Reading is like breathing in; writing is like breathing out.
From learning to stand up straight, to taking on more responsibility, to being mindful and courageous, adopting a daily posture and winning mindset, and greeting feast and famine with equal, playful enthusiasm.
Like airfield runway lights in the dark, providing way points for navigation in what often seems to be thick black fog, these books are the bright lights guiding us through what might at times feel like wildly discombobulating times. I believe that we are fortunate enough to live in the best of times. If you're not convinced, then read on.
Factfulness, Sapiens and Abundance, along with plenty others, point towards so many wonderful facts and developments in the world we live in today. These are often overlooked by the media, mostly due to honest ignorance rather than a malevolent intent to propagate fear and uncertainty. Unless you live in Britain. Oh boy, then you best Get Fact! :)
In truth, I don't have enough time in my life to be able to read all the books I'd like to read.
My kindle contains considerably more books than I have yet to read, each book sparking a world of thoughts and before long I'm in an Amazon rabbit-hole spending even more money on books. The Japanese call this practice tsundoku (having more books than you can read), a term I learnt as recently as this week, thanks to an article in Big Think called https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/value-of-unread-books?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1d, the web of course being another awesome source of stimulus for going deep and wide on a particular subject.
In a discussion with a Partner at a global consulting firm recently, we found ourselves discussing books we've read and why we loved them. I've already finished the book that was recommended by Nick, Tim Marshall's Prisoners Of Geography. If you've ever wondered why Putin is so obsessed with Crimea, why the USA was destined to become a global superpower, or why China's power base continues to expand ever outwards, the answers are all here.
Books help us switch off from the auto-pilot humdrum of everyday life. Getting away from the constant zapping and fear-mongering; often messaging by the media or politicians.
Reading books on the other hand, admittedly on my phone, allows one to have a long-form deep-and-wide-dive into a subject which cultivates critical thinking skills, along with true empathy for a particular subject and its people.
My 10 favourite books in the last year, the kind you re-read again and again, and a word or two as to why they made it onto the list:
12 Rules for Life, An Antidote for Chaos, Jordan Petersen. Simple, practical rules for life. A distillation of Marcus Aurelius's meditations and Dostoevsky's Notes From The Underground, with upbeat leadership lessons.
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About This World And Why Things Are Better Than You Think, Hans Rosling. Wonderful facts about how we should be looking at the world vs how are are? The term 'Developing World' is no longer relevant as these have evolved. The late Hans Rosling uses new criteria to mine interpret the data set which includes measuring emissions per capita (India) to create greater accountability in 'repeat offender' nations. He even has a go at Al Gore. :)
Sapiens, A Brief History Of Humankind, Yuval Hariri. Yuval tracks unprecedented growth in human power over the last 500 years but also reveals the scariest, most defining moment in the history of mankind as the 05:29:45 on 16 July 1945 at Alamagordo. One of my favourites is the story of how diagnosing and overcoming Scurvy led to Britain's enhanced capability to navigate longer distances by ship and therefore colonise to build an Empire.
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius. Staggeringly similar to 12 Rules for life, only with posher language. Courage, tenacity, grit and gratitude.
Skyfaring, Mark Vanhoecker. Mindful travel observed through the eyes of an ex management consultant with a Cambridge writer's education now BA pilot.
Bhagavad Ghita, the yoga sutras, dissolving the ego, devoting oneself to another or a greater, more meaningful purpose. By far the most peaceful way of relating to self and others in highly relevant ways for the world we live in today.
The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday, another great book by the author of 'Ego is the Enemy' and 'The Obstacle is The Way'. Virtues of self-control, courage, justice, wisdom and the discipline of perception (change only that which you can and let go of the rest).
Prisoner of Geography, Tim Marshall. See Intro paragraph.
Natural Born Heroes, Christopher McDougall. The true story of three unlikely misfits (an artist, a shepherd and a poet) and their daring venture to kidnap a German General in Crete during World War 11, and the art of strength, endurance and natural movement.
Abundance, Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler. Key tech trends being developed that inspire the 'art of the possible' for a brighter future.
Happy reading and please leave comments if you have thoughts to share on your great book recommendations and why?
''The greatest journey consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes'' - Marcel Proust.
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