5 Books that have stayed on my mind and I have recommended to everyone I know
I am an avid reader and loves to read books mostly non-fiction in my free time. Over years, I have developed this habit of reading books anywhere and everywhere that my family knows what brings a big smile on my face — seeing a book shop! Because of this, quite often, I am asked by my friends, young family members, my colleagues and on online forums for book suggestions. Although, I always insist people picking books of their interest areas but if they push, I end up recommending following books to them.
I have read these books at different phases of my life, in college, at start of my career, when I started meditating etc. Each of these books had a profound effect of me, nurtured my thinking and helped me gain varied perspectives. Although, these books may be from different genres, I find them thought-provoking, insightful and inspiring every-time I read.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki:
I read this book during my first job. This book is a story of a young lad and what he learns from his two father: his real father who has a conservative view on money, savings and the other father who happens to be his best friend’s father, the rich dad. The book highlights different ways how both the men shape the thoughts of the young boy on money and investing. This book educated me on personal finance at an early stage of my career. Hence, I always recommend this book to my young family members. I find this book easy to read and any layman can comprehend well.
Jack: Straight from the Gut by Jack Welch and John A. Byrne:
This is one of the first autobiographies I had read. Jack Welch, the GE man, delves deep into his management philosophy and leadership style. I picked this book just before pursuing MBA. This book doesn’t reveal ‘how to become ..’ rather it focuses on what was going in GE at that point in time and what actions were taken. As a management student, I found this book intriguing and inspiring, and an excellent book for management insights.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda:
This is one of my favorites and I love to re-read it once a year. Because every-time I read, I find something new and profound as a take-away. I have interest in reading spiritual books and I find this as one of the most beautifully written account of yogic teachings, miracles, encounters with spiritual figures. It is the life-story of Paramahansa Yogananda. The book also talks about yoga as a science of meditation and mind control and the aspects of Kriya yoga, chanting etc. This book had a deep influence on my conduct of life.
Man’s search for meaning by Viktor E.Frankl:
My interest in history, world wars led me to pick this excellent and riveting memoir of Viktor Frankl who survived the Nazi concentration camp. What stood out for me was his psycho therapeutic method of living and surviving — to identify a purpose in life to feel positive and imagine the best outcome. This is a simple yet such a powerful technique which changed my way of thinking. And I rate it as one of the best influencer books among all the other books on positivity, self-help etc.
The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand:
Though I am not into fictions but this one is an exception. One of the all-time classics which challenges our ideas and reveals how a man’s ego becomes a fountain head of human progress. It is a captivating story of a young architect and his battles with conventional standards that refutes the idea of innovation. The story still feels fresh and relevant even today as it was when it was written. In fact, if you are not into reading, you can listen to its audio book which is equally good in narration on Audible.
I would love to know your thoughts on the books you find interesting and would recommend others to definitely read.
