she could count.

When you discover the importance of living in the present moment, you’ll learn how to forgive yourself and other people for the mistakes of the past.

You’ll stop being anxious when thinking about the future.

There is only one real moment: the present one.

Instead of missing it over and over again, you’ll learn how to live in it thanks to this book.

5. The Power of Positive Thinking by Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

When you change your thoughts, you’ll change your world.

Don’t expect other people to make you feel better.

You feel the way you want to feel.

When your mind expects certain things, it finds them!

This philosophy may seem outrageous when you read it in few sentences, but the author of this book will certainly motivate you to change your point of view.

6. The Impersonal Life by Joseph Benner

Benner teaches you how to discover your true purpose and start leading a spiritual life.

Don’t worry: spirituality is a different category than religion.

You’ll find this as one of the best inspirational books even if you’re not religious at all.

Considering the fact that the book was written in 1914, you can expect it’s a bit more difficult to read as compared to the light literature we encounter today.

However, once you hack the form and get into the scheme, you’ll be sorry you didn’t find it sooner.

If this book falls into your hands, you’ll understand the true power of reading: it can really change your life.

7. Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin

The success of top performers in different fields is not based upon their inborn talents.

Yes, DNA is important, but it’s not more important than practice and commitment through a long period of time.

Hard work won’t simply do it for you; you need to know how you should distribute your efforts for the best results.

Colvin has practical advice that will lead you to a completely new mindset.

8. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Simple Ways to keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life by Richard Carlson

Your day took the wrong turn because your coffee got cold in the morning?

Was that irrelevant thing worthy of ruining your mood?

Your mind is full of clutter.

When you clear it away, you’ll experience the most liberating sensation ever.

In this book, Richard Carlson teaches you how to get rid of unnecessary stress.

Even people who don’t like self-help or most inspirational books love this one.

So you should definitely get your hands on it!

9. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Remember how you were as a kid?

You had a natural ability to wonder about everything around you.

As you grew up, you lost that tendency and things became ‘clearer’.

No, nothing became clearer – you just stopped wondering!

The Little Prince is a beautiful book that will remind you about the true meaning of love, friendship, and curiosity.

It will also remind you of the unnecessary complexity of grownups.

Sometimes, you just need to awaken the little kid inside you, and you’ll instantly feel better.

10. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

This is a masterpiece full of wisdom and motivational thoughts.

You’ll discover the meaning of love, family, food, joy, work, sorrow, and many other aspects of your life.

Ultimately, it all comes down to self-knowledge.

This is not a conventional self-help book; it’s prose will encourage you to ask questions and seek for real answers.

The Right Inspirational Books Can Save Your Life

Maybe there is a reason behind all that suffering people go through.

Nevertheless, you can’t even think about discovering those reasons when you hit a low point.

During times of great obstacles, it’s difficult to stay positive – even if loved ones try to make you feel better.

Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, pick up a book and force yourself to go through the first few pages.

After that, you won’t even have to try; you’ll just read knowing that you’re slowly healing.