15 Books That Will Change Your Perception of Reality

Last Saturday, we made a video on ways to become lifelong learners. And one way to achieve that is to have an annual reading list. The average American reads around 12 books a year. That's one a month. We'll give you 15 to start with for next year.

Welcome to Alux! We're starting off our list with one of our favorite books. This book takes you on a journey through the history of humankind. Harari explores how Homo sapiens evolved and became the dominant species on Earth. He discusses the development of cultures, societies and how our beliefs and behaviors shaped human history. The book challenges you to think about power, progress, and what makes us human.

It's a thought-provoking read that will change the way you see humanity and our place in the world. George Orwell's "1984" is a timeless novel that presents a future where government surveillance and public manipulation are extreme. The story revolves around Winston Smith, who begins to question the oppressive regime he lives under.

This book is a powerful commentary on freedom, truth and the dangers of unchecked government power. It makes you think about the value of privacy and individuality in society. In the book, information is controlled, twisted and used as a tool of power, which is strikingly similar to the misinformation and propaganda that we encounter today.

In this book, Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, explores the two systems that control our thoughts. One fast and emotional, the other slower and more logical. Kahneman shows how these two ways of thinking affect everything from our everyday decisions to our professional lives. The book teaches you about biases and how your mind works, helping you to make better decisions and understand others' behavior better.

It also does a fantastic job of helping you to think for yourself. In our opinion, this should be a mandatory read for anyone. It goes through a lot of interesting behaviors from what overconfidence really does to you, to why you believe certain things, even when they're not true.

Aldous Huxley shares his experiences with psychedelic substances in The Doors of Perception. He describes how these substances altered his perception and opened up new ways of seeing the world. The book is a fascinating exploration of consciousness, reality and what it means to perceive. It invites you to think about how your own perceptions shape your understanding of the world.

"Brave New World" is a novel that imagines a future where society is controlled by technology and people are conditioned to be happy in their roles. Now, this book was written in 1932. That's a long ass time ago. And the book revolves around a society obsessed with consumerism and instant gratification. Sound familiar?

The story questions the cost of constant happiness and the loss of individuality. Huxley challenges the reader to think about the importance of freedom, love and personal identity in a world where everything seems perfect but is fundamentally flawed. This book will make you reflect on the balance between societal control and personal freedom.

Naseem Nicolas Taleb introduces the concept of black swans: unexpected rare events that have a significant impact. He explores how these events shape our world from the rise of religions to financial crises. Taleb’s book encourages you to think about uncertainty and randomness in life.

It challenges the way you perceive predictability and prepares you to expect the unexpected. This book will change the way you think about risk and opportunity in both personal and professional contexts. Viktor Frankl's experiences in Nazi concentration camps led to this profound book about finding meaning in life, even under the most brutal circumstances.

He argues that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, but the discovery and pursuit of what we find meaningful. Frankl's insights are both inspiring and humbling, offering a perspective on how to find purpose in life's challenges and sufferings. This book is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.

It encourages you to look beyond yourself and your immediate circumstances and find a deeper sense of purpose. And since a lot of people struggle with the search for a deeper purpose, a greater sense of meaning, we figured this was a really good addition to the list.

Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene revolutionized our understanding of evolution. He argues that it's not individuals or species that evolve, but genes. Dawkins explains how genes control the behavior of living things to ensure their survival and replication.

This book will change the way you think about evolution and the role of genes in shaping behavior. It's a thought-provoking read that challenges conventional wisdom about the natural world. Now you might think this is just a biology book, but it's not. It's more about your place in the world and why you act the way you act from an evolutionary perspective. It's also pretty approachable.

In this book, Jared Diamond explores how geographical and environmental factors shaped the world. He examines why certain societies developed advanced technologies and large empires, while others didn't. Diamond challenges the notion that cultural or racial differences led to the unequal distribution of resources.

Instead, he attributes it to the availability of crops, animals and geographical advantages. This book will shift your perspective on history and the factors that drive human progress. It's about how this world really came to be and how it really works on a global scale.

"The Alchemist" is a story about following your dreams. It follows a young shepherd named Santiago on his journey to find treasure. But the real treasure turns out to be the journey itself and the lessons he learns along the way. Coelho's story is about listening to your heart and recognizing the signs along life's path.

It inspires readers to think about their own dreams and the idea that the journey toward achieving them is often as significant, if not more significant than the destination itself. If you want a basic understanding of astrophysics, well, this is the book for you. Stephen Hawking's exploration of the universe’s origins, A Brief History of Time, makes complex scientific concepts accessible to the general reader.

Hawking discusses the nature of black holes, the Big Bang and the fabric of spacetime in a way that challenges and expands your understanding of the universe. This book will not only deepen your appreciation for the cosmos, but also encourage you to think about time, space and the mysteries that remain in our understanding of the universe.

This makes it a great entry point for anyone curious about the universe's mysteries from black holes to the Big Bang. "Freakonomics" is a fascinating exploration of the hidden side of seemingly unrelated things. Levitt and Dubner use economic theories to explore real-world phenomena from cheating sumo wrestlers to the impact of a name.

This is more than just a book about economics. It's a journey that challenges you to look beneath the surface of everyday life. It forces you to think critically about the cause and effect and to look for the hidden factors that might be influencing your decisions.

Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is an ancient text that remains incredibly relevant today. It offers insights into strategy, conflict and leadership that can be applied in various aspects of modern life, not just in warfare. The book teaches about the importance of strategy, adaptability, and understanding your opponent.

It's a guide to navigating challenges and competitions, encouraging a deep understanding of the situations you face. Susan Cain's "Quiet" is a groundbreaking book that shines a light on introverts in a world that often celebrates extroversion. So if you're an introvert, hey, this book is for you.

Kane argues that introverts bring extraordinary talent and abilities to the world and should be encouraged and celebrated. This book will change how you view introversion, providing a fresh perspective on how quiet individuals see and interact with the world. It's an empowering read, especially for those who feel like they're in the shadow of more outgoing personalities.

Now as a bonus here, let's throw in probably one of the most recommended books in modern times. In essence, the book emphasizes the power of small changes and how they compound over time to produce significant results. And probably the reason why this book is so popular is because it is extremely actionable.

It gives you really clear steps to follow in order to create good habits. One of our favorites is something called "temptation bundling," which basically means grouping together things that you need to do with the things that you want to do. For example, listening to your favorite podcast only while you exercise.

We hope this list was helpful, Aluxer! Pick up the books you find interesting and add them to your annual reading list for 2024. We'll see you back here next time, my friend. Take care!