Inspirational Books for Students of Life

No matter your age or socioeconomic status, these inspirational books for students of life apply to us all. Life is full of ups and downs. These inspiring titles are filled with timeless wisdom and observations. Experience the emotions as these authors share their life experiences with you, offering hope and encouragement. Fellow students of life, I hope you are able to find a something on this list that inspires you as you study life and all of its many nuances. May these titles give you just what you need.

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An Encouraging Inspirational Book for Students of Life

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa Terkeurst is the cathartic account of encountering God amidst struggles. At the time she wrote this book, in 2018, Terkeurst was not sure what the outcome of her situation would be. She wrote of hope in the midst of a painful betrayal. The author was so real and honest. If you know someone who is dealing with a painful relationship situation, this would be an excellent book to recommend. Even if you are not going through difficulties, this book will help foster empathy for those who are.

A Touching Inspirational Book for Students of Life

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi was recommended to me by my son, who had to read it as part of his studies. I always value shared literary experiences with my kids, so I jumped at the opportunity to have another. This memoir is heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. One word of caution: There is a bit of profanity in the midst of tense situations. The author eloquently shares his journey from medical resident to cancer patient. One of my favorite parts was when he shared how he returned to his faith, prior to his cancer diagnosis, after years of soul-searching. I found myself joining in with his victories and disappointments during his illness. It’s not often that a book moves me to tears, but this one did. I learned so much about empathy, and I even gave the book a rare (for me) five star rating on the Goodreads site. This is an emotional journey you will be grateful for.

Funny Inspirational Books for Students of Life

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff is a humorous retelling of the author’s adventures as he embraces life and spreads love to those he encounters. The way the author relates his amazing true life stories made me want to be more spontaneous and giving. I found myself looking at those around me with a new perspective. This book is a light-hearted, memorable masterpiece that will encourage and motivate readers to perform loving acts of kindness with enthusiasm everyday.

Everybody,  Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff is the follow-up to Love Does. In it, the author attempts to answer the question, “Whom should we love?” With anecdotes from his life, Goff illustrates loving others without allowing inhibitions to hold him back. The results are amazing. His no-boundaries approach to loving others is something I found myself wanting to emulate as I read this inspirational book.

One of the Deepest Inspirational Books I’ve Ever Read

The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A.W. Tozer is a fantastic book for those seeking to understand God more deeply. This book is considered to be a Christian classic, and yet I had never heard of it until our pastor suggested it as a book our whole congregation should read. I hardly ever buy books, but I spent the money on this one (the church bookstore offered it at a bargain price). If you read this book, you might need to take it slowly. This insightful book about the nature of God changed the way I experience God in my daily life.

One of the Most Useful Inspirational Books I’ve Ever Read

Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk by Dr. Ben Carson helped me to rethink the way I make decisions. Within the pages of this excellent inspirational book, Dr. Carson illustrates the way he makes decisions. As a pediatric neurosurgeon (now the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development), Dr. Carson faced life-and-death situations everyday. The decisions I usually have to make are much less serious, but I can still use the same method detailed by Dr. Carson in his book. I still use this method today, and it has helped make my decision-making process go much more smoothly.

One of the Most Thought-Provoking Books I’ve Ever Read

Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman is a touching book about a mother’s struggle to find hope after the unthinkable happens. Chapman desperately searched for God’s presence when her young daughter was killed in a tragic accident. This book chronicles Chapman’s quest to find her way forward as she wrestled with her grief. In sharing her moving story, Chapman provides hope for others dealing with loss in their lives. Even though I have not experienced a loss as profound, I feel better-prepared to face losses that may come because of Chapman’s honesty about her journey.

Where Would I be Without Goodreads?

Before I conclude, I must mention that I am thankful for my Goodreads app and the corresponding website. This is not a paid endorsement for the Goodreads company. I just feel like a more organized reader because of my free account. Due to Goodreads, I am able to easily look up books I have read. I am also able to make note of any books I would like to read, and I’m so grateful. If you are an avid reader, I highly recommend their services.