We are huge book fans here in our household. While I love both digital and physical books, my husband is a purist – he only wants books with actual pages he can hold in his hand. When selecting the books on this list, I kept both of us in mind. I chose books I knew he’d love and books that I’d love. The best part of this list of life changing books? They were all available on Thriftbooks.com for an amazing price using their Thrift Deals section.
Six Life Changing Books
1. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The evacuation of Jews from Nazi-held Denmark is one of the great untold stories of World War II. On September 29, 1943, word got out in Denmark that Jews were to be detained and then sent to the death camps. Within hours the Danish resistance, population and police arranged a small flotilla to herd 7,000 Jews to Sweden. Lois Lowry fictionalizes a true-story account to bring this courageous tale to life. She brings the experience to life through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johannesen, whose family harbors her best friend, Ellen Rosen, on the eve of the round-up and helps smuggles Ellen’s family out of the country. Number the Stars won the 1990 Newbery Medal.
The Holocaust through the eyes of a child. People of all ages should read this book.
2. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk is an excellent communication tool kit based on a series of workshops developed by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. Faber and Mazlish (coauthors of Siblings Without Rivalry) provide a step-by-step approach to improving relationships in your house. The “Reminder” pages, helpful cartoon illustrations, and excellent exercises will improve your ability as a parent to talk and problem-solve with your children. The book can be used alone or in parenting groups, and the solid tools provided are appropriate for kids of all ages.
If you’re a parent then this book is invaluable. Practical advice and tools that you need to be more effective at communicating with your child.
3. Getting to Yes by Fisher, Ury and Patton
Since its original publication nearly thirty years ago, Getting to Yes has helped millions of people learn a better way to negotiate. One of the primary business texts of the modern era, it is based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project, a group that deals with all levels of negotiation and conflict resolution. Getting to Yes offers a proven, step-by-step strategy for coming to mutually acceptable agreements in every sort of conflict. Thoroughly updated and revised, it offers readers a straight-forward, universally applicable method for negotiating personal and professional disputes without getting angry-or getting taken.
A Harvard Negotiation project helps people for thirty years find a win-win situation without conflict? I think everyone needs to read this book!
4. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman
The Western cultures esteem analytical skills measured by IQ tests: but there is clearly more to success and happiness, even in technological societies, than IQ alone. Goleman has written one of the best books on the nature and importance of other kinds of intelligence besides our perhaps overly beloved IQ.
With the popularity of Disney’s new film Inside Out – more light is being shed on teaching children about EQ. A high emotional intelligence, I believe, is much more important than a high IQ. This books and learning how to improve your EQ is a MUST for all people.
5. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Essayist and cultural critic Barbara Ehrenreich has always specialized in turning received wisdom on its head with intelligence, clarity, and verve. With some 12 million women being pushed into the labor market by welfare reform, she decided to do some good old-fashioned journalism and find out just how they were going to survive on the wages of the unskilled–at $6 to $7 an hour, only half of what is considered a living wage. So she did what millions of Americans do, she looked for a job and a place to live, worked that job, and tried to make ends meet.
Unable to make ends meet on minimum wage, you realize the plight of many working poor in this eye opening book. It gives you a glimpse into the struggle for those living in poverty.
6. Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans. Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them. It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love-a love so strong she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers. The triumphant story of this remarkable young woman’s journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.
A gripping book about God, love, forgiveness and victory – Left To Tell, though a Christian book at its core is truly a book that all can benefit from reading. I HIGHLY recommend this life changing book.
What books would you add to this list and why?
Remember, a ThriftBooks.com you’ll find so many great books at amazing prices. You’ll even find (like I did with the above six) Thrift Deals:
- 2 books for $7
- 3 books for $10
- 4 books for $12
- each additional is $3
Reading Rewards Membership >> You get rewarded for shopping! For every $50 spent you’ll get a $5 coupon.
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What are you waiting for? Check out ThriftBooks.com today!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
These are all great books. I’m definitely looking into the one about talking and listening to kids.
These all are great picks! I especially like the talking and listening kids one, I am always gravitated towards books like that to pick up some mothering tips.
i have been wanting to read left to tell, thanks for the list 🙂
I actually wasn’t familiar with four of those titles. I do love to read and wish I had more time to do it, but I generally prefer fiction.
Those are really great books. I have the How to Talk so Kids Will Listen book. Thanks for the other suggestions. I am always looking for different books to read!