There are few I would rate as "potentially life-changing," but Shel Silverstein? Dr. Seuss?
People are enthralled by that which they aspire to.
Some things are, alas, what some indeed aspire to.
It changed my life. Green Eggs and Ham was the first book I owned and the first book I learned to read by myself. Go Dog Go was the second and the Cat in the Hat was the third. The love of reading was instilled in me very young. I could read the first grade reader Dick and Jane, front to cover the first day of class. By the time I was in High School I averaged a book a week for pleasure. Now I average a book every three days. and it all started with Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham! Definitely a life changer for me.