As has been a tradition for the last three years, on New Year’s Eve I write a post about some of the books that kept me company in the previous year.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
A series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, and Stoic Philosopher. The Stoics were famous for emphasizing the notion of ataraxia, or peace of mind, which they felt could be attained by accepting what one could not control and focusing on what one could. This book has kept me company all through the year, and will do so for the years to come. There is always something new to discover in it.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
The book is based on the premise that making little, incremental adjustments to one’s habits and routines may lead to big changes in one’s life. Clear contends that the secret to success is to make tiny, steady improvements on a regular basis rather than large, dramatic changes.
The invisible Gorilla
Christopher Chabris & Daniel Simons
The book addresses the phenomena of “inattentional blindness,” which occurs when individuals are concentrated on something else and fail to detect unexpected or unusual happenings.
Story-driven
Bernadette Jiwa
A small book that teaches us the importance of answering questions like: What do you stand for? Where are you going and why? What made you who you are? What factors will contribute to the success of your job or business? … if we are to create a meaningful, flourishing entrepreneurial endeavor or a rewarding career.
The Practice
Seth Godin
If you have been following my work long enough, then you know the influence that Seth Godin has had on me. The Practice is a guidebook that debunks the clichés that creatives are lone geniuses and that creativity cannot be taught.
Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell
What factors contribute to tremendous success? According to conventional opinion, success is only the result of individual talent and hard work. But is this true? Gladwell analyzes how our upbringing and environment impact our possibilities and outcomes.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts
Susan Cain
As an introvert, I’ve always been curious about the purpose of introverts in an extroverted world. Cain advocates for a balance in society, education, and job that allows introverts to be themselves while also complementing the two personality types.
The tipping point
Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell looks at a variety of examples of trends and events that have reached a tipping point, such as the 1990s craze for Hush Puppies shoes, the rapid spread of dangerous illnesses, and the effectiveness of certain social and commercial efforts.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
From the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to the current day, this is a brilliantly written history of humanity. Harari argues that, rather than common DNA or physical qualities, what holds civilisations together are shared stories and ideas about the world, such as religion, politics, and economics.
The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller
A beautifully written and emotionally powerful retelling of the classic story of Achilles and Patroclus, and their enduring love for each other, as seen through the eyes of his close friend and lover, Patroclus.
Thinking, fast and slow
Daniel Kahneman
A stimulating investigation of how our minds operate and the elements that impact our decision-making. Kahneman categorizes the human brain into two systems: “System 1” and “System 2.” System 1 is the quick, intuitive, and automatic approach, whereas System 2 is the slower, more thoughtful system used to handle more complicated issues and make more considered judgments.
