7 Books That Will Change Your Perspective On Life

Reading is the perfect way to learn more about the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home.

If you want to broaden your perspective, books are a great way to learn about culture, history, philosophy, and much more.

Here are seven books that can change your perspective on life.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

This 1966 novel is a feminist retelling of Jane Eyre. If you enjoy classic novels, this book is a must-read. It explores the social and political context of the time the book was written. The character of Antionette narrates the story as she discusses her childhood in Jamaica in a postcolonial world. 

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

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Both non-fiction and fiction stories can inform, entertain, and broaden your horizons. This non-fiction book is about humanity, from the Stone Age to the 21st century. It explores humans through the lens of social and natural sciences, taking into account biology, psychology, and much more.

It’s a great read if you want to learn more about how humans got to where we are now, and it’s also very entertaining.

The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson

This award-winning book is a genre-bending memoir that incorporates philosophy theory. The book is about the author’s romantic relationship with transgender artist Harry Dodge and also covers topics of pregnancy, family, death, language, and much more. 

It’s a very unique book that will challenge how you think about many things in the world around you and prompt you to examine everything more deeply.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Braiding Sweetgrass is another non-fiction book. It’s about Indigenous knowledge of nature, including plants and science.

The author weaves stories of Indigenous culture and approaches to science in a compelling narrative that will challenge how you view the natural world. This book seeks to teach a complementary or differing view of the Western approach to science.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

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The God of Small Things is a drama novel about a family in India in 1960. The story follows fraternal twins throughout their childhood and explores cultural and social issues of the time, including the caste system and human behavior.

It’s a beautifully written novel that will cause you to reflect on human nature.

This Is Chance: The Great Alaska Earthquake, Genie Chance, and the Shattered City She Held Together by Jon Mooallem

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Want to learn about something unique and specific you’ve probably never thought about before? This 2020 non-fiction book is about the historic 1964 earthquake in Alaska. It follows the story of Genie Chance, a young reporter who broadcast for three days straight in the aftermath of the natural disaster.

It’s a riveting and compassionate story that’s especially timely as the world navigates increasingly dangerous extreme weather.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley

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This autobiography was written by Alex Haley, author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Malcolm X himself told Haley the contents of the book through multiple interviews. 

As you read the story of Malcolm X’s life and philosophy, spirituality, and more. Learning more about such an important figure in American history in his own words is eye-opening.

Which book changed your perspective on the world?

There are so many books out there that can broaden your mind and change your perspective. These books can be fiction or non-fiction, old or new, informative or entertaining.

We’d love to hear your favorite books that have changed how you feel about life!