All of Them

What Books Do I Want to Read?

If I’m being honest, the answer is all of them. Every book, every story, every word that has the potential to shape me, challenge me, and transform me into a better version of myself calls out to be read. But here’s the thing: it’s not the books themselves that hold the power—it’s what we do with them. A great book is only as valuable as the action it inspires and the change it creates in us.

I’ve been reflecting on this idea as I work through modern classics like James Clear’s Atomic Habits, Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Donald Miller’s Hero on a Mission and Building a StoryBrand. Each of these books offers a framework for living intentionally, crafting habits that stick, and becoming the hero of your own story. But their wisdom only becomes transformative when it’s implemented. Reading is just the first step. The real magic happens when we take what we’ve read and apply it to our daily lives.

For instance, Atomic Habits reminds us that small, consistent actions compound over time. If I read a book and walk away unchanged, that’s a missed opportunity. But if I take even one insight—one small habit—and begin to act on it, I set the stage for lasting transformation. Covey takes this further, emphasizing the importance of aligning our daily actions with our deeper values and principles. His concept of “sharpening the saw” (habit seven) calls us to prioritize self-renewal in four areas: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Reading books that inspire us is part of sharpening that saw, but it’s the reflection and action afterward that sharpen us.

Donald Miller, on the other hand, invites us to step into the role of the hero in our own lives. His framework from Hero on a Mission challenges us to write a story worth living. We’re not passive consumers of life or of books; we are active participants, called to create, to build, and to impact others. Reading helps us see the possibilities of what could be, but living those possibilities is where the story truly unfolds.

And yet, as I dive into these modern works, I also feel the pull of the ancients. Texts like the Upanishads or the Kalevala—deep wells of wisdom from other times and places—remind us that the questions we wrestle with are not new. What does it mean to live well? How do we align ourselves with what is true, good, and beautiful? How do we navigate the journey of life in a way that honors who we are and who we’re becoming? These timeless works may not hand us answers, but they guide us toward deeper understanding and invite us to bring that wisdom into our present context.

Ultimately, the books I want to read aren’t just about the ideas they contain. They’re about the people behind them—people who lived with authenticity, depth, and purpose. I’m drawn to authors who have proven themselves to be seekers of truth, creators of beauty, and builders of meaning. Their books become more than words on a page; they become an invitation to join them on a journey of discovery.

But none of it—ancient or modern, philosophical or practical—will matter if I don’t act. The words, the stories, the insights—these are just seeds. It’s up to me to plant them, water them, and nurture them until they bear fruit. My reading isn’t just about inspiration; it’s about transformation. I want to live the kind of life that these books talk about—a life of intention, growth, and impact.

So yes, I want to read all the books. But more importantly, I want to live them.

Here is a list of books that I want to read for the first time, or again:

Ancient Wisdom

The Bhagavad Gita – A spiritual dialogue that explores themes of duty, purpose, and the eternal nature of the soul.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Stoic reflections on how to live with virtue, clarity, and resilience.

The Tao Te Ching by Laozi – A poetic guide to finding balance and living in harmony with the natural flow of life.

Classic Literature

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri – An epic journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, rich with allegory and spiritual insight.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – A sharp and witty exploration of love, class, and human relationships in Regency-era England.

Walden by Henry David Thoreau – A reflective masterpiece on simplicity, self-reliance, and the search for meaning in nature.

Modern Gems

Atomic Habits by James Clear – A transformative guide to building better habits and breaking bad ones through small, consistent changes.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl – A powerful exploration of purpose and resilience in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – A beautiful blend of Indigenous wisdom and ecological science, emphasizing reciprocity with the natural world.