5 Books for (Slightly) Better Life
A reader’s mind is a product of all that he’s read. He has lived many lives, taken on different identities and re-shaped his mind. So many life lessons have been written. So many ideas have been shared. Yet very few have read them.
It boggles my mind whenever I read something so transformative, so profound, why am I only reading this now? And why I seem to be the only one? All these ideas lying around and no one is taking notice.
Books have accompanied me through the vicissitudes of life. Reading had kept me entertained through summers of my childhood. It let me live hundreds of stories, shown me different places, taken me through what ifs and I brought all these when I entered adulthood, when I finally asked what is the point of it all.
So here’s a list of books that will definitely NOT answer that. (Hahaha) But it can sort some of the chaos. I hope it finds you at the right time.
1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
A memoir detailing the author’s life in a Nazi death camp and examining how the human spirit survives through endless suffering. The author proposes a theory, known as logotheraphy, that it is human nature to search for a meaning in life. In his book, he shows how even if one cannot avoid suffering, he can find meaning in it in order to keep living.
Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.
Why read it. Life in concentration camps were horrific. Stripped of freedom, dignity and identity, it was a miracle to be alive. Prisoners were starved and forced to labor. They were left to… rot. It was a hopeless suffering — how can anyone keep going? But as the author shows, the human spirit can be resilient. It can find moments of perfect clarity and peace and love and it will hold onto it in order to survive. This is a sobering narrative that can spark a light when you’re lost and dissatisfied.
2. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
A groundbreaking work that introduces flow, a state of consciousness where people experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. From the author’s investigation of ‘’optimal experience”, he suggests ways to improve the quality of life.
Control of consciousness determines the quality of life.
Why read it. If ever life comes with a manual, this should be it. It is a comprehensive and practical book on the psychology of optimal experience. The points presented are backed with scientific research but still being readable to an average person. It correlates the state of flow to meaning and happiness. It teaches how this state of consciousness can be achieved in different areas of life and in different ways. You’ll come away with ideas that are actionable.
3. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt
The author explores in this book the most popular philosophical wisdom through the lens of modern psychology. His research touches on ideas from different fields of study across centuries, to find what it is that makes one happy.
Happiness comes from within, and happiness comes from without. We need the guidance of both ancient wisdom and modern science to get the balance right.
Why read it. This book examines the enduring maxims that we hear even today. It does so by also examining how the human mind works, how human behaves. It looks at an idea at different angles, from a philosopher’s view to what cognitive science has to say. I especially liked the breadth and depth of his research, pointing to previous works (some I am already familiar with from other books) and ties them to one idea. If there’s one ‘self-help’ book you should read, this one could be it.
4. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
This book is about vulnerability. The author draws from her years of research to offer a vision that encourages the reader to view vulnerability not as a weakness but rather, as a way to engage with life courageously and wholeheartedly.
Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.
Why read it. If you struggle with showing up and letting yourself be seen, then this is for you. If you find yourself escaping from certain situations, strong emotions and conflicts, then this is worth a read. I agree with the author that the clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection is being vulnerable. Simple yet difficult to do. But worth practicing if you want to live without reservation. Else, it is a limited life you will lead. Need more convincing? Then read this book.
5. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counter-intuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
The blogger/author, in a very candid way, writes this book as an antidote to the coddling, ‘think positive’ mindset of today. To live a good life, he advises to figure out, out of the many things we can give a f*ck about, which ones really matter.
Maturity is what happens when one learns to only give a fuck about what’s truly fuckworthy.
Why read it. Now, this book is a popular and polarizing book. It can either be a hit or miss. The author tells it like it is, which may be a turn off (check out his blog to get a feel for his style). It was a hit for me. It was a very hard hit on the head. It found me at a time that I was still unsure of myself. It is full of anecdotes and in one of those, I found myself really contemplating about the inevitability of death and how I wanted to decide for myself how I lead my life towards the end. That set me off to a path of personal development.
There has been a deluge of ‘self-help’ books in recent years. There are good ones and there are just crap, which has given the genre a bad name. That’s why I am reluctant to tag some books as such because these books are beyond that. Calling it just ‘self-help’ books robs them of recognition for the research and new insights they make towards personal development. They are important books in light of today’s mental health issues.
In an attempt to bolster psychological well-being, there has been a proliferation of inspirational and motivational quotes all over the internet. Most of them are non-sense. They are little band-aids for a bigger emotional wound. Wrong ideas can also come from books. So, always take everything with a grain of salt.
This list is just a start. There’s still so many good books out there left unopened. Remember that reading a book is also an experience. Take from it what is worth taking and forget the rest.
