There is something in the air this September.  Without a shred of evidince to support my claim outside of personal observation, there seems to be an unusually high number of entrepreneurs diving head first into the self driven, self employed, passion-fueled univers that they choose to create.  In other words- The should be cubicle dwellers of tomorrow (and today!) are turning in their ticket for a life of fun and happiness while they pursue their passion.

In celebration of those who have made the leap, and for those who have yet to let life leap here are 7 books to help you find your passion.  Each offers a unique perspective from which to view the world.  Above all else, I credit the books below for helping me find mine.

7. The World is Flat

What: Author Thomas Friedman shows “How and why Globalization has shifted into warp drive”.

Why: Although it came out back in 2005, this book is an extremely helpful tool in understanding the current state of the world.  I find it’s message still relevant.

Read This Book Because: If You want help finding your passion it helps to know the size and shape of the playing field as well as the general mindset of the other ‘players’ out there.

6. Let My People Go Surfing – The education of a reluctant businessman

What: Author Yvon Chouinard (founder and owner, Patagonia) shares how his two greatest passions (the great outdoors, and living in it) led to the companies he owns and operates today.

Why: Some say there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.  The subtitle of this book (The education of a reluctant businessman) could not be more fitting. Yvon is far from your typical entrepreneur… he is also far more successful.

Read this book if: You think that you could not live a successful life as an entrepreneur… even a reluctant one.

5. Spent- Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior

What: A revealing, unique, and thought provoking look at consumer behavior.

Why: A theme you will see with many of these books is one of preparing the mind to reflect upon itself.  Too many people have a hard time finding their passion because of how they have been conditioned.  This book sheds light on the art of ‘signaling’.

Read this book if: You want to know why you do the things you do, say the things you say, and most importantly- buy the things you buy.  By understanding ‘signaling’ we can begin to eliminate bullshit and focus on what really matters.

4. Vagabonding – An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long Term Travel

What: Exactly what it says- A guide to the art of long term travel

Why: Understanding what is possible, when it comes to how to live your life, is extremely helpful in defining your passion.  This is no fairy tale, and living your passion doesn’t have to be one either.

Read this book if: You think that traveling the world could be your passion, but you never considered it to be within your grasp. Spoiler Alert: It is.

3. Crush It! – Why Now Is the Time to Cash in On Your Passion

What: Gary Vaynerchuk’s first book, a New York Times bestseller, shows how to ‘monetize’ what you are passionate about.

Why: This book was one of the driving forces leading to the creation of this blog.  (It even was rather festively featured here when the blog was only a couple weeks old!)

Read this book if: You have read a few of the books on this list already, have a goal in mind, but are not sure about how to get there.  This is a roadmap for today’s entrepreneurs.

2. Atlas Shrugged

What: is a novel by Ayn Rand, that she considered to be her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing. The book explores a dystopian United States where leading innovators, ranging from industrialists to artists, refuse to be exploited by society.

Why: Though no single quote could fully capture the sheer magnitude of this book, I think this one comes closest: “I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.”

Read this book if: You enjoy fiction, epic sagas, and/or have a lot of free time on your hands.

1. Zen Mind Beginners Mind

What: The most beloved of all American Zen books.

Why: Because in the ‘Beginner’s Mind’ there are many possibilities.  The book will be “an encouragement to realize [your] own nature”.

Read this book.