7 Books to Help You Get More out of Life

published Apr 17, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Woman sitting on a picnic blanket in a park, holding a red book and smiling, with a basket nearby.
Credit: Blue Titan/Shutterstock

“Sometimes, I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to.” This quote from Ridley Scott’s Gladiator rings true for many. When did days become so full of obligations? How can we bring joy, wonder, and fun back into our lives?

With the right guides, you can get more out of life than ever before. Check out the seven remarkable books below to find out for yourself.

Listen to audio summaries of all 5 books on the Next Big Idea App.

The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life
$22

Discover the latest compelling scientific evidence for the potent and revitalizing value of fun, and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life.

$22 at Amazon
What Do You Want Out of Life?: A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters
$25

Blending personal stories, philosophy, and psychology, this insightful and entertaining book offers invaluable advice about living well by understanding your values and resolving the conflicts that frustrate their fulfillment.

$25 at Amazon
The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead
$24

The Power of Wonder takes readers on a multidisciplinary journey through psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, literature, and business to explore the mechanics of wonder and guide readers toward bringing more of it into their lives.

$24 at Amazon
Intrinsic Motivation: Learn to Love Your Work and Succeed as Never Before
$24

Intrinsic motivation ― doing a thing for its inherent satisfaction rather than external rewards ― is the key to success and satisfaction in any endeavor. A legendary performance coach shares his simple, proven, and fun methods for cultivating and keeping it.

$24 at Amazon
The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power
$22

Which of the five types of perfectionist are you: classic, intense, Parisian, messy, or procrastinator? As you identify your unique perfectionist profile, you’ll learn how to manage each form of perfectionism to work for you, not against you.

$22 at Amazon
The Power of Awe: Overcome Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose―In Less Than 1 Minute Per Day
$22

The A.W.E. Method ensures that awe and its many benefits are accessible to you at any time, in any place — sitting at a stoplight, cooking a meal, petting an animal, or listening to a loved one’s laugh.

$22 at Amazon
Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad
$27

A New York Times bestselling author and human performance expert tests his knowledge and theories on his own aging body in a quest to become an expert skier at age 53.

$27 at Amazon

This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.

More to Love from Apartment Therapy