The written word is incredibly powerful and there are so many novels and books to chose from. Here are just a few of the books that have impacted my life and my world outlook.

1. "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia who defends less fortunate individuals that are currently on death row. Though some of his clients are guilty, he has encountered many cases where there was clear prejudice towards the individuals because of their ethnicity or social class and were wrongly accused. Just a warning-- there are moments where you will need tissues.

2. "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

In my opinion, this is the best book by author Bill Bryson. In this book, he discusses scientific ideas and methods, but in a very brief and interesting way. I am not one to sit down and enjoy reading about science or math, but Bryson keeps it short, sweet and to the point with a splash of sarcasm.

3. "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Pi is a young Indian boy who is shipwrecked for over 200 days with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. During this time Pi begins to question the ideas and principles of religion and spirituality. However, the most important thing from this novel is about finding strength within yourself.

4. "A Prayer For Owen Meany" by John Irving

This novel follows John Wheelwright along with his best friend Owen Meany. The strange death of Johnny's mother in the first chapter starts out the events that will forever change Owen and Johnny's lives. It's an amazing novel that has you questioning religion and destiny.

5. "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

In his book, Malcolm Gladwell discusses the factors that lead to high levels of success. He brings in evidence from the lives of NHL hockey players, Bill Gates and even the Beatles. Gladwell also talks about the famous idea of 10,000 hours; meaning it takes an individual 10,000 hours of practice in order to become in expert in their perspective field.

Happy reading, everyone!