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I managed to read nine non-fiction or self-development books in 2020, and I'm quite proud of these reads. Because I imbibed the message of these books in my everyday life, what were these messages? Well, here I list the most important ones in my opinion, and those that I continue to follow and be inspired from.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
This is Michelle’s story from as young as 18 months to the day after her husband, Barack Obama left the Office of President of the United States to reinstate Donald Trump into his place. She recalls how she became what she became and ponders on the journey ahead.
Takeaway - Becoming isn’t arriving somewhere or achieving an aim; it is an ongoing journey to better yourself.
Even if you’re a Harvard Law graduate, you could end up being confused and directionless about your career.
Beware of Falling Coconuts by Gillian Mcneill
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and successfully treated, she wanted to do something to help others. Having previously lost her own mother, mother in law, auntie and friend to the disease, she understood only too well, the fear receiving a cancer diagnosis brought.
"Within every problem there is a gift for you."
"Mind you, it shows that a positive attitude can truly get you through anything."
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
The Japanese believe that everyone has an Ikigai : a purpose or reason for life, that makes it worthwhile. In Japanese it is written as 生き甲斐. In Japanese 生き means life and 甲斐 means being worthwhile.
Resilience a feature of people with a clearly defined Ikigai – the ability to persevere in spite of hardships or setbacks and an outlook to stay focused on what matters or is important.
Remember: The most important thing in life is to stay busy doing what you love amongst people who love you.
India’s Greatest Speeches compiled by Nitin Agarwal
The saying, Old is gold holds to these greatest public speeches, and they remain relevant even today in the 21st century. These speeches' beauty is that other than being spoken by remarkable personalities, they mark historical moments; Moments that changed India, moments that make us proud to be an Indian.
Lord, make me a channel of your peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. - Mother Teresa
Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers – The Story of Success
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of best-selling books including Blink and Tipping point.
“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”
Success is a function of willingness and doggedness and the willingness to work hard for twenty-two minutes to make sense of something that people would give up in thirty seconds.
Top Visionaries who changed the world by George Ilian
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently – they’re not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. - Steve Jobs
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Mark Manson happened to be a blogger. A number of failed jobs, hopping across 50 countries, being in many unhealthy relationships and some substance abuse later he wrote this book, about handling all the F*ck in your life.
The key to a good life is not giving a fuck about more, it’s giving a fuck about less, giving a fuck about only what is true and immediate and important.
Not giving a fuck does not mean being indifferent; it means being comfortable with being different. To not give a fuck about adversity, you must first give a fuck about something more important than adversity. Whether you realize it or not, you are always choosing what to give a fuck about.
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
Napoleon’s book is a mine of valuable gems. First published in the 1930s, the book has sold more than 15 million copies.
There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.
"Life is a checkerboard, and the player opposite you is TIME. If you hesitate before moving, or neglect to move promptly, your men will be wiped off the board by TIME. You are playing against a partner who will not tolerate INDECISION!"
Zero to One by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
“Doing what we already know how to do (copying a model) takes the world from 1 to n. But every time we create something new, we go from 0 to 1.”
There exists no formula to teaching entrepreneurship, because every innovation is new and unique, no authority can prescribe in concrete terms how to be innovative. Indeed, the single most powerful pattern I have noticed is that successful people find values in unexpected places, and they do this by thinking about business from first principles instead of formulas.
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