2020 – a year of ample time for course corrections, reflections and soul searching.
One of the ways I was able to achieve one or more of the above was by getting hold of books that added to my personal development. Thankful to all the friends who I look upto when it comes to personal growth and their suggestions on the books I could pick!
Here’s a collated list of top 3 books, that I LOVED, in each category –
TOP 3 NON-FICTION –
1. Primal Leadership – Daniel Goleman
Emotional intelligence, one of the most ignored albeit an essential trait to inculcate for becoming an effective leader and to enhance personal and professional relationships. Daniel Goleman, in this popular book, also speaks of various types of leadership styles and categorizes them into resonant and non-resonant styles, for us to better imbibe them. Must read, if you want to reflect on your leadership traits and style.
2. The Rudest Book Ever – Shwetabh Gangwar
A highly recommended one, if you are a millennial who had a tough time combating quarter life crisis and still has too many questions which need answers. The tone of the book is aptly “rude” like the title suggests and can serve as a great wake up call. The beliefs emphasized on in this book are very practical and far too realistic than most other motivational books around.
3. Factfulness – Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund
10 illusions, we earthlings are living in and how to surpass them. Do you believe we are on the path to destruction? Do you believe the world is a miserable place? Do you believe your country (whichever you are in) is performing poorly? Then this book is for you.
Disclaimer – Please read it with an open mind.
TOP 3 FICTION –
1. Exhalation – Ted Chiang (Sci-fi)
May God bless the person who suggested this book to me. The way Ted thinks, and imagines is unmatched and at the same time equally realistic from the perspective of our future and the technologies that would usher in. If you are a sci-fi fan, crave for something intellectual and crave for getting lost in the fantasy world, this book is for you.
PS: Ted Chiang’s other book “Story of your Life” served as an inspiration for the highly acclaimed Hollywood movie – Arrival.
2. The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion
Do you think you are an outlier? Are you accustomed to bringing in logic where one needs emotions? Professor Don is just like you. Read through his hilarious and equally emotional journey in this book.
3. The Pregnant King – Devdutt Patnaik
We live in a world with assigned roles to genders. Men get judged for being emotional/caring and women get judged if they are ambitious/driven and so on. Do we stick to these roles or bypass them? How difficult or easy was it in the Vedic era? Devdutt Patnaik beautifully weaves characters and how they struggle with the stereotypes of the society in this gripping read.
That’s the top 6 for this year! Hoping to read more in the lines of sci-fi and leadership, the coming year.
Drop in your views and thoughts on these books, or even otherwise.
–By Achala
Authors bio:
Achala is a talent development professional at Deloitte USI and has a total work experience of 5+ years.
A true Bangalorean, brought up in different parts of India, she defines her life in 3 words – travel, poetry and fitness. She has travelled solo to 5 countries and a dozen Indian cities and has keen interest in writing blogs on HR and lifestyle domains. She is also a seasoned Toastmaster International and loves taking up endeavors related to public speaking. Her friends love her for her passion and perfection and hate her for her strict fitness regimen and sarcasm!
