12 books that people say are life-changing reads

April 29, 2024 | [Read Online]( [fb]( [tw]( [in]( [email](mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20the%20Upworthiest&body=New%20Post%3A%20%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter.upworthy.com%2Fp%2Fnew-post-502e) [12 books that people say are life-changing reads]( Some books have the power to change how we see ourselves, the world, and each other. Out of all human inventions, [books might just be the greatest](. That may be a bold statement in the face of computers, [the internet]( and the international space station, but none of those things would be possible without books. The written recording of human knowledge has allowed our advancements in learning to be passed on through generations, not to mention the capturing of human creativity in the form of longform storytelling. Books have the power to change our lives on a fundamental level, shift our thinking, influence our beliefs, put us in touch with our feelings and help us understand ourselves and one another better. That's why [we asked Upworthy's audience]( to share a book that changed their life. Thousands of responses later, we have a list of inspiring reads that rose to the top. [Read the story]( [British grandpa blown away when he tries Southern style biscuits and gravy for the first time]( What a delightfully heartwarming reaction. If you haven’t stumbled across Grandad Joe ([@grandadjoe1933]() on TikTok yet, you’re in for a treat. The charming 91-year-old, who lives with his daughter Sasha in the UK, delights over 6 million followers with his infectious joy and enthusiasm—particularly when Sahsa cooks him special meals. Recently, by “popular request,” Joe got to introduce his taste buds to that deceptively delicious Southern staple: biscuits and gravy. [Read the story]( [Trippy optical illusion makes people swear a Coke can is red. It's not. At all.]( Try to make your brain NOT see the can as red. Optical illusions are wild. We can look at an image and swear up and down we see one thing, only to find out what we're seeing isn't what we're actually seeing at all. Some optical illusions regularly go viral, like the [not-really-two-dogs photo]( or the [cat going up or down stairs drawing]( or the [moving Van Gogh painting](. (And we all remember the debates over "the dress," right?) One that's making the rounds now is an image that appears to be a pixelated photo of someone holding a Coca-Cola can. The colors are muted, but the can definitely looks red. But it's not. [Read the story]( [Dad's TikTok for son showing what his 80s childhood was like is total Gen X nostalgia]( Take a trip down memory lane. As a Gen X parent, it's weird to try to describe my childhood to my kids. We're the generation that didn't grow up with the internet or cell phones, yet are raising kids who have never known a world without them. That difference alone is enough to make our 1980s childhoods feel like a completely different planet, but there are other differences too that often get overlooked. How do you explain the transition from the brown and orange aesthetic of the '70s to the dusty rose and forest green carpeting of the '80s if you didn't experience it? When I tell my kids there were smoking sections in restaurants and airplanes and [ashtrays everywhere](, they look horrified (and rightfully so—what were we thinking?!). The fact that we went places with our friends with no quick way to get ahold of our parents? Unbelievable. [Read the story]( [fb]( [tw]( [ig]( [yt]( [tk]( [in]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 GOOD | Upworthy. All rights reserved 1370 N St Andrews Pl Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States of America [[beehiiv logo]Powered by beehiiv](