1. You are here:
  2. Homepage
  3. Knowledge hub
  4. Search the knowledge hub
  5. The books that changed something
Featured content
14 Feb 2026

The books that changed something

On 14 February, people around the world celebrate International Book Giving Day – a day dedicated to sharing stories and passing books into new hands.

As we enter the National Year of Reading 2026, it's also an opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact books have on individuals and communities.

At the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), we’re always talking about the power of words. Across our community, many began as avid readers long before they became editorial professionals. 

So, we asked our members: which book changed something for you? 

Their answers span childhood fantasy, solo travel and powerful memoir – and together they remind us why stories matter. 

CIEP member Kerrie-Anne Love: The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton 

‘The first novel I remember reading is The Magic Faraway Tree. As a child I always had my head in a book, but this one stayed with me more than others. I loved its quirky characters and fantasy lands. My family moved frequently and whenever I was on a plane I would look out the window half-expecting to see a new land hidden in the clouds. Now I have my own faraway tree, a majestic booyong, although I've never tried to climb it.’

The books we read in childhood often stay with us. They shape how we think about stories, language and possibility – and sometimes influence the paths we take later on.

(And with a new film adaptation on the horizon, it's a timely reminder that stories continue to evolve – even it, as many readers will argue, the book is always better!)

CIEP member Kerrie-Anne Love: Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy

‘In my early twenties I bought a one-way ticket from Sydney to London and set off to explore the world on my own. Along the way I picked up a copy of Dervla Murphy’s classic travel memoir Full Tilt. Reading about her solo adventures made me a little braver. Her observation that the people she met along the way “taught me that for all the horrible chaos of the contemporary political scene this world is full of kindness” seems just as relevant fifty years later.’ 

Some books do more than transport us – they shape our outlook. They challenge assumptions, expand perspective and remain meaningful years later. 

CIEP member Alicia Chantal: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

‘The book I find myself recommending time and time again is Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. This book is a fabulous example of taking incredibly serious subjects and addressing them with openness, heart, and humour. It goes to show that good storytelling can spur thought and growth, even in the darkest corners. The hope portrayed on its pages is the kind of hope I desire to help my clients bring to life in their own writing.’ 

For Alicia, the impact isn’t only personal – it feeds directly into her editorial work. The kind of hope and humanity she finds in powerful storytelling is what she seeks to nurture in her clients’ writing too. 

CIEP member Catriona Turner: Nest by Catriona Turner 

‘Writing my own book, my memoir Nest, was life-changing because it helped me understand my own story better! What'’s even more satisfying is that readers have shared with me the way the book gave them moments of clarity and self-understanding too.’ 

For Catriona, the book that changed something was one she wrote herself. Her experience reflects another dimension of reading and writing – the way shaping a story can deepen understanding, not only for the writer but for readers too. 

We’ll be sharing a full interview with Catriona in March, exploring her experience of being both an author and an editorial professional. 

Stories connect us 

These books are different in genre, tone and era. But they share something important: they changed something. 

They shaped imagination. They influenced choices. They stayed with us. 

As editorial professionals, we work behind the scenes of stories every day. But moments like this remind us that we're also part of a community shaped by reading – by the books that moved us, challenged us and stayed with us long after we read the final page.

This International Book Giving Day, perhaps there’s a book on your shelf that could change something for someone else. 

During this National Year of Reading, it's worth recognising that the editorial profession is built on a lifelong engagement with books – and the belief that stories matter.

If you’re part of the CIEP community and would like to share the book that shaped you, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll continue sharing recommendations and reflections throughout the year – because stories are meant to be passed on. 

Meet the contributors 

Kerrie-Anne Love 
Fiction and memoir editor 
Website: kerrieannelove.com 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrieannelove/

Alicia Chantal  
Non-fiction copyeditor and proofreader 
Website: campsite.bio/freshlookedit 
Instagram/Threads: @freshlook_alicia 
Bluesky: @freshlookediting.ca 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-chantal-freshlookediting/ 

Catriona Turner 
Copyediting and proofreading for indie authors 
Website: thewordbothy.com 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catriona-turner/ 
Instagram: @catrionaturnerbooks 

References 

The following books are mentioned in this article. Links are included for reference. 

Return to listing