Three books I recommend everyone to read
Books teach us a lot, but they aren't the only source of learning. We learn from our experiences, the people we meet, the mistakes we make, the conversations we have, and the world around us. Books are another source of learning that I came to appreciate because they allow us to learn from experiences beyond our own.
I’m not sure if it was Robin Sharma or someone else who said this: books allow us to draw from the experiences, ideas, and wisdom of people who have achieved extraordinary things in their lives. In a way, they condense years of experience and life lessons into a few hundred pages that anyone can buy for just a few bucks. Looking at books this way completely changed how I viewed reading!
I still wouldn't call myself a bookworm, but I do enjoy hunting for good books that I feel everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. Over the years, I've come across quite a few, but three books have stayed with me more than the others. I've reread them several times, yet the excitement of reading them hasn't worn off. I believe there's something in each of them that almost anyone can relate to, which is why I would love to share them with you.
"Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you"- The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.
Whenever I get self-doubts or feel low, I pick this book.
Have you ever had a dream you were determined to pursue, even when you had no idea how things would turn out? Or maybe you are already chasing it, navigating the ups and downs, and hoping that one day all your efforts will pay off. If you can relate to that feeling, The Alchemist is a book you will connect with.
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it"
The story follows Santiago, a young boy who becomes a shepherd so he can travel the world and explore new places. When he repeatedly dreams of a hidden treasure near the Egyptian pyramids, he decides to leave behind the life he knows and set off in search of it. What follows is much more than a journey to find treasure. Along the way, Santiago faces challenges, meets people who change his perspective, and learns to recognise the opportunities and signs that guide him towards his destiny.
What I love about this book is how it makes you think about your own dreams. When you are chasing something that truly matters to you, the road ahead isn't always clear, and things don't always work out the way you imagined. There are times when you feel stuck, find yourself questioning your choices because the people around you keep saying you should be realistic, stop dreaming, or simply accept your fate. In those moments, it's easy to lose sight of why you started in the first place.
That is where Santiago’s journey feels so relatable, and I mean it. The book inspires you to keep pursuing your dreams, even when the path is uncertain. It reminds you that challenges can teach you valuable lessons and prepare you for what lies ahead. More importantly, it shows that the journey itself can help you discover who you truly are and become a better version of yourself.
Here are some quotes from the book that I absolutely love...
I realised life wasn't just about a career or madly chasing passion. I wanted to balance my personal life as well. This book is all about that!
What does it really mean to live a successful life? Is it about building a great career, earning more money, and owning the things we have always wanted, or is there something more to it? There is nothing wrong with pursuing these things, but what happens when you achieve everything you have ever wanted and still feel that something is missing? Perhaps success is not just about achieving our goals, but also about finding fulfilment in life. This is what makes The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari such an interesting read.
The story follows Julian Mantle, a successful lawyer who has spent years madly chasing professional success and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. But after suffering a heart attack at a very young age, he begins to question whether the life he built was truly worth it. He gives up his career, sells his material possessions, including his Ferrari, and travels to the Himalayas hoping to find answers to some of life's bigger questions. There, he learns from a group of monks and returns to share the wisdom he has discovered with his former colleague, John.
"Who look outside, dreams; who look inside, awakens"
At its core, the book teaches that a fulfilling life comes from caring for the mind, body, and soul. Through seven virtues, Julian learns how to live with greater purpose, discipline, and presence, and how small, consistent efforts can help us become the best version of ourselves and live a more meaningful life.
The book reminds us that our lives are shaped by the choices we make and the way we look at the world. It introduces simple techniques to help us manage our minds, such as using a rose as a focus for meditation and practicing opposition thinking, which means replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. These techniques might sound easy, but putting them into practice consistently is another story! They also make you realise how little control we sometimes have over our own minds.
There's a lot more to say about this book, but I'll leave it at that. Give it a read and you might just find yourself pausing for a moment and reflecting on your own life.
An introvert recommending a book on people? That's something you can't ignore!
First published in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People is probably one of the best books ever written on how to deal with people. I must admit, I was no different from most people in how I approached people, but this book changed the way I look at people and how I interact with them.
At its core, this book is about understanding human nature and what drives our interactions with others. We often focus on expressing our own opinions, proving our points, or getting others to understand us, without realising that building good relationships requires us to look beyond our own needs. Carnegie explains how our approach to people influences the way they respond to us and how being more thoughtful in our interactions can help us build trust and stronger relationships.
One idea that really stuck with me is how easily we criticise others without considering our own shortcomings. Think about it, it's easy to point out someone else's mistakes, but how often do we try to understand why they're doing it in the first place? Carnegie challenges us to think differently about these everyday interactions. Rather than being quick to judge, we can learn to appreciate people sincerely, make them feel valued, and handle disagreements without turning them into unnecessary conflicts. These may sound like simple things, but putting them into practice takes awareness and effort.
I believe we should all learn to appreciate books and make time for reading. Think of them as a kind of medicine for the mind, offering lessons and perspectives that can help us become better versions of ourselves. Pick a book that interests you, start reading, and see what you can take away from it.
Happy reading!
"A book is a dream that you hold in your hands."
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