Everybody knows that knowledge is power. Books are always influential because carrying of huge knowledge. But some books are listed as most powerful by the reader’s demand and choice. These books are always trending, and people talk about them every time on social media or Goodreads. Some of the books remain on the bestseller list.
10 Most Powerful Books In The World
I will review the world’s most powerful books by their international hype, reviews, sales, quantity, and effectiveness. All of these books are on my favorite booklists. After reading them, you will also like to add your favorite list. I will review the 10 most powerful books in the world.
1. Animal Farm
This book was first published in 1945, and it is a satire of the Russian Revolution. The story talks about a group of animals on a farm called the Maner Farm. They are not happy with how their owner, Mr. Jones, is treated. So they decide to rebel against humanity and take over the farm calling it Animal Farm. It shows how ignorant animals are easily manipulated and how ignorance is dangerous for society. Also, It teaches you to question everything and critically look at things.
The book is very simple was specifically written to be understood and translated into different languages. It can be adapted to many different political landscapes, even nowadays in the modern era. Our knowledge can be powerful, which can apply to every country, even though we have different political systems from politicians. So it has many potential that helps you to understand many complex issues.
Author: George Orwell
Average Customer Review: (4.7 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Politics & Government
2. Meditations
This title describes what it is in reality and who Marcus Aurelius is. He was a Roman emperor around the time 120-180 AD. He is a historical figure who would write and journal to himself. Also, he did not write this for an audience. It somehow got preserved and put into circulation in the publication.
It has been co-opted a lot recently by popular self-help and business-style books because of those aspects of stoic leadership. It’s not a super complex philosophical treatise like some other philosophers, or it’s not super dense. Many good parts on here are the parts about death, like thinking of yourself as dead.
You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly. Reflections on death also about what’s the point of being famous. For example, one day you’re going to die, and everybody who thought you were famous will die eventually. Marcus is doing pretty good there. He’s still very popular and has a lot to do with acceptance and dealing with life.
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Average Customer Review: (4.8 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: History of Philosophy, Humanities
3. The Alchemist
The alchemist was written in 1988 by the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. So it was written originally in Portuguese and had been translated into over 60 languages. The book is about a young shepherd boy from the south of Spain called Santiago. One night he has a dream about trying to find treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. Then he has it again, and he goes to a fortune teller to find out what’s there. He goes on this massive adventure to Egypt. It reads like a fairy tale.
Although the book is very much a literal dream, it gives very general advice about following your dreams and what you want to achieve in your life. If that makes sense, this book is all about transforming your thoughts and actions into gold. A part says, listen to your heart, and your heart will show you the way, which sounds poncy to me.
Author: Paulo Coelho
Average Customer Review: (4.7 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction, Fantasy Action & Adventure
4. A Gentleman in Moscow
In Moscow is a story about a Russian aristocrat named Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. At the beginning of the novel, he faces charges for writing a revolutionary poem back in college. The Bolsheviks spare him from that, and instead, his punishment is to be placed under house arrest in the luxurious Metropole Hotel, where he lives for the next 30 years.
That’s a testament to what a masterful storyteller the author is. He not only makes his unlikely protagonist so endearing and lovable, but he vividly brings to life the world within the Metropol Hotel such that you never feel bored.
This book reminds you of the simple superpower that we all possess, which is the power of observation. No matter where you are and how small it is, your world is only limited by your curiosity and your imagination. Also woven into these beautifully written passages are these poignant reminders of what it means to have dignity.
The author takes serious subject matter. In this case, the turbulent times after the Bolshevik Revolution infuses these universal truths about life. There are heroes, villains, memorable, supporting characters, adventure, history, suspense, and even love stories. So it is the most powerful book in the world.
Author: Amor Towles
Average Customer Review: (4.6 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Political Fiction
5. The Little Prince
It is an absolute classic in the fantasy children’s book genre. This children’s book package’s basic philosophical ideas in a way where anyone as young as probably four and up can understand the message incredibly effectively. It does it with a very charming sense of humor, and it’s one of the most overall adorable stories. It manages to be funny and deep at times and has various emotions packaged so that a child can understand. There’s a series of scenarios the little prince goes through. At the same time, adults would probably take something away from the message here.
While reading the story, you will feel a variety of things about who you are. I get why this is one of the best-selling books of all time. The writing is meticulous and tight while also being creative and unpredictable, which is a combination that is rare to find. The worlds are never overly explainable. You do feel like you’re in a mystical place from the little bit of detail it’s given to you. This is something that absurdism allows you to give you a whole vision of what’s there.
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Average Customer Review: (4.6 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Literature & Fiction, Classics
6. Ikigai
The mysterious word ‘Ikigai’ is derived from ‘Iki,’ meaning life, and ‘gai’ means realizing hopes and expectations. In other words, it means a reason for being a sense of purpose in life and an overall feeling of well-being. Everybody has an Ikigai. The question is to find it, which is what many people are struggling with. Finding your Ikigai is supposed to bring satisfaction and meaning to your life. The authors go to learn the secret to longevity.
The book mainly tries to tell you the importance of Ikigai in your life and what you can get to bring more meaning of purpose. The authors compared local therapy and psychotherapy, which is interesting and powerful.
Author: Héctor García
Average Customer Review: (4.6 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Consciousness & Thought, Health, Fitness & Dieting
7. The Richest Man in Babylon
This book is an all-time financial management classic and one of the most powerful books in the world. It is a must-read for anybody who wants to improve their financial situation, budgeting and doing things that they find inspirational. There are such cool stories. This book was written in 1926, but it’s based in two thousand B.C in Babylon, one of the world’s richest cities at the time.
I love this book’s parable and the emotional story style. It essentially takes you through this person’s journey. It’s quite poor and frustrating with his life. He meets one of the wealthiest people in Babylon, and they share their stories and their mindset for improving their wealth.
There are tons of different ways to help people. The biggest moment from this book is the money management system. This envelope system shows you budgeting and putting your income in buckets. It allows you to save in a short period and structure income on time.
Author: George S. Clason
Average Customer Review: (4.7 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Management & Leadership, Business & Money
8. Moby Dick
Moby Dick is an 1851 novel narrated by Ishmael. He is a sailor who goes on a whaling voyage Led by Captain Ahab, obsessed with getting revenge on a particular white whale called Moby Dick. It took his leg on a previous voyage. It is probably a book to read more than once. I haven’t picked up so much symbolism and so many allegories the first time around.
It slowly makes you feel a part of this old journey positively and negatively. If you plan to read it, this book gives you time to read it. Don’t take stress on finishing it straight away. It doesn’t matter if you think it takes two months, even a year. Just take it slowly and be sure that you are concentrated while reading it. You will enjoy it way more.
Author: Herman Melville
Average Customer Review: (4.4 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Sea Adventure Fiction
9. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Sapiens is a brief history of humankind. It’s written for audiences who do not know much about anthropology or history. But with that said, it is a lot of information that you’re getting on every page. It could be a little bit touchy. This is where it gets opinionated. Sapience takes a very anti-religion standpoint.
As a powerful book, it is extremely informative, but the writing style differs from anything. Harari often has conversations with you. Also, he’ll put a lot of what could have been complicated information into the analogy. It is an extremely great way to engage readers who might not necessarily be interested in this, like some facet of history. He has a conversation with you. If you’re looking for something brief about evolution, this is the place to go.
Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Average Customer Review: (4.6 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Evolution & Genetics, General Anthropology
10. War and Peace
It is a historical fiction book written in 1869, first published a couple of years before a book about the French invasion of Russia in 1845. So this is the war and the peace of that particular time. At this time, this was the most powerful book in the world. It follows the aristocratic family during that time.
There are about 20 or 30 main characters of that family and many side characters. So it is a very dense and very confusing book. This book is this particular book is the original version. So there has been a lot of discussion and debate about the original version of war and peace.
There are a lot of great descriptions. It’s very poetic and very well written. The author talked about the battles, strategies, what was happening, and then the historical analysis. A couple of servants were included to be a part of the family. There will be moments when you’re going to have no idea what’s going on, whether it’s philosophy or war. So this book will take a long time because you need to analyze and think about the story.
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Average Customer Review: (4.5 out of 5, on Amazon)
Category: Literature & Fiction
More powerful books lists
- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
- In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust.
- Ulysses, James Joyce
- Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare
- The Odyssey, Homer
- One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert
- The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri
- Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov
- Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger
- To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
- Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
- The Iliad, Homer
- Catch-22, Joseph Heller
- Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
- Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
- Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- The Red and the Black, Stendhal
Read more: 15 Best Selling Fiction Books All Time To Read
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