Start Your Reading Journey: 4 Books to Kick Off Your Literary Exploration
Introduction:
Books are portals through which you experience the lives of many and learn lessons that will propel you forward. To a generation so immersed in VR and Metaverse, advocating the necessity of reading books is like asking a dolphin not to swim. But considering that the first form of life started in the oceans and later evolved to conquer the land, it doesn’t seem a lost cause to give some book recommendations that are not too taxing on the mind. To be clear, I have not read a hundred books in my lifetime, and it was only due to the profound boredom brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that I began to read. Since I am newly introduced to the world of reading books, I do have an idea why people are so reluctant to read and even when they do start, they fail to complete even one book in their lifetime. I guess that is a topic for another article.
Let us stick to the topic at hand, which is a list of four books you can read as a beginner.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Self-help and productivity book publishing is a billion-dollar industry. It is said that when you buy a self-help book, you are helping the publishing industry. My opinion on this matter is neutral. Nevertheless, the book Atomic Habit by James Clear is a book no one should miss out on. I think it is perhaps the only productivity book anyone should read.
A word of advice to aspiring readers who struggle to start reading habbit: read 10 pages daily. Only 10 pages, nothing more nothing less. But make sure you read every day. This simple thing would let you be consistent in your reading habit. This will allow you to complete the book in 1 month. So if my math is right, you could finish one book in one month; that means you could finish 12 books in one year. For those who have never completed reading a book in their lifetime, this is no ordinary feat. Moreover, once you start establish reading as a habit, the number of pages you read will gradually increase to reach your full potential.
The advice that I mentioned above is actually derived from the book Atomic Habits itself. The reason for suggesting this book first is that this book lets you have the idea to cultivate healthy habits and be consistent with them. And once you have a healthy habit when beginning to read the remaining 3 books, you will be able to adapt the best ideas from those books with ease.
The idea is not to read 100 books, the idea is to be a reader. Again this is also from the book. It talks about configuring your identity first whether that’s being a good student or a good parent or a good son or daughter. Once you have set your identity, that will propel you to configure your process and the process will bring outcomes.
Rome was not built in a day. It took time and effort. This is a frequent theme in this book. One must concentrate on the process rather than on the final product. One must try to enjoy the journey rather than fixate on the destination. The mistake that we make is that we concentrate more on our final outcome. For example, Alex is a student who has the semester test the next month. He is so worried about how he will perform on the exam. He thinks about it day after day. What will happen to Alex? What is the alternative?
Alex should set a timetable that is feasible and study daily. He should concentrate on the process of studying daily rather than worry about the test paper. As a result, he will score well in the exam. It is as simple as that. Life is simple like that, don’t complicate it.
2. Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
I read most of my books on my Kindle, which is an ebook reader. I find it convenient since I can store hundreds or even thousands of books yet it is lightweight and easy to carry. But there is one book of which I have a physical copy of. I take it with me every time I go to my home town on weekends. That book is, as you have guessed, Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia.
It is a light read. You don’t need a month to finish it. It will just take one week probably to finish the entire book. But don’t underestimate the book by the number of pages it has. You see, life is simple. A book can be simple, yet offer you life-changing ideas.
Ikigai is the reason why you get up every morning. It is all about finding a purpose in your life, being active with mind and body, eating healthy, and resting your mind and body. It will teach you to find peace in your life. I highly recommend you read it, not once but many times over and over.
3. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is quite popular from his presence on YouTube. Even though an introvert, seeing his speech in front of hundreds is in itself a true motivation. In his book leaders eat last, he talks about the virtue of building a healthy team in a workspace. The key idea is the concept called “the circle of safety”. It is the duty of the leader to create a safe environment where employees can exhibit their talent and thoughts without being afraid of backstabbing and office politics. Leadership is something you will have to take up at some point in time whether in a professional or personal setting. I highly recommend you read this book.
4. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
The very reason why you are reading this article is because of the book “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon. His book encouraged me to resume writing. I used to be interested in writing in my school days, but I had stopped doing that a long time since. This book encouraged me to write again and create a website of my own and publish articles on it. This book is the best example of how much a book can influence a person. I won’t spoil any contents of the book. It will just take one week to complete. It is a very light book, even lighter than Ikigai. If you are an artist or a budding artist you must buy and read it.
Bonus: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This book recommendation is a bonus for those who had the patience to read till the end of the article. In my opinion, The Alchemist is a non-fiction book in the guise of a fiction book. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” This is the best quote from the book. A must read book to relax your mind while having a sip of Coffee/ Tea.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, reading is an incredible way to learn, grow, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around us. For beginners, choosing the right books to start with can be a daunting task. However, by exploring the recommended books for beginners mentioned above, readers can discover stories and ideas that will capture their imagination and leave them wanting more. So take the first step, pick up a book, and let yourself be transported to new worlds, meet new characters, and discover new perspectives. The power of reading is truly remarkable, and there’s no better time to start than now.