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On the philosophical side, I sugget "Existentialism Is a Humanism" by Sartre: it explains in a clear and simple way the idea of Existentialism, which is a great philosophy based on strong principles, and a key idea in the modern philosophical debate. It somehow changed my life, and made me think a lot more about life principles that can actually guide one's life.

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Couple that with Camus' The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus and you've got enough satisfying "thinking material" for a nice long while.

One more suggestion for fiction: Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. This will FOREVER change your perspective on hardship while giving one a fantastic appreciation for living. I'm always giving copies of this rare gem as a gift and I have heard nothing but rave reviews from those who have been touched by its power.

If you want an anti-existentialism refreshment that will open your mind, try Lao-tzu or Confucius. Be careful, all translations are not equal. If you wish to have translations plus Chinese characters, check http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.php and have a deep dive into something different.

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