5 Books You Should Add To Your Library
Why read?
Reading has always been a part of my life, whether, for grade school, personal pleasure, college class, or a random newspaper I decided to pick up. Getting lost in stories is a great educational way to pass the time. The best part is reading is that you learn without realizing it. It’s common to know something new each time you read, whether it’s a new word, give you inspiration for a new project, or to expand your mind a little bit; it’s still learning. I know people always talk about reading, but I believe it’s a cliche for a reason, classic if you will. Reading is a hobby that never goes out of style.
Creating a reading schedule
Putting reading in your schedule is simple but effective. All you have to do is pick up your book. If you don’t desire to read, you’re simply not reading the right book. When you find a book attractive to you, all you want to do is read it. Have you ever seen people in a cafe or library with their faces in their books? It’s because they are engaged in what’s in front of them. I recommend reading in the morning during your customized morning routine. It’s like starting your day with a fresh cup of coffee, or maybe you can even read during your morning coffee. If you don’t like to wake up early, don’t worry because there is still plenty of other hours in a day you can read as well, like during your lunch or whenever you have downtime. The best method that helped me become an avid reader was picking up my book whenever I felt like picking up my phone. You’d be surprised at how many times you’ll pick up your book over one day after you replace this with mindless scrolling. I’m a schedule person, so putting reading on my agenda as an adult wasn’t hard because 1. I’m always finding new ways to grow and be better, but 2. I made it a priority to have a part of my day.
Places to read
Having a reader aesthetic is a part of what makes it fun. Whenever you come across a reading person, it always makes them seem more interesting, and you can be that person. Choosing the right place to read adds to how focused you’ll be on the book you’re reading. A few months ago, this Instagram page called @PlacestoRead changed my whole perspective on where I was reading. Not only did they make me want to create an aesthetically pleasing place to read, but they also made me want to travel to different book stores around the world find relaxing environments, all just to read for hours on end.
Join A Book Club
Joining a book club is also a fantastic way to connect with people interested in reading. You’ll likely meet like-minded people to be around. It is probably hard to find a book club these days, but maybe you can start one? Who knows where your reading journey will take you.
Find Books you Enjoy
The best part about reading is that there are so many options. Books differ by category, genre, length, writing style, movies, fiction, non-fiction, and more because the list goes on. When you’re choosing books, try thinking about subjects you’re interested in, in real life. There are books for everything. If you’re not one to carry a book around, you can resort to other alternatives like e-books, audiobooks, and more.
1. The Power of positive thinking
- The Power of Positive Thinking is the last book I read, and this was my second time reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it came from a spiritual + religious standpoint. Although I am not religious, this book still resonated with me because it speaks a lot about staying grounded through your everyday life. The book is structured to help readers create a more mentally sustainable lifestyle. After reading reviews, I realized Norman Vincent Peale received a ton of backlash for this book because other readers thought that the book was centered around God and faith. I felt so initially, but once I proceeded on, I realized he was using faith-based examples in some stories. I can see why some believers may struggle with getting through the book. Overall, this book taught me how to remain relaxed in every environment. It’s a must that we learn to keep ourselves mindful to connect our minds and bodies.
2. The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl — Issa Rae
- Reading autobiographies has never really been my thing, but there was something different about reading Issa’s. Thanks to Issa Rae and her hilarious way of storytelling, this book impacted my life significantly. The book begins by talking about her upbringing and how her family is from Senegal, but Issa was born in Los Angelos. Issa explains what her life was like growing up as an average black girl throughout the book. “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” is an embodiment of what it means to be a black woman growing up in a world with no understanding of her needs or desires. Feeling misunderstood is an emotion that Black women are used to in the world we live in these days. So reading Issa’s book in my early twenties helped me feel seen, heard and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. I recommend this to all Black women or any of her fans in general. I love her evolution.
3. Why Buddhism is True — Robert Wright
- I loved this book more than I thought I would. Robert Wright emphasizes that human suffering is caused by people not seeing the world. Then, Wright proposes that seeing the world through meditation will influence a happier life for those who know what it’s like to carry around a gray cloud over their head. This book is on this list because it taught me a few things about meditation. I’ve always been an advocate for mindfulness, but I learned that you would eventually learn to control your emotions through meditation, and navigating obstacles becomes smoother and less problematic.
4. Becoming — Michelle Obama
- Becoming isn’t one over New York Times bestsellers for no reason. Reading the story of the First Lady, who grew up on the Southside of Chicago, was like watching a movie that has the perfect happy ending. I love that Michelle has her own life outside of being the First Lady. Reading Becoming inspired me to keep going for my dreams. Some people became successful and were able to do that with no handouts. Michelle Obama worked to achieve all of her accomplishments, and I learned that becoming the First Lady wasn’t even her best one. Throughout the book, there are countless examples where she put in the extra work to achieve her goals.
Additionally, I appreciated learning about the Obamas love story of how they met in law school while Barrack was an intern for Michelle. It’s super cute and a nice touch on such a personal story. Recommendable to women from all ages and backgrounds.
5. The Defining Decade — Meg Jay
- The Defining Decade is a book that I read in my early twenties that helped me learn more about sailing through my twenties. I’m not saying this book-shaped me, but it gave me some great pointers. The main thing I picked up from this book was forward-thinking practice. Forward-thinking is all about planning for the future. People always talk about how your twenties are a trial period and all about self-discovery; you should have fun and live life to figure out who you are and what you like, which is true, but in my opinion. I feel like the rest of your life depends on how you build in your twenties. Of course, I know this exciting decade doesn’t make you or break you, but it has a lot to do with shaping the person you are. I was crazy about this book when I read it at 23. I’m not 25, and I still practice forward-thinking and a few other things from The Defining Decade. I wrote an article called Are Self Help Books Really Helpful, where I mention a few more things I learned from this book in addition to a few more good reads. Check it out, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Conclusion
Reading can change your way of thinking in so many ways. It is not required to read a book. You can read an audiobook, magazine, e-book, article, a newspaper, etc. There are so many things you can read that will elevate your mind. I wanted to share my top 5 books because these are the ones that changed who I am as a person. These books stuck with me throughout the beginning of my twenties. I’m all about sharing the knowledge — spreading the wealth, as some like to call it. This article is supposed to give you a new book to read, but something new on your list. Comment your favorite book below!
Always,
Sunny
