Books That Will Change Your Life

The purpose of this post is to put in writing my strong affection for these books that have had such a significant impact on my life. I've titled it as Books That Will Change Your Life because they have changed my life, my outlook on life, and my fundamental way of thinking. I've put together a collage of images of each book cover and the rest of the post will treat each book individually, where I first encountered them, and how they affected me. I am writing this post as a means of sharing with you what I consider to be the most influential (non-scriptural) books in my life.

Alive In Christ by Robert Millet:
This book was given to me to read while on my mission by my mission president. In essence, Robert Millet discusses the process of becoming converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most of his chapters are framed in the form of personal experiences and questions. He truly helped me consider my own personal conversion, as well as my commitment to the church.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand:
I picked this book up on a whim. For some reason I felt the need to expand my exposure to books that were acclaimed as "Classics." My first attempt at reading it ended after trudging through the first 70 pages. I was incredibly depressed by the dreary world painted by the author and didn't really want to continue reading it. A few months later, I had a conversation with a friend and he had nothing but positive things to say about it, which got me curious enough to pick it up again. Warning: This is not a light read, and you have to really commit to it.
After everything was said and done, this book really emphasized for me the importance of working for your own keep. It also really highlighted for me the conflict between charitable giving and a welfare society. There is also a very interesting dissertation on why money is not the root of all evil. If you're looking for a book to make you consider the socio-economic issues this is it.

The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute:
I read this book after having read Leadership and Self Deception, also written by the Arbinger Institute. I was introduced to this book on accident through a leadership lecture and it hit me like a brick to the head. This book focuses personal perceptions and interpersonal interactions. I can't do the subject matter justice my self, so all I can really say is that I firmly believe everyone in the world should read this book. If we could all live by the concepts therein, the world would be a better place.

The Peacegiver by James Ferrell:
This book was given to Amber and I as a wedding present. We put it on a book shelf and it sat there for 6 months before a friend of ours recommended the book. Turns out James Ferrell is the managing director of the Arbinger Institute. He's taken the lessons of The Anatomy of Peace and wrapped them in the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Again, read it.

The Travelers Gift by Andy Andrews:
This book was recommended by Justus and Tara, and again this is another one of those "self help" books that helps focus your mind on simple concepts that are worth considering. The book is well written and very engaging.

Essays on Approaching Zion by Hugh Nibbley:
I was recently introduced to this book by my father, Larry. I have never actually picked the book up, (Audio book) but Hugh does a great job in questioning everyday activities and events and makes you think about your own relationship to God and others. It's similar in fashion to Alive in Christ, but where Millet uses every day events to illustrate his points, Nibbley couches everything he has to say in "academic-speak." Amber listened to part of it with me and she was put off by his over use of big words. Regardless, he makes some good points and makes you think about things that you might consider to be "conventional wisdom."

None of these books are what I would consider a one time read, in fact, I would recommend reading them numerous times as they all have multiple layers in them for digesting.