Teachers’ Day Special: 12 Classic Books to Gift Someone Who Changed Your Perspective

1. Tuesdays with Morrie

“The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”

Expressing gratitude to a mentor can be hard—sometimes a book does it for you. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a heartfelt memoir about Mitch’s old professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is battling ALS.

When Mitch learns about Morrie from a TV interview, he reconnects with his former “coach” and begins visiting him every Tuesday. These visits turn into life lessons on love, work, and mortality—the last class Morrie ever teaches. A gentle, moving read, perfect for mentors who enjoy a little life-lessons wisdom with their cuppa.

2. The Story of My Life

“It is so pleasant to learn about new things. Every day I find how little I know, but I do not feel discouraged since God has given me an eternity in which to learn more.”

Life isn’t easy—and let’s be real, even the wisest ones don’t have it all figured out. That’s what makes The Story of My Life such a powerful read for both teachers and students. It’s Helen Keller’s unforgettable autobiography, charting her journey from a childhood shaped by blindness and deafness to becoming a writer, activist, and global symbol of resilience.

With the guidance of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, Helen unlocked a whole new world filled with hope, compassion, and love. Their story is proof of what happens when determination meets mentorship—a timeless reminder that the right teacher can make all the difference.

Buy here: The Story of My Life

3. Man's Search for Meaning

“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.”

Survival is a skill—and one we often forget we possess. Man’s Search for Meaning is a short yet powerful read that reminds us how to exercise that skill in the hardest of times. Written by Viktor Frankl, it weaves memoir, psychology, and philosophy as he recounts his harrowing years in Nazi concentration camps.

From unimaginable suffering, Frankl offers a timeless truth: even in the darkest moments, we can choose to find meaning. Give this to a wise friend who likes their coffee strong and their books deep.

Also read: 7 Self-Help Classics That Got There Before Instagram Did

4. Les Misérables

“Not being heard is no reason for silence.”

Got a mentor who loves sparking deep conversations about justice, ethics, or society’s flaws? Les Misérables is your pick. This sweeping classic follows Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.

His journey through redemption, love, and rebellion paints a vivid picture of 19th-century France while asking questions that still feel strikingly relevant today. Perfect for that peer mentor who loves their literature as layered as their discussions.

5. The Old Man and the Sea

“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”

For the teacher who taught you grit and grace, here’s Ernest Hemingway’s masterpiece they’ll appreciate. The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of Santiago, an ageing fisherman determined to catch a giant marlin after a long streak of bad luck.

It’s a short read, but every page is packed with quiet strength, perseverance, and poetic simplicity. Perfect for mentors who appreciate stories that say a lot with little.

Buy here: The Old Man and the Sea

6. Letters to a Young Poet

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.”

Got a teacher who showed you that learning isn’t about having all the answers but asking better questions? They’ll love this one.

In Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke writes a series of letters to a young officer cadet, offering guidance on writing, love, sexuality, suffering, and solitude as a creative force. It’s a book to revisit frequently whenever life throws new challenges your way. Perfect for a young mentor or thoughtful friend who loves to reflect, question, and grow as they navigate their own path.

Buy here: Letters to a Young Poet

7. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.”

The title alone pulls you in—and the story behind it is even more powerful. Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the first of her seven autobiographies, capturing her early years from the age of 3 through 16 as a young Black girl navigating a world marked by racism, trauma, and silence.

It’s a coming-of-age story about finding strength through identity, literature, and resilience it takes to speak your truth. A deeply moving pick for those who taught you the power of language and the courage of using your own voice.

8. Brave New World

“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.”

Gift them Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and watch the deep conversations unfold. It pulls you into a dystopian future where humans are bred, conditioned, and drugged into compliance, all in the name of stability and authority.

Huxley’s story questions freedom, individuality, and what it truly means to be human. Perfect for those special mentors who love to challenge your perspective and get you questioning the world around you.

Buy here: Brave New World

9. Moby-Dick

“It is not down on any map; true places never are.”

If there’s one book your favourite teachers would love to see on their shelf, it’s Moby-Dick. Herman Melville’s 1851 masterpiece isn’t just a thrilling tale of Captain Ahab’s hunt for the giant white whale, narrated through the voice of Ishmael. It’s a deep dive into obsession, courage, morality, and the mysteries of the human spirit.

This is a story that invites endless discussion and interpretation, making it a suitable gift for mentors who love classics that challenge the mind and open doors to rich, layered conversations.

Buy here: Moby-Dick

10. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

“To discover the mode of life or of art whereby my spirit could express itself in unfettered freedom.”

If someone who has opened your eyes to bold ideas and challenged your thinking about faith, art, and identity, this book is a thoughtful choice as a gift to them.

James Joyce’s modernist classic, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, follows Stephen Dedalus through his Dublin childhood and youth, tracing his artistic awakening and rebellion against family, religion, and nation. It’s a rich, layered read your mentor will appreciate—both as a window into Joyce’s world and as a testament to creative freedom.

11. Dead Poets Society

“Carpe Diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

This book is a gift you and your mentor can both treasure. In just 176 pages, N.H. Kleinbaum's Dead Poets Society reminds us that life isn’t about following the rules but about finding our voice.

The story follows a group of boys whose world is completely turned upside down by their extraordinary English teacher, Mr. Keating. His unconventional lessons push them to think differently, to challenge the ordinary, and most importantly, to seize the day. If there’s one book to remind your teacher (and you) why the spark of inspiration matters, this is it.

12. The Second Sex

“...her wings are cut and then she is blamed for not knowing how to fly.”

We’re ending this list with a powerhouse of a book. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex isn’t just a classic; it’s a manifesto that challenged centuries of assumptions about what it means to be a woman. Written in the late 1940s, this landmark text explores the ways women have been viewed and treated throughout history, dissecting gender roles with unflinching honesty.

Pick this one up and you might just earn a knowing nod from the mentor, teacher, or friend who first opened your eyes to feminism and to the deeper questions of freedom, identity, and what it truly means to live with purpose and equality. Bold, brilliant, and unapologetic—it’s essential reading for anyone curious about the lived feminine experience.

Thank Them with Stories That Last

So, there you have it—a shelf full of classics that aren’t just books, but doorways into new ways of seeing the world. Think of them as thoughtful gifts you can pass on to someone who’s given you a fresh perspective, broadened your horizons, or simply reminded you to think differently. A mentor, a friend, a teacher, or even that quiet guide in your life who nudged you toward growth—what better way to say thank you than with stories and ideas that last a lifetime?

So, be grateful, pass on a classic, and share the gift of dialogue. Because the best way to honour those who shaped you is to keep the exchange of ideas alive, one story at a time!

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