2021 is rumoured to be the year of self-discovery, healing and growth. Having survived a global pandemic, a tumultuous election, as well as political and social unrest – it is unsurprising that many of us are now wanting to focus on ourselves, do some introspection and discover our true purpose. This simply cannot be attained while scrolling through TikTok or bingeing on Amazon Prime. If ever there was a time to pick up a book and start reading, it would be now. No amount of TEDTalks could evoke the self-realisations that occur amidst the rustle of pages as you submerge yourself into another chapter of inspiration. A good book will have you grabbing a notepad to make notes for later, it will teach you things about yourself and reveal things about the world that may have been obscured by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. These are the types of books we have listed below, each one of them are worth the read.
1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Although this book was published 500 BC, its teachings still have a significant impact on business leaders today. The author, Sun Tzu, was a Chinese general, philosopher and military strategist. Now, you may be thinking what could I possibly learn about war and the military that might benefit me in my current situation. The answer is everything. Though the book is seemingly centred around warfare, it is essentially a guide on how to traverse the ups and downs of business-like relationships – whether you are a business leader, startup executive or an assistant working your way up the corporate ladder, you could learn some invaluable lessons. One of his most famous quotes from the book is “A skilled general leads his army, as if he was leading a single man by the hand.”
2. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, by Stephen R. Covey
Dedicated to personal development and effective communication, Covey outlines the 7 laws of success and how we need to adapt our behaviour to draw ourselves closer to our goals. He does not claim to know any secret formulas or sacred ancient rituals that could instantly bring us closer to our goals. Instead, he presents success to us as a process – a thing that can gradually be attained, and he provides us with the tools needed to construct better realities for ourselves. In his book, Covey eloquently describes some of life’s greatest challenges and provides a unique perspective that should be a common practice but is often overlooked. For example, the fifth law he introduces is to “seek first to understand, then to be understood”. This should be common practice for us, but we are so intent on being heard that we often forget to listen.
3. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
Ever heard of the Upper Limit Problem? According to Gay Hendricks, it is a literal limit we impose opon ourselves to stop us from reaching our goals. It often occurs when we are closest to reaching success. Using real-life examples, Hendricks explains how he helped other people overcome these limits and how he came to recognize the upper limit problem in his own life. Recognizing its presence is the first step to eradicating the upper limit problem, according to Hendricks. Each chapter of the book is dedicated to the deconstruction of the upper limit problem with the final chapters explaining how we can live in a way that will honor the limitlessness of our capabilities. That, in essence, is the purpose of this book – to inspire us to believe in the highest version of ourselves.
4. A Radical Awakening by Dr Shefali
Through an in-depth account of her own life journey, Dr Shefali recounts her life story with the hopes of imparting valuable life lessons that will teach women about overcoming fears and patterns that will set them free from the bonds of society, people and places – everything that no longer serves them. Dr Shefali is a renowned psychologist and New York Times bestseller. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development. With two best-selling books under the belt, there is no doubt that this book will be life-changing to those who read it. This book is especially helpful to people whose success and life purpose is being hindered by unhealed wounds and disruptive thought patterns.
5. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
From the very first paragraph it becomes apparent that Manson had no intention of prescribing happiness when he wrote this book. Going against the grain, he challenges the notion of mindless positivity that is typically present in self-help books. Instead, he emphasises life’s struggles and how it gives life more meaning than trying to constantly be positive and attain things that are beyond our grasp. He encourages people to focus on the things they can control, and to try to create joy in the moment for ourselves and for those around us, suggesting that this is a better way to live our lives than constantly trying to attain something that is not within our grasp and being miserable when things do not work out. The lack of sophistication in language use and writing style further entrenches the ‘realist’ approach Manson takes on with this book. Critics have categorized it as a contrarian to the self-help industry, and it certainly provides readers with a refreshing perspective on life’s struggles and it can be overcome.
If there is one thing all successful people have in common it is the constant need for self-improvement. Often we don’t even realize improvement is needed in a particular aspect of our lives, which is why reading books like these remind us that there is always room for growth as we transform into a better version of ourselves.
