Even if you have read just one good book in your life, you know what has to offer. It gives you incomparable pleasure, solace, company, and immense knowledge. There’s something about reading and how it makes you feel that you just cannot describe in words; it’s ineffable. It makes you forget about the woes in your life and helps you transcend into a world that is very different from yours.
For instance, a Harry Potter fan would call Hogwarts his/her home, and probably can tell you about every nook and cranny of Hogwarts as if s/he had been there a million times. Actually, yes! S/he had been there in essence. That’s what reading does—magic. You enter into a new world and explore your creativity. Imagine all the characters. Once you taste the art of reading by finding the right book, you’ll never feel like leaving the world of books.
Reading doesn’t mean picking up some books that are buzzing or are critically acclaimed and reading them will make you look cool. Reading means consuming what suits your taste best— comic books, magazines, short stories, poetries, novels, novellas, and more. Once you start to enjoy reading, you’ll find it more entertaining than any other form of content consumption.
So where do you start? Do you read the complex and intricate writing of Salman Rushdie? Maybe 1984 by George Orwell? Well, you can go back in time and start reading from Young Adult books like ‘Famous Five’ and ‘Secret Seven’. Once you get comfortable with these then you can gradually move up the ladder and pick up more nuanced books to read.
Which is the best book to read? Well, there is no greater book than the book you choose. Rather, there is no greater book than the book that chooses you. But still, there will always be a list of books which are almost fool-proof. These books also give you some important life lessons, so buckle up.
So welcome to the world of books…
Few Must-Reads:
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
No, don’t take the title in its literal sense. Stealing doesn’t always mean robbery. In this book, the author states that nothing is original. All creative work builds on what came before. He talks about our creativity. It is a manifesto for the digital age; Steal Like an Artist is a guide whose positive message, graphic look and illustrations, exercises, and examples will put readers directly in touch with their artistic side.
In this very insightful book by Austin Kleon, he explains that you don’t need to be a genius, you just need to be yourself. He emphasizes that creativity is everywhere and is for everyone. He mentions about 10 things nobody tells people about creativity. He points out that no artist’s work is completely original, and that trying to be original will daunt an artist eventually.
The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
The Alchemist is about a young shepherd Santiago who finds a treasure beyond his wildest dreams. The book points out that we have the power to pursue the best version of our life. It is a classic book that talks about this journey. For anybody trying to find their passion and eliminate the noise, The Alchemist is a powerful book. It is a simple story of a boy that we can draw countless lessons from. It serves as a great motivator towards pursuing our ‘personal legend’ and listening to our hearts.
His journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path and to follow our dreams. While teaching you the essential wisdom the book doesn’t bore you up with motivational speeches. The book goes on with the boy’s journey answering all your questions.
The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann
This is the story of an ambitious young man who feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be. Desperate to land a key sale at the end of a bad quarter, he seeks advice from an enigmatic sage. The sage referred to by his many devotees simply as the Chairman arranges a meeting with his friends. This is how the young man Joe then embarks on a learning journey meeting Go-Givers-friends of the Chairman through these interactions, he learns of the five laws of stratospheric success.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
It affects the way we think and perceive life. In this book, Hill explained six steps of achieving the dream of possessing inordinate wealth. Although, we believe the steps are not just for gaining more money but for every goal and every dream you want to achieve.
This is the first book to boldly ask, “What makes a winner?” The man who asked and listened for the answer, Napoleon Hill, claimed to have spent “a fortune and the better part of a lifetime of effort” to produce the ‘Law of Success’ philosophy that forms the basis of his book.
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Most people are fearful of change because they don’t believe they have any control over how or when it happens to them. Since change happens either to the individual or by the individual, this book shows us that what matters most is the attitude we have about change. The text describes the change in one’s work and life and four typical reactions to those changes by two mice and two little people during their hunt for cheese.
The story is about two mice that live in a maze, and they pair up with humans to look for cheese. They eventually find it. But one day they find no cheese left in the room. The mice move on but the humans… (Read it to know what happened, we don’t want to ruin the book for you)
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
This is a fun, fascinating, fanciful adventure into reams of personal development, personal effectiveness, and individual happiness. It contains treasures of wisdom that can enrich and enhance the life of every single person.
This inspiring tale provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy. A wonderfully crafted fable. This book tells the extraordinary story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life, and the subsequent wisdom that he gains on a life-changing odyssey enables him to create a life of passion, purpose, and peace.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
We all want to succeed. And one path to success is identifying the habits that can help us on our journey. The book opens with an explanation of how many individuals who have achieved a high degree of outward success still find themselves struggling with an inner need for developing personal effectiveness and growing healthy relationships with other people.
The integrated, principle-cantered 7 habits philosophy helps us find solutions to our personal and professional problems, and achieve a life characterized by fairness, integrity, honesty, and dignity.
We have covered seven books that will help update your reading list. So what next after you finish reading all the books from the list? You choose your own reads. So let me give you a few tips on how to choose a book for yourself.
Tips to choose the right book:
- Take suggestions/recommendations.
- Experiment with New Genres
- Learn what you like to read.
- Maintain your own reading list.
- Read online reviews of the book.
- Before buying, read the blurbs/synopsis on the back cover.
- Don’t read a book which you don’t think you’d like just because it is from a good author.
- Don’t buy it just because everyone’s reading it.
- Read the right books at the right time.
- Take time to read books out of your comfort zone.
Happy reading!!
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.”
-George R.R Martin, Author
