Most books flit into and out of our lives like butterflies—their stays, on our shelves and in our minds, are pleasant but relatively brief. But there are some, only a few, that stay with us, creeping into the marrow of our bones and the stardust of our souls. These are the books that change us, that become part of us. More often than not, these are the books that save us.

5 Books That Have Saved My Life

Books can save lives in all sorts of ways. One might help you tell the difference between a poisonous mushroom and an edible one. Another might help guide you through the seemingly endless maze of grief into a place of healing. Yet another might inspire you to make a change in your life—a change that could make your life longer, more meaningful, or both.

Some may simply be the perfect distraction at the perfect time. That’s important, too.

These are the books that saved my life over the years, in one way or another.

#1. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien

Frequent readers saw this one coming a mile away, but still—this list simply would not be complete without it. So much of who I am today is rooted in the dreams that sprang from my first venture into Middle-Earth when I was a child. To this day, there has never been (and will probably never be) a story that means quite so much to me.

The Lord of the Rings didn’t just change me, it saved me from myself. It gave me a safe place to hide when reality felt too heavy a burden to bear. It gave me hope when I kept none for myself. And it gave me the courage to face not only the darkness in the world around me, but also the darkness in myself.

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”

#2. ‘No Death, No Fear’ by Thích Nhất Hạnh

I don’t consider myself a Buddhist, but I am very interested in Buddhist teachings and writings, and I’ve got several of this lovely monk’s books on my shelf. They’ve all helped me in different ways, but this is the one that has probably done me the most good.

For all that I’m a massive fan of the death positive movement, I’ve got a long way to go before I reach the levels of zen regarding death and loss I’d like to attain—but much of the progress I have made is very much thanks to this book. It’s helped me through multiple losses, as well as the prospect of my own death—especially at times when the Reaper’s presence felt all too near.

“This body is not me; I am not caught in this body, I am life without boundaries, I have never been born and I have never died. . . Since beginningless time I have always been free. Birth and death are only a door through which we go in and out.”

#3. ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ by Neil Gaiman

Really, almost any Neil Gaiman story could take a seat in this chair and belong. For me, he’s one of those writers whose writing makes me feel seen and heard in ways very few other authors—or people in general, for that matter—have been able to. And he does it with such scary consistency.

But Ocean at the End of the Lane, in particular, had so many lines that pierced right through my soul. And it was because of this book that I got to meet him, one of my heroes, and thank him in person for unwittingly saving me, over and over again, with his words.

“How can you be happy in this world? You have a hole in your heart. You have a gateway inside you to lands beyond the world you know. They will call you, as you grow.”

#4. ‘Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits’ by Dave Barry

This was a little paperback book that I borrowed from my mom—and by “borrowed,” I mean “quietly stole and never gave back.” I think it was happier with me, though; she only read it once. I’ve read it about a dozen times now.

Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits was my remedy for many days spent sick in bed thanks to either migraines or depression (or, more often than not, both) when I was in high school and college. I later added several more of his books to my collection, and even got to meet him (twice!). I still pull out this one, in particular, now and again when I need a chuckle, but I handle it more carefully now; the cover is beginning to wear out.

“The way I picture it, adulthood is a big, sleek jungle snake, swimming just around the bed in the River of Life. It swallows you subtly, an inch at a time, so you barely notice the signs. . . I mention all this to explain how I came to buy, at age 38, an electric guitar.”

#5. ‘The Priority List’ by David Menasche

David Menasche was my English teacher in high school. After I graduated, I was honored to call him a mentor and friend. He was a real-life John Keating—I can only guess how many of us called him “O Captain, my Captain” at one point or another. I know I wasn’t the only one who relied on him not just for education but advice, insight, and inspiration.

He is gone now; he died far too young as a result of brain cancer. But his memory lives on in everything he taught—and how he practiced what he preached. When I read The Priority List, I read it in his voice, and I remember all the little ways in which he not only saved me but, most importantly, taught me how to save myself.

“As my vision diminishes and my world grows dark, as my arms weaken to the point where I can no longer lift a fork to feed myself, and my legs wither beneath me, I have chosen to spend what limited time I have in the only way I know how. With joy.”

Books Save My Life on a Daily Basis

The truth is, a book saving my life is no rare feat. These are merely the books that saved my life in the most obvious ways, making them the most poignant examples.

But even the mere existence of books, and especially of fiction, is bolstering. Being in my office, surrounded by the books that I have loved and have shown me various visions of love in return, is comforting. Holding a physical book, inhaling that gorgeous subtle scent of paper and ink and printer’s glue, is comforting. And knowing that I can perhaps write a story that will help someone get through a dark day—or even just a dark moment—is comforting too.

To all the books (and authors) that have saved my life over the years—thank you. I wouldn’t be here, or be me, without you.

Kim Berkley is a fantasy author and video game writer who would have put many more books on this list if she’d only had time. You can read more about her here, or check out her published works of interactive fiction. And don’t forget to sign up for the (free!) email list!