5 Books That Will Get You Out Of A Funk And Make You Feel Inspired Again
On March 2 for the past 20 years, areas of world have unified in celebration of one of the most important inventions ever: books.
Initiated as a method of getting kids under 18 to read more in the UK and Ireland, World Book Day Ltd. sends book vouchers to children from participating schools, who can then take them to a book store and redeem them for one of 10 pre-selected free books.
But thanks to the internet, an abridged version of World Book Day has expanded all across the globe.
The idea has gained so much popularity, it hit number one on Twitter trends today.
So to celebrate this worthy cause, we've come up with a list of some of the most inspiring books, in any genre, to read when you're in a funk.
1. "Let The Great World Spin"
Let The Great World Spin, $10, Amazon
Set in New York City during the '70s, Colum McCann's novel immerses the reader in a 400-page lesson on human connectedness and the beauty of circumstance.
The author integrates the stories of multiple different protagonists, unconnected, into one beautifully fragmented statement on the truth of how life works.
Though suffering is the theme throughout some of the longer portions of the novel, the end wraps everything up in a very satisfying way.
New York Times' John Maher said this book is "one of the most electric, profound novels I have read in years."
2. "I Am The Messenger"
I Am the Messenger, $6, Amazon
Written by the author of best-seller "The Book Thief," "I Am The Messenger" follows the story of a 19-year-old boy who lacks the confidence or the drive to accomplish anything, but some mysterious external force turns him into exactly who he is meant to be.
In a story about fulfillment, taking risks and accomplishing what you've set out to do, the reader is able to watch as the protagonist matures throughout the course of the novel.
3. "Milk and Honey"
Milk and Honey, $9, Amazon
When you're heartbroken, avoiding poetry is a safe bet.
Sylvia Plath or Alfred Tennyson could lull you into a catatonic depressed state from which some never return.
But Rupi Kaur's "Milk and Honey" has a different effect.
Split into sections named after their purpose (the hurting, the loving, the breaking, the healing), this book is a must-read for anyone ready to cauterize old wounds.
A biblical reference to the promised land, "Milk and Honey" brings any tormented reader to an enlightened state of self-reflection that may have taken years to accomplish alone.
4. "The Alchemist"
The Alchemist, $14, Amazon
Translated from the original Portuguese into 69 different languages, this international best-seller written by Paulo Coelho has touched millions of people around the world with its allegorical message.
The story follows a young man named Santiago who allows a reoccurring dream to shape his destiny, with the help of others along the way.
It's a story about personal destiny, and self-reflection.
The most telling quote in the novel is, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
So whether you believe in that or not, it's a best seller for a reason.
5. "The Stranger"
The Stranger, $8, Amazon
Introducing a different kind of inspiring to the list: Albert Camus' "The Stranger" takes conventional wisdom and flips it on its head.
At first, indifference may seem like the core theme of the novel, considering the protagonist, Meursault, moves through his own life like a third party. He takes in everything and gives nothing.
But it's not his attitude that inspires; it's his mindset.
It's the deference with which the main character approaches circumstances that he does not understand that teaches many to remove themselves emotionally and investigate intellectually.
I had been right, I was still right, I was always right. I had lived my life one way and I could just as well have lived it another. I had done this and I hadn't done that. I hadn't done this thing but I had done another. And so?
