Are you looking for a list of books about courage? Well, we have just the thing for you! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite books that help us understand and explore what it means to be courageous.
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead Brene Brown, Ph.D., 2012
Brown is a professor at the University of Houston, where she researches vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. The book goes beyond simply defining these terms but delves into how you can get in touch with their true meaning.
“Read it if:” You are interested in what vulnerability is and how to use it to your benefit.
“Best quote:” “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”
“You should read it if:” You are open to learning to stand tall even when you are scared out of your mind because being vulnerable is not the same as being weak.
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man and Life’s Greatest Lesson Mitch Albom, 1997
After Mitch Albom’s beloved college professor and mentor, Morrie Schwartz, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), the author returned to his alma mater and visited his teacher every Tuesday. They discussed life and death during those visits and shared their memories of what made them who they were today. As time passed, Morrie’s condition deteriorated, but he remained a source of strength and wisdom for Mitch.
“Read it if:” You want to sit down with your favorite teacher or mentor and recall all those little lessons that made you who you are today.
“Best quote:” “Love is the only rational act.”
“You should read it if:” You want to approach life as an adventure where you take nothing for granted.
The Light of the World: A Memoir Elizabeth Alexander, 2010
In 2009 Elizabeth lost her husband and best friend and wrote several poems about what she was experiencing. Her publisher suggested that she turn those poems into a book, which she ended up writing. The Light of the World is both an honest look at how it feels to lose someone you love and a celebration of that person’s existence while he or she was there.
“Read it if:” You are interested in stories about other people’s lives that can help you find comfort in your own life.
“Best quote:” “His hands, I realize now, were beautiful in the way that all men’s are, but they were nothing like my husband’s hands.”
“You should read it if:” You want to understand what loss feels like and how you can move past it and still appreciate those who are gone.
The Last Lecture Randy Pausch, 2008
When Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2006, he was told to have 3-6 months to live. Instead of wallowing in self-pity or fear, he decided to give a final lecture at Carnegie Mellon University about living life well. Paying tribute to the wisdom of Morrie Schwartz, he talked about his childhood, his family and friends, and all that mattered in his world.
“Read it if:” You are struggling with your mortality or that of a loved one.
“Best quote:” “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people!”
“You should read it if:” You are ready to give up your fear of failure.
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself Michael A. Singer, 2007
The author centers his philosophy of life on the idea that there is a part of ourselves that remains untouched by everything happening in our lives, and it’s this part that we need to reconnect with to find true freedom. The Untethered Soul is a guide that can help you understand what it means to live life from this centered place.
“Read it if:” You want to learn how being vulnerable does not equate to being weak and how life is an ongoing process of becoming familiar with your inner world so that no part of it remains foreign to you.
“Best quote:” “Since there is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands, I want to assure you that the obstacle you encounter now is not a dead-end—it is a path.”
“You should read it if:” You are ready to try something new and break away from the status quo.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, 2016
This is the story of a neurosurgeon diagnosed with cancer and died at age 34. When Breath Becomes Air is an honest and poignant look at what it feels like to know you don’t have much time left and to make peace with your life before it’s over. The book reflects on all that mattered to Paul during his short life, including his experiences as a doctor and the love of his family.
“Read it if:” You are interested in stories about other people’s lives that can help you find comfort in your own life. Or you are ready to make peace with yourself before you die.
“Best quote:” “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . .”
“You should read it if:” You are ready to find your life’s purpose and follow it through no matter how difficult it gets.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, 1993
Paulo Coelho shares with us his wisdom between the pages of The Alchemist—a story that follows a young shepherd boy on a journey towards fulfilling his Personal Legend. From Spain to Egypt, the boy learns many lessons that help him in his quest for happiness and personal fulfillment before he finally returns home with a treasure he could never have imagined.
“Read it if:” You are looking for inspiration to break out of your comfort zone and follow your dreams instead of listening to other people’s opinions about what you should do with your life.
“Best quote:” “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
“You should read it if:” You are ready to follow your path instead of conforming to expectations that other people have for you.
The Light of the World: A Memoir by Elizabeth Alexander, 2011
This memoir centers on the poet’s experience of dealing with grief after her husband suddenly passes away. It explores how one goes about finding acceptance in the face of loss and gives advice on how to create rituals that can help you heal after experiencing a profound loss.
“Read it if:” You want to learn how to deal with your grief and find hope again after a traumatic event.
“Best quote:” “But there is always one certainty—we are all, each of us, going to die.”
“You should read it if:” You are ready to face your fears and reclaim the life you lost.
The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chodron, 2001
Pema Chodron is a Buddhist nun and an expert on fear. In The Places That Scare You, she advises on overcoming fear and living a more fulfilling life. She talks about how we can learn to relate to our emotions in a way that allows us to let go of their power over us and move on toward being happier.
“Read it if:” You are ready to learn how to deal with your negative emotions healthily so you can let go of them and enjoy life more.
“Best quote:” “The truth is that there is no safety, only margin for error. This is the wisdom of insecurity.”
“You should read it if:” You are ready to reclaim your power over yourself and your life.
Sit, Walk, Don’t Talk: How I Survived a Silent Meditation Retreat by Jennifer Howd, 2014
This book reflects Jennifer’s five days spent on a silent meditation retreat. Many people have trouble meditating, and she talks about her own experience of going through with it anyway—all the way through being so frustrated by the process that she tries to leave without finishing it. Her story provides a good introduction to anyone interested in learning the basics of meditation.
“Read it if:” You are ready to learn how to meditate, even when you are sure it is not for you.
“Best quote:” “You have this moment now. It might feel small or insignificant—that’s just ego talking.”
“You should read it if:” You want to start meditating yourself and learn how to deal with your mind’s resistance towards this activity (and your ego’s resistance towards hearing that meditation is helpful).
GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso, 2014
Sophia Amoruso shares her story with us and advises on becoming a GIRLBOSS—a female entrepreneur who is determined and lives by her own rules. She talks about not giving up your dreams, even when you face setbacks; she also tells the stories of girls she has mentored in the past, who are now successful entrepreneurs themselves.
“Read it if:” You want guidance on how to overcome some of the challenges that female entrepreneurs face more than their male counterparts and how to build your path in life while pursuing your passions.
“Best quote:” “Being a GIRLBOSS is not about getting rich or becoming famous. It’s about creating your path and rejecting the rules of the game as they are set up.”
“You should read it if:” You want to learn how to become an entrepreneur, or you want guidance on how to deal with business-related challenges in life (such as finances, managing people, etc.).
Kiss My Tiara: Find Your Inner Confidence and Live Your Extraordinary Life by Katie Hurley, 2013
This book shares the experiences of a therapist, advising on how to find your inner confidence and become happier. She talks about her own life—the challenges she faces as a therapist and as an individual—and through this, she provides insight on how to deal with mental health issues and live a more fulfilling life.
“Read it if:” You are ready to learn how to overcome your fears and become happier by becoming more confident.
“Best quote:” “Everyone has moments of self-doubt or insecurity, but the trick is to rely on yourself and to trust your instincts and knowledge.”
“You should read it if:” You want help with overcoming some of your mental health issues (such as self-esteem problems, anxiety, etc.).
Conclusion
We all show many types of courage in our lives, and you can find inspiration from these books about courage to help you be the best version of yourself. We hope this list helps inspire your path towards personal growth! What is one form of courage or bravery that resonates with you? Let us know in the comments below to keep learning more about what makes people feel courageous.
