These 5 Books Will Change Your Life In 2019
Image: Shutterstock
“Reading is a conversation. All the books talk. But a good book listens as well.” This quote by author Mark Haddon aptly sums up the relationship between a reader and a book. Much before the advent of technology and the Internet, it was these leafy wonders that acted as the source of entertainment and education for the world at large.
While they might have not been as popular as they once were, books still command the respect of much of the populace. Even today, when the Internet is producing content which is easy to consume as well as digest, every now and then, there comes a book which captures the imagination of the world and goes on to become a phenomenon.
I have always believed in the transformative power of books, be it the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran or Das Kapital. Therefore, we have come up with a list of few books that will strike the right note this year and help you turn around your life. Curious to know what they are? Here you go:
1. The Subtle Art Of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson
The sassy title might be a little misleading at first but this treasure has been hailed as the self-help guide that will eventually mark a watershed moment in defining our generation.
In this book, Manson puts a new spin on the desire of being happy. Talking about the global desire for being happy, the book advises against the idea of constantly seeking happiness. Instead, it urges the readers and the world, in general, to accept their reality so that they can achieve their own version of happiness and not the one engineered by pop culture and media.
Written in a refreshingly conversational manner, the book makes for a great read for someone who is looking to get a grasp on the concept of happiness in this opaque, post-modern world.
2. Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think – Diamandis and Kotler
If the increasingly bad weather, despondent news makes you cynical about the world and its future, then this book is a must in your reading list. The book which claims to be the antidote to pessimism introduces its readers to innovators and researchers in different fields who are working to make “abundance” a reality. And a very near-term reality at that.
So, world hunger, no more! And bid farewell to the potential world war fought for water. And this isn’t a treatise written in a vacuum, all of the claims in the book are backed by exhaustive research. This is the book that will help you sleep better at night.
3. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari
The Guardian called this a “swash-buckling account” of humanity. If you are ever plagued with the questions of who we are and where we will be thousands of years from now, this is the book that you should read. Informative and engaging, the book covers a vast chunk of humanity’s history with an alternate view.
As a general view of the human condition, since the time it came to exist on this planet, the book does a good job of explaining major historical occurrences in terms of our present-day context. It also tells you that the Industrial Revolution was where it all went wrong (mind-blowing, right?). If you always found history to be a snoozefest, then this book will make you want to reengage with it.
4. Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World – Tim Ferriss
Marketed as the “ultimate choose-your-own-adventure” book, and created by the best-selling author Tim Ferris of the The 4-Hour Workweek fame, this book is the ultimate self-help book.
It is a compilation of tips, tricks, habits, and wisdom from a very wide and eclectic range of icons, including professional athletes, entrepreneurs, and artists that can help you get your own life on track. The advice ranges from how to spend your money to get the most out of it, to the best early morning routine to how to make your loss into a victory.
If you are in need of morning (or day or night) affirmation, this is the best source of it.
5. The Universe Has Your Back – Gabrielle Bernstein
This is the popular self-help author’s (who shot to fame with Spirit Junkie) latest offering in the genre. Even if spirituality is not your cup of tea, this book will motivate you to be more receptive to the love of the universe and open yourself up to its myriad possibilities.
She gives the sound advice of cultivating compassion for your fellow-beings, doing meditation and letting go of your fears. This book has great takeaways for even the most sceptic of readers.
Let these books be the perfect tools to make this year, your year. Whether you choose one or all, that we leave up to you.
Do tell us which of these books you ended up reading and what was your take on them. If you have any other additions for the list, share them with us in the comments section.
