I can’t recommend any books on it unless you want to get into Friedrich Nietzsche as I think it has much to do with his theory of “will to power”, but if you are having a problem with cynicism, know that there’s nothing wrong with you. Your brain is just doing what it’s supposed to do and what we evolved to do. It’s just that those tendencies can be counterproductive in today’s world.

Powerlessness is created by fear and very often, self-inflicted. Find out what you really want and what fears are stopping you. Work at that, and talk to a professional about it. Working through this kind of thing with a book can be tough.