By nature, reading is a habit that humans practice daily for various reasons. However, it is undeniable that we read to source knowledge from books, novels, and scripts, acknowledging that the contents will be beneficial to our lives in one way or the other. The knowledge varies with different arrays. The following are some of the best inspirational books published that give irrefutable wisdom on different aspects:
BEST FOR: SELF DISCOVERY
The Alchemist is a novel written by Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho. Originally written in Brazilian Portuguese in 1988, the book has been translated into different languages and has seen itself as one of the most widely appreciated international bestsellers. A quick synopsis: The book is about Santiago, a shepherd boy who had a dream about a treasure while under a tree in a ruined church in Spain. He consults a gypsy woman, on his dream, who advises him that his treasure is at the bottom of the Pyramids in Egypt. While in Egypt he meets The Alchemist who is a powerful and purified man who discovers new theories and understandings through alchemy. However, Santiago in the end learns that his treasure is buried at the church in Spain where he first had his dream. The moral of the story is that ‘It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.’
BEST FOR: DECISION MAKING
The Art of Thinking Clearly is a novel written by Swiss author, Rolf Dobelli and published in 2013. The book has 99 chapters that briefly explain common human behaviors that can be interpreted as illogical behaviors and lead to errors in decision making. The book helps one to fight against mental biases and realize how imperfect our minds are when it comes to making the right choices in life. The book acknowledges that we all make cognitive errors and assists us in not tripping on them. It is a serious examination of faulty reasoning that leads to repeated mistakes by individuals, businesses, and nations. Eventually, one notion is extracted from the book, ‘It is OK to be envious but only of the person you aspire to become.’
Jubilee insurance buys Sh. 1.1 billion Coca-Cola offices (biznakenya.com)
BEST FOR: SELF IMPROVEMENT
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, is a book by Charles Duhigg that was published back in 2012. It is based on the theme of habit formation, habit modification, and recreation for human psychology and businesses. In a nutshell, this book points out that habits cannot be removed but rather can be replaced and rebuilt by changing the routine while keeping the cue and reward constant. it encourages people to focus on their self-improvement too. The book is an international bestseller and has won its author ‘The Pulitzer prize’. It also places emphasis on ‘Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.’
BEST FOR: LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE
Man’s search for meaning is a novel by Viktor E. Frankl, published in 1946 chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi Auschwitz concentration camps during WWII. In the book, he describes his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about and then immersively imagining that outcome. It is a helpful book for one to find a solution to feelings of depression. The moral brought out is ‘Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.’
BEST FOR: SELF LOVE
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are is a 2010 book that is written by Bréne Browne. The book is full of encouraging words that will help one to accept themselves the way they are. The unraveling is a time when you are challenged by the universe to let go of who you are supposed to be and embrace who you are. ‘Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are!’
BEST FOR: SPIRITUAL GROWTH
The Road Less Travelled is an ultra-popular 1978 psychological book by M. Scott Peck, aiming to redefine concepts as ubiquitous as love and religion, and striving to demonstrate how understanding discipline and grace is essential to both leading a healthier life and truly grasping the meaning of your existence. The book will cause one to become clear about themselves and their strengths as well as one’s selfish or devious parts. The book recognizes that ‘It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.’
Please help me! Churchill comedian Consumator begs Kenyans (biznakenya.com)
BEST FOR: SELF IMPROVEMENT
7 Habits of Highly effective people is Stephen R. Covey’s book that was first published in 1989 and gained its fame recognition in the 90s. The book states that there are four key ingredients to a healthy body; good sleeping habits, physical relaxation, good nutrition, and proper exercise. The book has been an international bestseller for a long time simply because it ignores trends and pop psychology and focuses on timeless principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. Undoubtedly this book promotes self-improvement and awareness. The seven habits of highly effective people are; Being proactive, Beginning with the end in mind, Putting first things first, Thinking win-win, Seeking first to understand then to be understood, Synergize, and lastly, Sharpening the saw. This book is a great read as it has powerful lessons for personal change. ‘Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.’
BEST FOR: BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURS
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build The Future is a book by legendary entrepreneur and investor, Peter Thiel and co-written by Blake Masters. The book shows how to pursue success using the most important, most difficult, and most underrated skill in every job or industry: thinking for yourself. It explains that the great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. The book is about how to build companies that create new things after careful examination of what the future holds and what the business scene used to look like before the millennium. It agrees that ‘Monopoly is the condition of every successful business.’
BEST FOR: PERSONAL FINANCE
Rich Dad Poor Dad is a popular bestselling financial book by Robert T. Kiyosaki. It is most probably among the most famous inspirational books on the planet for its financial advice. It contains many factual errors and numerous extremely unlikely accounts of events that occurred. This is a real-life story narrated by Mr. Kiyosaki in the book. A quick synopsis: The book has three characters, a son, a rich dad, and a poor dad. He grows up with his real father and the father of his best friend, “his rich dad” and both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book can be summarised gingerly in these four points: i) Have your work and work for yourself. ii) Job is different from trade. iii) You should do what pleases you the most to be successful. iv) The rich buy assets. The poor have expenses. The middle class buys liabilities and mistakes them for assets. The poor and the middle-class work for money. The rich have money to work for them.
BEST FOR: HUMAN PERSUASION
Influence: Science and Practice is a classic book by Robert B. Cialdini that explains the psychology of why people say ‘yes’ and how to apply these understandings. The book explains the key ways people can be influenced by ‘Compliance Professionals’. It gives the outcome of years of study into the reasons why people comply with requests in business settings. The book gives also promotes living a meaningful life. The book acknowledges the moral that ‘The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.’
30 community libraries to benefit from a books drive (biznakenya.com)
