The next time you pick up a book, take a few minutes to consider just how powerful it actually is. It may seem like a few pieces of paper glued into a bit of cardboard but for centuries the humble book has been inspiring people, transforming lives and acting as the catalyst for revolutionary change.

Some people don’t believe that it’s possible to completely change your life with the help of a book. We beg to differ. Why? Well if you really think about it, the book is just the physical manifestation of an idea or a series of ideas and we all know how powerful ideas can be once they take root in your mind.

If you’re sceptical about the impact that a single book can have on you, then we urge you to pick up a copy of one of the following and see if it can manage to change your perspective.

Here are five books that have the potential to shake up your world and transform things for the better.

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1. “The Power” by Rhonda Byrne
Chances are you will have heard of Rhonda Byrne’s first book The Secret, however, in terms of content it’s The Power that will offer you concepts that can completely change how you view things. The book focuses on the positive impact that love can have on every single area of your life. It’s an incredibly easy read and to be honest? It’s so engaging you’ll find it hard to put down.

Rhonda maintains that every single problem in your life can be resolved by choosing to focus on the positive and by sending love to the issue. She also speaks about the importance of grattitude and why having fun is essential when it comes to leading a joyful, fulfilled life. It’s definitely a must-read.

2. “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise L. Hay
Louise L. Hay is widely considered to be a revolutionary in the field of positive writing. Her best-selling book You Can Heal Your Life is one of the most significant works to ever be published and despite the fact that it’s 29 years old, it’s still shifting copies.

Louise’s idea is simple. She believes that if you’re willing to put in the mental work, you can heal almost everything in your life (both physical and mental problems). According to Louise, the things we think about ourselves eventually become the truth for us. Every thought we think creates an experience in our life. If we keep having negative thoughts, eventually they’ll manifest themselves as physical illnesses in our bodies.  It sounds like a wild concept but give it a chance and you’ll be hooked.

3. “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Toll
One of Oprah’s favourite books, The Power of Now has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 30 languages.

This book is all about living in the moment and learning how to find your true self. It’s a spiritual read but the advice is solid and will definitely make you re-evaluate your own life.

According to Toll, the only way to achieve true enlightenment is to live fully in the present moment and not to worry about the past or the future. It’s the perfect read if you want to just be happy with your life on a minute by minute basis, instead of stressing out over what may or may not happen in the future.

4. “Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers
Widely considered to be an absolute masterpiece, Susan’s book Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway  is all about helping you to release yourself from those niggly fears that stop you from doing what you want to do.

In the book, Susan argues that we waste too much time trying to make our mental state perfect. Basically we try and force ourselves to feel happy or motivated or optimistic. According to Jeffers, it’s much more beneficial for us to accept the fact that we have limited control over our emotions and to find ways in which we can live alongside them. It’s definitely an interesting read that will change how you relate to your emotions.

5. “The Art Of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama
Nearly every time you see the Dalai Lama he’s laughing or smiling. His happiness has a ripple effect and usually the people around him are all smiling too.

This is considered to be the definitive book on happiness and it’s a wonderful read. According to the Dalai Lama, happiness is the main purpose of life and everything we strive towards is just to make ourselves happy. This book offers a simple, easy-to-understand guide on how to find happiness in your own life and, more importantly, how to make it stay.