The Books We Love vs The Books That Have Actually Changed Our Lives

I'm currently over a year into working on a project that feels like a life-work for me. It's a message that would normally be put into a book. But we, as I'm not working on this alone, want it to have far more gravity. We aren't creating it to be a bestseller. We are creating it to cause a cultural shift.

In considering what messages actually cause shifts and incite personal transformations, I broke from my norm and actually posted a question on social media. Facebook actually. My team posts excerpts from my What Drives You podcast but I rarely make a personal post. This time I did. And I asked:

“SELF-IMPROVEMENT QUESTION: What is a book you have read, where you can honestly look back and say that after you read it, you made a tangible life-change for the better? What is the book, and what was the change?”

About 75 people responded. You can go to the page here.

I found value in what books were shared, but here is what really stood out to me. Look at my question again - "What is a book you have read, where you can honestly look back and say that after you read it, you made a tangible life-change for the better? What is the book, and what was the change?"

People shared, over and over again, the name of the book. And you'll see me over and over again, comment back and ask, "Thanks for sharing the book. What was the change you made as a result."

And what happened almost all the time, is they would respond back sharing knowledge they received from the book. And I'd respond again and say, "Yes, I hear you, but what change did you make?" And they would so often reply again, and just get more granular with the actual knowledge they got.

It took a lot for most people to cite an actual change they made as a result. And that was what got my attention most.

Now I'm not criticizing anyone, because I am them too. I've spent years exposing myself to a monumental amount of books. I love the knowledge! Getting new insights and even revelations. But when I go back and ask myself, "OK Kevin, there is a stack of 10 books you read and raved about. What specific changes can you cite as a result of reading any of them?"

Then, I dishearten myself.

I appreciate the positive info. The inspiring messages. If they put a spring in my step, a smile on my face, and help me get excited about life, then I believe there is value. But now I've slowed down. I study books. I re-read books. I discuss them with others. And I'm working to actually apply the knowledge. This is how we learn. And from the learning...change.

If there is a book that you feel was significant, ask yourself, what change did you make? And consider...reading it again. Ask yourself why you are reading it? What is the hope? Do you want to change? What is the result you want the change for?