I am Looking For A Good Book to Inspire Me

I want to feel inspired. For a while now, I have been wanting to improve myself and do something that will have a positive impact on my life. Despite this, I have been somewhat complacent.

I am looking for a good novel to inspire me. To want to read a deeply moving book that I can't help but shed tears at how much I can relate to the protagonist of the story. I want to read a book that beautifully describes the struggles/hardships of the main character and also beautifully describes their inspiring ability to fight on in the face of adversity.

I want a book that would make me think, such that it would get me thinking more clearly about my own life.

Does anyone have any good ideas for such a book (I know, the criteria here is kinda long)?

P.S. Just a side thought. I also want a book that isn't too difficult to read.

One of my most favorite books that I would recommend to anyone would be

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Now I don't know if that's the kind of book you're looking for but it's definitely a good read...not difficult to read and not extremely long. I hope you enjoy it...sorry I couldn't be of anymore help.

whoa!! i was going to recommend the alchemist also. its a very quick easy read, but full of inspiration. you'll like it. you'll probably start quoting it. not exactly a novel, but everyone should read this one

Interesting. Two people recommending the same book (it must be good then). Any other recommendations? For now, I am going to at least look up book reviews about "The Alchemist".

This isn't a novel, per say, but it is very inspiring and it has changed my life. Check out "Letters to a Young Poet" by Rainer Maria Rilke. Another good (but very long) novel is "Les Miserables" by Victore Hugo. It's a very hard read, but you really connect with the protagonist and his struggles over the years of trying to be someone he's not. A great inspirational tale. I would suggest the shorter, abridged version.

Another good (but very long) novel is "Les Miserables" by Victore Hugo. It's a very hard read, but you really connect with the protagonist and his struggles over the years of trying to be someone he's not. A great inspirational tale. I would suggest the shorter, abridged version.

What a coincidence! I just bought "Les Miserables" shortly before I started this thread. I plan on reading it later tonight .

What is the Alchemist about?

In a nutshell, the Alchemist is about not being afraid of following your dreams...the story itself is about a boy who sets out on a journey from Spain to the deserts of Egypt to find a buried treasure. Along the way, he meets a gypsy, a "king", and an alchemist who try to help point him in the right direction. He's also faced with many obstacles and has to find it within himself to overcome these obstacles and continue searching for his treasure.

I love the Alchemist, I'm Christian, and there are so many references in there, goodness its such a great read!!

Weird. I am currently reading "Les Miserables" for the first time.

A dear friend recommended it.

My personal favorite lifechanging book has been "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoyevsky. But it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Your best bet is to walk into a big gorgeous bookstore and peruse until you find something that truly 'pulls' you.

It may be something shocking and odd - if so, go with it.

Sometimes cookbooks have changed my life. Ya never know what's gonna do it for ya'

I almost hate to do this for all the worms that could come out of the can (or caterpillars, depending on your political/philosophical perspective), but go read The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. If you liked that, read Atlas Shrugged.

Bonds that make us Free

Awesome one too

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Maybe not inspiring, but it does make you think. Oh and, don't cheat and go to the movie. Books give such better details

I suggest reading 'The Shadow of the Wind' by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

The only non-fantasy fiction novel I've ever read an enjoyed.

There's something about the book and the story, everything is so... real, alive.

Curious George and Green Eggs and Ham have always inspired me.....then again I'm easy to please

"I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb.

If you have not read it, it has to be the classic "Le comte de Monte Cristo", by Alexandre Dumas.

I'm a little on the opposite end of the spectrum. I recomend a book called Evasion. It's a true story of a kid who quit his job and travels the country hopping freight trains and shoplifting (for seven years before he ended up in prison). Although there are a lot of structural flaws and you're going to get a lot of his philosophy in the book, it's definitely a book that I've read nothing like.

"The Kite Runner"

1) Inspiring:

- a book about a boy who puts a friendship before all else and makes a great sacrifice it

- a book about his friend who goes to great lengths to repay that sacrifice many years later

- a book about fathers and sons

2) Fascinating read about Afghanistan and it's culture before war ripped it apart

In technical terms: unputdownable!

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Maybe not inspiring, but it does make you think. Oh and, don't cheat and go to the movie. Books give such better details

Really? I thought it was just humorous science fiction... not even close to anything life-changing. Anyway, the book was so much better than the movie... they had different plots as well.

I agree that you should go look around in a bookstore. Everyone has a different life, so what may be life-changing for someone else may not be life-changing or even interesting for you.

The Kite Runner is seconded from me...such an amazing book!!!

Also, I recommend "The Five People you Meet in Heaven" - really makes you think about how you affect others and how they affect you in your life.

Also, "Tuesdays with Morrie" is amazing. Both books by Mitch Albom.

Got 2 suggestions:

Jean-Dominique Bauby: 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'

its short, you'll read it in an afternoon and its very profound. makes you love yor life

Sebastian Faulks 'Birdsong ' Love/Loss. V. powerful

I read "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri and "Interpreter of Maladies" by her as well. The Namesake was an excellent novel and Interpreter was short stories, but I liked them a lot.

I also read "When the Emperor was Divine", and that was great too.

I'm reading a book right now called: "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" Its by Mitch Albom. The book is about a person who thought they led an insignificant, and ordinary life on earth, and then he meets five people in heaven who show him that he did indeed lead a significant life...etc. So far, I like it, It is definitely thought provoking.

I thought Catcher in The Rye was "inspiring".