12 Books That Had a Major Impact

Juvoni Beckford

One habit that has unlocked the most opportunities & freedom for me Is reading books.

Over the last 10 years, I've read 50 books a year on average.

Here are 12 books that had a major impact on my life, that can help you as well:

  1. Man's Search for Meaning

Written by a survivor of the holocaust who explores the nature of suffering & meaning. An inspiring book that demonstrates the triumph of the human spirit.

  1. A Short History of Nearly Everything

A timeline of humanity's scientific and historical progress and insight into the things we take for granted to spark a sense of wonder and a drive to explore and experiment.

  1. The Power of Now

A spiritual exploration of our perception of time and how it relates to our self-inflicted suffering when we live outside of the present.

  1. Amusing Ourselves to Death

How communication and media has evolved and shaped our minds. How the move to print to visual media has transitioned us from the age of information to the age of entertainment, capturing & deteriorating our politics, education, and journalism.

  1. Atomic Habits

How to create change and momentum to cultivate the systems to grow and self-actualize by building small habits.

  1. The Denial of Death

An exploration of human nature and our refusal to acknowledge our own mortality and how that leads to individual and societal mental illnesses. What we can do to overcome the fear of death or integrate healthier coping mechanisms.

  1. Antifragile

Principles on how to manage risk and thrive in a complex and ever changing world. Antifragile patterns are those that improve and get more resilent with stress & pressure. The book teaches you how to identify these systems and cultivate a more aligned life.

  1. Invisible Ink

Uncovers the magic behind powerful stories and how to write them, including how to structure, pace, start, end and inject meaning into your stories. Telling stories is part of our human nature and will make you a better communicator.

  1. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

A compassionate and liberating exploration of the self, consciousness and emotions. Learn how to surrender to experiences to let emotions pass through us so our body and mind release the volatility we often hold within us.

  1. Thinking in Systems

Systems are all around us, whether they be the dynamics of relationships, technology, information, processes, or even our habits. Learning how to think in systems enables you to adapt to systems, and fix, understand and regulate them.

  1. The Inner Game of Tennis

Explores the mental aspect of peak performance, learning how to learn and reducing perfectionist tendencies to reach a state of calm and flow. Using tennis as a medium, it explains the concept of Self 1, the teller, and Self 2, the doer, and how to improve your internal relationship between them.

  1. Reasons to Stay Alive

A vulnerable, in-depth and inspiring book about the mental disease of depression & anxiety and the journey to heal. Each mind breaks differently, and the author explores his mental health decline with such great detail it allows the reader to find pathways to explore their own experience to communicate better what they are going through, find help and get better.