By Simran Sukhnani
10 Books That Teach the Stuff They Should鈥檝e Taught in School, From building emotional intelligence to surviving any type of failure, here are 10 books that help you learn everything you need to deal with real life challenges, apart from just being a bookworm. They are real, they are raw and they are ridiculously powerful. If school skipped the life skills, these books catch you up fast. Whether you’re 18 or 48, they鈥檒l challenge how you think, feel, and live. Warning: once you read them, there鈥檚 no going back to autopilot. Dollars and Sense by Dan Ariely & Jeff Kreisler, Schools may teach you about the Pythagoreans theorem, but they rarely ever teach you how to manage money. This book dives deep into the psychology of spending, saving and making money. It also teaches you how we often take irrational decisions when it comes to our wallets. This book is also accompanied with good humor and sharp insights and it breaks down why we buy dumb things and how to actually stop. Emotional Agility by Susan David, The writer, Susan David is also a Harvard psychologist who teaches you how to face your fears and come in terms with your emotions with complete honesty and utmost flexibility. You have to control your fears and not the other way round. This book teaches you all about that. If you are tired of faking 鈥淚鈥檓 fine鈥 and want to live aligned with your true self, this book is for you. , I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi, Instead of teaching compound interest with math problems, this book shows you how to actually build wealth. Ramit Sethi gives you a six-week action plan to automate finances, eliminate debt, invest smartly, and still spend on what you love. It鈥檚 brutally honest, sarcastically fun, and incredibly practical. This isn鈥檛 budgeting advice, it鈥檚 financial freedom 101, delivered in the voice of a friend who doesn鈥檛 sugarcoat a thing. Lost Connections by Johann Hari, Depression isn鈥檛 just about brain chemistry, it鈥檚 deeply linked to disconnection. Hari explores nine causes of depression and anxiety, many of which society (and school) ignore entirely. With powerful storytelling and eye-opening research, this book redefines mental health. If you’ve ever felt alone, numb, or misunderstood, this book will speak straight to your soul. Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, Emotions are data, not distractions. Marc Brackett, a Yale professor, teaches how understanding your feelings can transform your decisions, relationships, and health. Backed by research and personal stories, the book offers a framework for emotional mastery we all should鈥檝e been taught in childhood. If you want to stop being emotionally reactive and start being emotionally wise, this is your manual. , So Good They Can鈥檛 Ignore You by Cal Newport, Forget 鈥渇ollow your passion.鈥 This book demolishes that myth and replaces it with something more realistic and empowering: build rare and valuable skills. Cal Newport argues that mastery leads to meaningful work, not the other way around. For anyone struggling with career confusion, this book is a wake-up call schools should鈥檝e issued on Day One. The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli, Want to stop falling for your brain鈥檚 tricks? This book is a goldmine of cognitive biases you鈥檝e never heard of, but definitely experience daily. With short, punchy chapters, it shows how our thinking often sabotages our decisions. Perfect for anyone tired of making the same mistakes and craving better self-awareness. It鈥檚 the real 鈥渃ritical thinking鈥 course school never gave you. 鈥婽he War of Art by Steven Pressfield, This one鈥檚 for the procrastinators, the creatives, the stuck souls. Pressfield writes like a warrior-poet, calling out Resistance鈥攖hat invisible force that keeps you from doing what matters. Whether it鈥檚 starting a business, writing a book, or just showing up to your dreams, this book punches fear in the face. They should鈥檝e handed this out in every 鈥渇ollow your passion鈥 lecture. , Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, Emotions are data, not distractions. Marc Brackett, a Yale professor, teaches how understanding your feelings can transform your decisions, relationships, and health. Backed by research and personal stories, the book offers a framework for emotional mastery we all should鈥檝e been taught in childhood. If you want to stop being emotionally reactive and start being emotionally wise, this is your manual. How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price, Your phone is stealing your time, energy, focus, and you barely notice. This book is a wake-up call disguised as a friendly guide. It combines science, stories, and a step-by-step digital detox plan that doesn鈥檛 involve throwing your phone away. Schools never taught us how to protect our attention in the age of screens. This book will teach you how to take it back.