During adolescence, teenagers go through many changes, be they physical or mental. They also go through a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
In this complex journey of exploration, teenagers search for their identity, and relationships and work on personal development. In this exploration tour, life-changing books can bring great learning experiences and value for them. These invaluable books will not only provide them with an opportunity to learn something new but also help them develop their perspective and critical thinking.
Therefore, it becomes crucial to explore new domains and learn valuable lessons that can change their lives. In this blog, we bring 5 books that can completely transform a teenager’s perspective. Let’s begin!
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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Based on- Empathy, Morality, and Social Justice
This book is a classical novel that is based on the themes of racial injustice, social justice, morality and compassion. The novel is set in the South America of the 1930s. The story of the novel is told by Scout Finch, a young girl, who along with her brother Jem and friend Dill tries to figure out the mystery of Boo Radley, who lives in their neighbourhood. In this journey, they come across a lot of challenges.
The novel tries to explore and bring to light the notion of racism and social inequality of that period. Moreover, the author tries to emphasise the subjects of morality and empathy. The title “To Kill a Mockingbird” has in itself a deep meaning, it symbolises the ruthless destruction of innocence, as mockingbirds are harmless birds that are famous for their beauty.
The novel’s narrative assimilates in itself the complexities of life and the expectations of society. The novel has garnered much attention, praise and appreciation from the literary fraternity. Furthermore, it was well received by the readers and critics. To be honest, this novel can be regarded as one of the evergreen novels of all time due to its relevance in the present world. If someone reads it, he will relate the story to the current scenarios that make this novel timeless and thought-provoking.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Based on- Chasing Dreams and Personal Legends
This novel is a work of fiction which is based on the story of Santiago, a young shepherd boy, who embarks on an undertaking to fulfil his legend and find out the true meaning of life. The story is set in the background of a fictional yet beautiful world. In the story, the protagonist meets a series of characters and gets to experience a lot of things. As a result, he develops a better understanding of the universe and shapes his destiny.
The novel examines the themes of dreams, destiny, and the pursuit of happiness. Santiago’s exploration is a symbolic journey of self-discovery, where he discovers the importance of listening to his heart and following his dreams. Despite the hurdles and distractions, he chose to move towards his goal. “The Personal Legend” is the central motif of the story that one can relate to one’s personal life.
The author creates a story combining the concepts of mysticism, spirituality and the power of belief and inspires readers to reflect on their pursuit of dreams. “The Alchemist” has become one of the highly regarded and Life-changing books due to its profound wisdom and valuable messages. This novel is read not only to learn life lessons but also to appreciate the literary masterpiece created by the author.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Based on- Longing of Lonely Children, The mocking of bigotry
This book is one of the life-changing book recommendations for teenagers. The book is the autobiography of the American writer and poet Maya Angelou. It describes the young and early days of her life. The book is centred upon the Southern part of America going through racial war in the 1930s and 1940s.
Being an Afro-American, Angelou has to face the challenges of racism, mental and physical trauma and the crisis of identity. She not only has a troubled childhood but she also has to face abuse. The author talks about the issues of racism and gender discrimination using the lyrical prose style. She offers the readers a vivid account of her experiences as an Afro-American woman.
The autobiography is not only celebrated for its satire and portrayal of social evils like racism and social discrimination but also for lessons on ways to rise above adversity.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Based on- How to change your and other people’s behaviours
This book by Dale Carnegie is the epitome of a perfect classic self-help book. For teenagers, the book is so valuable that they can learn valuable lessons related to human relations and shape their character. The author has done tremendous research on psychology and general ideas to offer practical advice to improve communication and form valuable relationships. These reasons make it valuable to be featured in our list of 5 life-changing books.
The author in the book talks about the basic ways and skills required for influencing people and winning them. Moreover, he talks about techniques to remember names, to offer appreciation and to show interest towards someone or something. Further, Carnegie in this seminal work, talks about the importance of active listening and avoiding criticism. The principles that he discusses in the book are so simple and easy to follow, yet they have a huge positive impact on one’s life.
In today’s world, where having connections, and good interpersonal skills can greatly benefit an individual, the book is a must-read for teenagers. The book doesn’t teach anything like an academic book, it teaches you practical ways to reinforce the essential principles. In the field of self-improvement, this book has garnered so much positive feedback that it become a hit worldwide. If you wish to work on your personal growth and at the same time want to learn some important lessons of life, you can read this book.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Based on- Redefining the boundaries of possibility by thinking differently
Published in 2007, “The 4-Hour Workweek” is an ingenious book that raises questions about the traditional way of work, time and success. The author brings a model to escape from the rat race of 9-to-5 and achieve success by prioritising time over wealth.
Ferris talks about the concept of “lifestyle design.” rooting for the outsourcing of human resources for the tasks and automation process. The author shares real-life examples, anecdotes and case studies on how one can beat the concept of long work hours and create a mindful way to earn and grow.
The book is one of the life-changing books that can change your perspective on life, growth and finances completely. The author talks about unconventional ways to beat the old system to gain productivity and efficiency. He also talks about financial independence which is quite important for teenagers. It is a good read if you wish to grow financially and escape the 09-to-05 system.
Conclusion
Reading is one of the most beneficial habits that one should have. It not only helps you learn something new but also changes your perspective. Furthermore, it helps you form a critical way of thinking. Life-changing books like, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Alchemist and The 4-Hour Workweek are quite helpful if you want to learn and grow in your life. These books will make your teenage years easier at the same time, they will help you grow.
Shreya Bhatt