Books have a magical way of turning around your life.
Showing you new roads you were not aware of.
Expanding your mind.
Harnessing your imagination.
Or simply bringing joy.
In the e-era, this magic has been lost.
Author Samridh Seth suggests nine must-read books that can help you find this miracle again.
Reading books is no longer as it used to be. The younger generation has adapted to e-books, videos and/or audio files.
I can tell you, through personal experience, that I have learnt more from reading and researching than from actual textbooks in school.
Reading builds curiosity. I learnt a very important lesson when I was still learning the immense power reading -- reading is to your mind what exercise is to your body.
Every time you read a book, you create new neural connections; you improve your understanding of language and certain formats of sentences, paragraphs and the compilation of the entire book, just like regular exercise builds up muscle memory and improves your body.
You learn about a new topic and/or harness your imagination when you read a fictional book.
Either way, you are learning; and learning is both key to life and the innate ability we are born with.
Humans are curious from birth and always want to learn, so why not use that ability and build on it rather than let it fade away slowly and diminish over time!
Here are nine books I recommend every student must read at least once in their lifetime.
1. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
While there are several books that explore human existence, this one is an eye and mind opener.
Sapiens introduces us to the world of anthropology and the origins of the human race.
There are several theories and events for you to ponder over.
It may even make you question certain things you've been doing over the years.
Given its complexity in terms of understanding, I would recommend waiting towards the later years of high school to read this.
2. Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari
The book follows on from Sapiens.
It projects, from the author’s perspective, three possible futures of our world.
It mentions the role of technology and a possible ability to predict future trends.
This one too requires a higher level of perception to be able to grasp Harari's explanations.
It would be best for high school students.
3. Antimatter by Frank Close
Antimatter majorly focuses on physics, especially particle physics.
It talks about the antiparticles and particles and the way they react with each other.
While the book will interest physics enthusiasts, it is not exclusive to them.
It offers fascinating insights into how the universe came into being, which makes it interesting for all ages.
4. The Dan Brown series by Dan Brown
I cannot pick just one book from the series, as all of them are phenomenal.
The author is able to grasp one’s attention immediately with very interesting scenarios and problem-solving situations throughout each book.
These books can be read at any level of high school, since it gets you thinking.
5. The Harry Potter series by J K Rowling
These unique set of books transport you to a mystical world, metaphysically speaking; picking any one is a challenge.
It allows one to understand that they should follow their creative streak.
This is great at any level of high school.
6. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
The book speaks volumes about investing as it explains Warren Buffet’s teachings and his learnings over the years from his investing career and experience in the field.
A stock market bible, it will help you understand how our capitalistic world runs.
The book is good for someone who has an understanding of economics and is interested in investing.
7. Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf
This book is just as engaging as its title.
It teaches you how to take life step by step and slowly build up to the big picture, rather than jumping to conclusions.
As you read through this one, it will help you understand your goals and work towards them over time.
It's best to pick this one when you're in the middle of high school.
8. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding
Written by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding, this book is a classic.
Through the story of a bunch of boys, it offers interestingly vivid imagery about how maturity is gained over time.
It subtly implies that there is no need to hurry on this path.
When responsibilities are taken on at the wrong time, with less experience, the outcome can be very unfavourable.
9. A Curious Mind by Brian Grazer
This book opens your mind to the world of curiosity.
It will guide you as to how you can stay inquisitive about everything, never stop learning and use your inane ability to be curious to productively create a future for yourself.
It is good at any level, since it allows one to understand what curiosity is... and being curious is literally in our DNA.
Besides these, students can also engage in reading biographies of Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and Bill Gates and other influential persons depending on your own field of interest.
London-born Samridh Seth is the author of Past Dwellers that teaches you how to take control of your life. He is currently pursuing physics at Boston University, USA. His wide range of interests includes travelling, sports, networking, physics, the sciences, philosophy, economics, equity investing, self-improvement and philanthropy.
