10 Books About Courage to Inspire You

Have you ever dared to jump on a plane at a moment’s notice, try a new food that terrified you, or confess your love to someone whose feelings you were unsure about after reading a particularly inspiring book?

Books have the power to push us beyond our boundaries to do things we may not have had the boldness to do before. This may be from the experiences that we see the characters in the books living, or sometimes, it may be from the inspirational prose that the authors infuse into their writings.

Or even better, the true stories of actual people who may be going through similar things that we are can give us the strength that we need to endure, or the bravery to take risks that could lead us where we want to go.

Nonfiction Books About Courage to Push You Forward

If you are looking for books to inspire courage, whether for your personal reading list or for giving to a friend, look no further! Here we have compiled some of the best books that will surely help you find the boldness you need:

**1. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom**

This is the true story of a clockmaker’s daughter, whose family helped hide Jewish families during the Nazi Holocaust. Eventually, Corrie is captured but released from a camp, although she loses her family in the process. Throughout her journey she finds the courage to forgive her captors and tormentors.

**2. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell**

If you’re feeling like an underdog, this book is for you! New York Times journalist Malcolm Gladwell shares story after story of people who are like little Davids confronting a Goliath, but who managed to soar past expectations.

**3. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl**

Written by a survivor of one a Nazi concentration camp, this book can help you find the right perspective in life. The author draws from his experience to come to the conclusion that those who survived were the ones who had a reason to stay alive.

**4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey**

This is a classic bestseller that gives practical tips for taking action to reach your goals and make changes in life. If you’re searching for your purpose in life, this book will be a great help, no matter what season of life you’re facing at this moment.

**5. To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink**

Whether you are a salesman by profession or not, each of us is always trying to influence other people in some way. This book can give you the boldness to pursue what you want and use your persuasive skills to make positive change in yours and other people’s lives.

**6. The Courage Map by Franziska Iseli**

Would you like to turn your ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure? This is the premise of this The Courage Map, which offers 13 principles for living a life of courage. The author wrote this book while on a motorbike journey of several years around the world.

**7. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink**

In this book, you will learn how our world has changed to lean more towards favoring the visually gifted and artistic right-brainers. If you are a creative type, this book will help give you the courage to pursue your dreams and make a difference in the world.

Fiction Books About Courage

Fiction books are also a great source for finding inspiration to be more bold. They can also be a great way to inspire courage in older children and teens.

**8. Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred Taylor**

In this sequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, the main character, Cassie, meets an elderly lady who pushes beyond limitations to learn the law in order to be able to vote at a time when women and non-white people did not have the same rights as white men.

**9. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho**

This classic story is a great book to read if you’re in the midst of searching for clarity. The story follows a boy who goes on a quest to find the elixir of youth, but it’s full of wisdom that you can lean on in your own life.

**10. The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander**

This fantasy series looks innocently like a children’s book, and in some senses, it might be. But the themes revolve so much around courage and taking risks for the sake of what’s right that it’s sure to inspire adults too! Taran the Assistant Pig-keeper keeps needing to make one difficult decision after another, and not without losses.

Reading Books About Courage

This is the power of stories: they can inspire you to live up to your full potential. If you’re needing inspiration or a picture of how it can look to pursue your dreams despite the odds, reading books about people who pushed through can give you the boost you need.

The more you read books about courageous people, the greater the chance that you will also develop greater boldness in your life.

When was a time that you needed to show courage? Share your story in the comments below!

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Yen Cabag

Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.