There are a lot of great resources out there that you can buy or pick up at your local library that can help you change your life for the better.
But there are also a lot of great FREE places to check out that you can expand your mind and learn from as well.
In this post I’ll lay out seven of what I consider to be the best (free) manifestos you should read. These are all written by people I either know personally or look up to as visionaries. They are all leaders in the field of living a life filled with passion and no regrets.
The Tower by Chris Guillebeau
Chris’s previous two manifestos have both been big catalysts for change in my own life, so I knew his newest wouldn’t disappoint. If you haven’t read them, 279 Days to Overnight Success & A Brief Guide to World Domination are actually the #6 & #7 manifestos of this list. 
Released this week, this concise and beautiful piece of writing discusses how using a structured series of goals, planning, and positive feedback can lead to big things in your life. Chris writes about how he thinks that working on a legacy project is the meaning of life and relates how playing a simple iPad opened up his eyes to the best way to achieve at the bigger things in life.
Download the free pdf directly or go here to get the kindle version.
The Impossible Manifesto by Joel Runyon
Also released this week by my friend Joel is a piece of writing that will challenge you to do what you think is impossible. Whether you think a physical feat is impossible or you just need to build up the mental courage do something you fear, this manifesto will challenge your belief structure.
Download the manifesto directly for free here.
The Flinch by Julien Smith
Imagine someone is about to punch you in the face. Unless you are boxer or another kind of trained fighter, you are going to flinch. In life, we flinch all the time. We hesitate to do what we truly want to do because we are afraid. This holds us back from living lives we deserve to live.
This is a new (free) kindle book put together by Julien Smith who writes at In Over Your Head. In this book he explores how to do the best work of your life without flinching.
Download the kindle version of the book for free here.
The Focus Manifesto by Leo Babauta
Our lives are so full of distractions that is getting absurd. Just stand in line for something and look around for a minute. How many people are looking at their phones? How many ads there are around you? Think of all the emails, text messages, tweets, comments, Facebook messages, etc. there are for you to check in a given day.
It is time for us to re-learn how to focus. Leo Babauta from Zen Habits wrote this book last fall, but I finally sat down and read it. It took just a single sitting during the road trip I’m currently on. I already feel more disconnected in just the past few days since reading by being conscious about how I spend my time consuming information.
You can download either the free version of the manifesto or read more about the full version.
The Zero Hour Work Week by Jonathan Mead
This is an oldie, but a goodie. Jonathan from Illuminated Mind explores the real meaning of work. Should work always be painful? Can you get to the point where you actual enjoy what you do for a living so that it doesn’t feel like “work”?
I know you can enjoy your work and not worry about how many hours you “work” a week because I am at that point right now. I enjoy what I do and it doesn’t feel like work to me. I encourage you to try and create a life that is the same.
Download the full manifesto for free in pdf form.
BONUS: No Choice by Seth Godin
Not exactly a full manifesto, but in my opinion, these are definitely strong words to live by. Saying you have no choice in your life is blasphemous.
Make the decision to live your life by your own rules and you will be much happier.
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Your turn: What are some free resources that have changed your life for the better? Go ahead and list them in the comments below.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Caleb, thank you so much for this list. I was already in the process of reading one of them, but your list has just added to my read time, which I’m greatly looking forward to.
One thing, please consider putting a target=”_blank” at the end of your links. It’s easier for the reader to pop back into your site and not lose the wonderful link you just provided them with.
Sorry to increase your reading time, but it will be worth it!
As for the “_blank” suggestion, I prefer to give people the option of opening something in a separate tab as opposed to forcing a new window/tab to open.
Caleb,
Thanks a lot for these. I had already read the recent ones and Leo’s Focus but there are some old gems in here, which I didn’t know about. Love your site too btw. Have a good one!
Amit
Thanks Amit! Let me know what you think of some of the ones you haven’t read before.
Thanks for the shoutout Caleb
. Some really, really awesome manifestos here and I’m super stoked to be included. Thanks again!
Of course Joel! My favorite part was the stories you included of people rising up against adversity. Inspirational.
I haven’t read any of these (except Chris’ older ones), but I’m looking forward to checking them all out!
They are some great resources and I think they will actually influence how to think, which is the most important thing a manifesto can do.
Thanks for this awesome list! I had already downloaded some of them but I am stoked to read the rest too!
Of course Yamile!
Caleb, thanks so much for sharing, this is an excellent resource. I just read through the impossible manifesto and it was awesome. I’m going to bookmark this page for future reference.
Thanks for stopping by Scott. Hopefully some of these resources can help you out!
Awesome Caleb and lovely to see you taking on the world in a 1 year adventure and creating more freedom. I consumed the Tower in less than an hour the other day and really enjoyed the analogy of the game that Chris wrote about and how that compared to leaving a legacy. I also love Jonathan Mead’s manifesto and I’m so excited you told me about Joel’s! Must go check it out now. Looking forward to seeing yours soon too
I agree that the Tower was a great read and I am actually putting together my plan for 2012 that follows the structure that he recommends for accomplishing goals.
Mine is in work…
Amazing compilation Caleb,
I was already reading The Flinch but I never heard of the others.
Thanks and looking forward to get some food for thoughts!
Sergio
If you like the Flinch, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the others.
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