Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Loved this book’s insights on self-compassion, and finding hope, joy, and laughter again after a traumatic event. Perhaps the best thing about it is that it doesn’t only teach us to find all those great things for ourselves, but to give support and communicate with others who are in similar situations. The book tells us that joy is a discipline, as it does take effort to find happiness in the smallest things — And that is especially hard to do after a debilitating event.
Escobar by Roberto Escobar
One of the most important skills an artist must have is “negative capability” — The ability to hold herself back from forming an opinion too soon, to not judge so quickly and to tolerate uncertainties in her mind. This book is written by Pablo Escobar’s brother, Roberto, and what I love about it is that it gives us a more wholesome perspective on the man. Roberto was Pablo’s accountant, and before his descent into the world of crime, he was once an honest businessman. Time and time again, he lovingly tried to convince Pablo to stay out of the drug business. Without discounting the horrible things that Pablo committed, he makes us realize that he too, was human, as he relates his brother’s story with his own.
The Gift of Anger by Arun Gandhi
One of the very best books I read in 2019 — Arun Gandhi’s an amazing writer, and this book is full of great stories that will stay with you for the long run, as he wove them with lessons from his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi on anger, humility, and happiness. They might sound like simple topics, but Arun manages to provide us with incredibly thought-provoking insights, all the while making the road to self-mastery very human and attainable for every one of us.
Notebooks by Leonardo da Vinci
Not an easy read, but it’s always interesting to have a glimpse into a great man’s working mind — His curiosities, the way he looked at the world around him. He truly had an artist and a scientist in him, beautifully coalescing together. If you’re interested in reading this, I recommend that you couple this with Walter Isaacson’s biography of Leonardo.
M Train by Patti Smith
Sometimes a good day spells out reading Patti Smith’s writings, with your favorite music playing in the background, and a cup of coffee on your table. This book is pretty much plotless as she dips from memory to memory — Her husband’s death, her children, her travels, drinking 16 cups of coffee (a record I aim to beat, okay just kidding). But there’s something about her prose that always leaves you hooked and wanting more. It’s just a really enjoyable read.
Also Check Out :
How to Read More by Austin Kleon (Article)
Great tips on how to get yourself to read more, especially the one about not finishing a book you don’t like. Your opinions may differ, but I agree with Kleon — Only read what you’re interested in, otherwise you’re wasting the time that you could be spending on reading better books. You could disagree with me, but I think it’s the job of the writer to keep you interested in his writing. If I feel like I couldn’t finish a book, I would give it away, or just shelf it at home. Maybe if you want to prevent that from happening, it might help to read a few reviews of the book before you consider getting it.
Izzat Zailan 