When I think about all the books I’ve read over the years, hundreds, maybe even thousands, there are only a few that really stuck with me. These are the books I randomly remember in the middle of a conversation, or when something happens in my life and my mind immediately goes, “Ah, this reminds me of that book…”

Some of them even changed the way I react to things or the way I understand people. So I figured it’s worth putting together a small list of these books that have left a real mark on me.

Think Again by Adam Grant

I’ve always felt that confidence needs to sit somewhere in the middle. Not too low that you freeze, and not too high that you turn into someone who never listens. Think Again made this idea make so much more sense to me.

What really stayed with me was how easily we cling to our beliefs. Ironically, the people who refuse to rethink the most are usually the ones in charge of big decisions. They speak the loudest, and their confidence spreads, even when they’re wrong.

This book reminded me how important it is to stay open, curious, and willing to question myself, even if it’s uncomfortable. Especially now, with AI changing everything so quickly.

As I get older, I feel myself agreeing with Adam Grant more. I want to be someone who can say, “Okay, I’ve changed my mind,” and not feel weird about it. Journaling and writing on this blog help me see how my thinking shifts over time. I honestly wish younger me kept a journal so I could see how many times I’ve unknowingly “thought again.”

Range by David Epstein

Range was a huge wake-up call for me. Like, “Oh… this explains my early life” kind of wake-up call.

I grew up in a very academic-focused environment. My career path as well as most of my friends’ were kind of set before we even knew who we were. So there wasn’t much space to try different hobbies or explore random interests. No “let’s see what I like.” It was more like, “Here’s the plan, stick to it.”

Reading this book made me realize how much I missed out on what Epstein calls the “sampling period,” a time to just experiment and try things without pressure. No wonder I sometimes felt unprepared or unsure in a world that’s full of uncertainty.

After Range, I started giving myself permission to try everything. Seriously, everything. I stopped calling things a waste of time. I learned to love the way experiences from one part of life unexpectedly help me in another. And slowly, I’m getting to know myself in a way I didn’t get to earlier.

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Looking back at these books, I realize how each one shaped the way I think and move through the world. That’s what I love about reading: how a sentence, a story, or even a single idea can stay with you long after you close the book.

This list will keep growing as I discover new titles that challenge or comfort me, and I’ll update it regularly as my mindset continues to evolve.

I hope a few of these titles find their way to you too, and that they spark the same kind of reflection and calm motivation they gave me.