“The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand. Do what you want to do. Don’t go with the flow. Have a purpose. — Hylah Birenbaum 

Louise Hay’s “You Can Heal Your Life.” Changed the course of my spiritual life and empowered me to take control. — Dee Burrell

“The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne. Read it as a college student and it really shook up my perspective on what faith in action should look like. Also “Life of Pi.” I read it during my month in Honduras, and I had an honest-to-goodness epiphany after finishing it. — Holly Bowman

“The Demon Haunted World” and “Billions and Billions” by Carl Sagan. Great ideas, both lofty and pragmatic. — Linda Stone

The Bible. Because it gave me the best peace I've ever had. Once I truly accepted God, it changed my heart and soul. You can feel the darkness turn to light in your soul. It's so hard to explain, but that's the best way I can. The Bible is the most amazing book ever. — Nichole Ellington

“The Biology of Belief” by Bruce Lipton. I love how it explains how what we think actually affects our bodily systems. It also makes it very clear that we can change our lives by changing our thoughts. — Tatia Childers

“The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran. I don’t really have words to describe how it changed my life for the better, but when I finished the book, it gave me a sense of peace and wonderment. — Rebecca Obermeier

Books that changed my life, “Autobiography of a Yogi,” “The Tao of Physics” and “Separate Reality.” — Linda Sparks

“Codependent No More” and “How to Marry the Man of Your Choice,” equally changed my life for the better. After three failed and unhappy marriages, these books helped me to determine what I was looking for in a life partner and in my friends. I learned I was in control of who I allowed to be part of my life journey and it changed everything!!!! I’ve been happily married for 32 years now!  — Teri Siewert 

“Girl Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis. I learned to prioritize myself and know that it’s not selfish. — Jennie Boothroyd

“The Wisdom of No Escape the Path of Loving Kindness” by Pema Chodron. I learned how to calm my thoughts and helped begin my meditation journey. — Robin Smathers

I was a semi-sheltered white American teenager in college and took a class on the Holocaust in context of world history. Discussed other genocides (which was an idea I hadn’t grasped - other genocides?) Read “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families,” by Philip Gourevitch. About the Rwandan massacres. Utterly blew my mind. “The Grapes of Wrath” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” were similarly awakening in high school. Also, Thomas Jefferson's bio “The Art of Power.” Solidified that the founding fathers did not found this country on religion and were not unimpeachable characters. — Jordan Israel

In college, in African American Studies, I read a book on the rape of black slave women by their white masters. Also on the separation of slave families. Very eye opening and heart breaking. In stark contrast to the romanticizing done in many/most Southern portrayals of masters treating their slaves "like family." — Danya Vanhook

The book that monumentally changed my (adult) life is “Where the Red Fern Grows.” I read this book over a period of weeks with my two boys 20 years ago. We laughed together, imagined together and cried sobs together. Most importantly we formed a new level of bond between us and traveled to a place only a book can take you. I knew when we finished that book — I had passed my love and passion of reading down to the next generation. It is a treasured memory to this day. — Michele Rogers

No one book changed my life but the accumulation of experiences, emotional revelation and knowledge contained in the myriads of books, magazines, newspapers, essays and encyclopedias I’ve read have provided a solid foundation for who I am. But to restore my soul as needed, I turn, time and time again to “The Book of American Negro Poetry” and to the many works Maya Angelou both of which actually reach into the truth and bring out the beauty of humanity.  — Penny Wallace

“The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant. Something so powerful about those ancient stories, set in such an unexpected context. — Leigh-Ann Renz

“Peace is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hanh. It taught me mindfulness and to enjoy every single moment. You can choose stress, anger or worry, or choose joy instead. — Julie Keiper