Top 21 Classic Books Teaching You to Build Confidence in Life

This boldly titled book is presented as a dialogue between The Youth and The Philosopher, vividly and captivatingly illustrating the key ideas of psychologist Alfred Adler, known as one of the 'big three' of modern psychology alongside Freud and Jung. While Freud sees the past and circumstances as the driving forces shaping one's present self, Adler advocates that 'life is the choices we make,' and his psychology is labeled 'the psychology of courage.'

Your unhappiness is not due to the past, circumstances, or lack of ability. You simply lack the 'courage' needed. In other words, you don't have the 'courage to be happy.' [] Having the courage to be hated is crucial. Only by daring to be rejected by others can we attain true freedom and happiness.

In Awakening the Extraordinary Human Within You, Anthony Robbins helps readers uncover the unfortunate reasons that keep them stuck in old habits and identifies the factors behind their most common emotions. Readers are then guided step by step to identify emotions that reinforce strength, eliminate those that undermine mental motivation, and leverage both types in the most beneficial direction. This transforms emotions from obstacles into powerful tools that support them in realizing their maximum potential and awakening the 'giant' within.

The best quote from the book Awakening the Extraordinary Human Within You: “If you can't, you must. If you must, you can.”

In the initial release of The Power of Positive Thinking, psychologists and theologians accused author Norman Vincent Peale of being a heretic, promoting simplistic human thinking. However, today, science has proven that the book's fundamental mindset, optimism, makes people healthier, happier, and more likely to succeed.

The best quote from The Power of Positive Thinking: “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result but the cause of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.”

Think Big – the globally renowned masterpiece on unique and effective ideas and thinking methods that miraculously changed the lives of millions across generations. Dr. David Schwartz vividly and comprehensibly presents how thinking can help you achieve the highest goals in your career, life, and community. You don't need outstanding intelligence or exceptional talent to achieve tremendous success; you just need to cultivate and consistently apply the Think Big mindset. Here are the miracles the book will bring to you:

• Lead you to success through the power of self-belief
• Help you overcome the obsession with failure and fear
• Guide you to think and creatively realize your dreams
• Discover why cognitive ability is more critical than intelligence
• Clearly define strategic goals for each stage of life
• Think like a top leader
• Breakthrough thinking, believe in breakthroughs, and drive breakthroughs
• Consider thinking about people with incomes five times higher than yours. Are they five times smarter than you? Do they work five times harder than you?

Just the title of the book alone reflects the uniqueness of the masterpiece, doesn't it? If you know Haruki, you can say that Haruki Murakami always remains a writer of 'belief,' even though he is now an author who has sold millions of copies, both in translation and the original Japanese version. The two volumes of the 1Q84 stories are set in 1984, emphasizing the letter Q in the title as the question marks hanging over the characters' lives. This book will indeed find for you a simple belief, like beliefs that need to be reasoned.

The book The Greatest Salesman in the World has surpassed the criteria of a sales book. This is not just a book for those in sales, but for everyone worldwide. With The Greatest Salesman in the World, Og Mandino encourages readers to live their lives with belief in themselves and the ability to help others.

The best quote from The Greatest Salesman in the World: “I will live this day as if it is my last. This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift up my arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day”.

In the 60s and 70s, McCarthy was a prominent figure known as the 'writer's writer.' Despite all the success and film adaptations, McCarthy even became a multiple-time bestselling author. The Road is a bleak masterpiece of a father and son in a post-apocalyptic world that is 'barren, silent, godless.' It's the road you need to tread, and precisely the road meant for you, not another.

This is a book that is undoubtedly familiar to readers both in Vietnam and around the world. Paulo Coelho's novel, The Alchemist, is like a simple fairy tale, humane, rich in poetry, and steeped in the mystical philosophies of the East. In its first edition in Brazil in 1988, the book sold only 900 copies. However, with the special destiny of a book meant for all humanity, transcending national borders, The Alchemist has stirred millions of souls, becoming one of the best-selling books of all time and potentially changing the lives of its readers.

“But the alchemist was no more concerned about these things than he was about the antiquities of the desert. He had seen many people pass by, driven by kings and beggars, through this sandy sea, a sea that changed its appearance with every gust of wind but that was forever the same. The alchemist had seen both princes and beggars cross this desert, a desert that constantly changed yet always remained the desert he had known since he was a child. Nevertheless, deep within himself, he could not help feeling happy when he saw the joy of each traveler, after so many days with only golden sand and blue sky in sight. ‘Perhaps God created the desert so that man could appreciate the value of a green leaf,’ he thought.”

- Excerpt from The Alchemist

Interwoven into the story of an adventure of a man seemingly encountering misfortunes in life, Robin Sharma has incorporated profound principles about the universe, love, happiness, and success. From countless years ago, from the distant past when humanity had no light of civilization, the desire to explore the mysteries of the universe and the power of one's heart has always burned passionately. Now, in the light of a new era, the '3 Great Masters' will once again awaken within us those intense reflections.

Author Douglas Adams had an incredibly fantastic foresight. Even in the late 1970s, he could anticipate technological advances in the future. And the work 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,' originally a radio program before becoming a novel, emerged. Thanks to this book, an entire generation of Brits grew up with the phrases 'Don't Panic' and 'Mostly Harmless,' along with the number 42. These elements made belief feel close, realized, and that nothing is impossible, so always strive incessantly.

A valuable lesson for those pressured by modern life, this book has a massive fan base, always asserting itself as the funniest book ever written. The anti-hero Ignatius J. Reilly, a threateningly obese character, is poised to overturn the beliefs of readers who enjoy tragically exaggerating themselves. With a green hat on his head, Reilly eats regularly, disdains modernity, seeks solace in quirky animal fantasies, and horrifying memories of the day he left New Orleans. Belief will eventually triumph over all, won't it?

Adapted into a film, the anti-hero character Randle Patrick McMurphy is perhaps forever associated with the face of Jack Nicholson, the actor who played him and won an Oscar for the role. However, the origin of this immortal character comes from the author Ken Kesey. In the story set in a mental institution, conflicts between nurse Ratchet and McMurphy help readers explore the process of crushed personal independence, suppression, and social disobedience. It's not wrong to say that you'll find a bit of faith and a strong desire to soar hidden deep in this suffering.

Sandworms, ornithopters, House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and spice: these ingredients are mixed harmoniously to create a space opera among the galaxies. The book narrates the struggle of Paul Atreides, inspiring subsequent writers and even influencing the names of saints in mystical ceremonies. Once again, it's a belief in the face of suffering, and you'll find yourself surprisingly happy.

Have you ever felt that the process of growing up is always challenging, especially in your teenage years? The feelings of alienation, melancholy, and existential wandering will resonate with you as J.D. Salinger skillfully narrates the story. Every reader can easily empathize with Holden Caulfield, the complex young boy living in a big city. The loneliness, confusion, and unpredictable plot make it a timeless classic. It's perhaps the reason why the book has become a masterpiece. Find your own belief in the midst of it all!

The book tells the story of a racially charged trial in the American South during the 1930s, seen through the eyes of an 8-year-old. It quickly became a literary classic and a mandatory high school read in the United States for many years. However, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the beautiful lessons the book imparts – belief in change, the struggle for justice, and the desire for a better life. With it, you can overcome anything. You'll feel how fortunate you are and need to start with your own belief. Or, perhaps, when you're weary, just read a book to relax and unwind.

Perhaps you've heard of this book. 'The Fountainhead' has a dramatically exaggerated plot that's famously peculiar. Ayn Rand lets her fundamental philosophies run wild in every word, embodied in the character of architect Howard Roak. The book is beloved by those who champion individualism, believing that selfishness is a natural and superior evolution. And the belief it instills is no small matter!

As an inspiration for readers worldwide for almost a century, 'In Search of Meaning' is a book that all of us should probably read once on the journey to find meaning in our lives. In a 1991 survey by the U.S. Library of Congress, readers were asked about the book that made a real difference in their lives. Viktor Frankl's 'In Search of Meaning' is in the top 10 of this list.

Quoting Nietzsche, one of the phrases Frankl found profound: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” It seems like this is the unique idea that the foundation of his philosophical thinking is built upon.

By mapping the path through life, in the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Steven Covey helps readers not only develop 7 reasonable habits but also become better and more useful individuals. The best quote in this book is: “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

By applying this classic book How to Win Friends and Influence People smartly and creatively, many people worldwide not only manage complicated relationships in personal and professional life but also conquer relationships, positively influencing their lives and work.

The best quote in this book is: 'It is a fact that all the people you meet feel themselves superior to you in some way. And the path to their hearts is to let them realize, by some kind of subtle suggestion, that you recognize their importance.'

The book Think and Grow Rich is the result of 40 interviews conducted by Napoleon Hill with 40 millionaires to find common thoughts and actions that bring success to these individuals. His research is a shocking discovery for those who always believe that wealth is a combination of luck and greed.

The best quote from this book is: “The breakthrough you need in life is in your own imagination. Imagination is the workshop of your mind that can turn mental energy into achievement and wealth.'

The book is a memoir-style story by author Vera Brittain about the contemporaries she loved but belonged to a 'lost generation.' It's about people who went through World War I. This memoir is also an in-depth, passionately written study in the calm voice of a woman trying to find her place in a changing world. The book became a bible for those of her generation and is a valuable memoir for generations to come. Belief, passion, and love for life distilled from someone who endured suffering will make you much stronger to keep trying.