This question came to me in the midst of spring cleaning yesterday. And I had a good look at my books to determine the three books that meant the most to me. Here are my picks:
- “What should I do with my life” (Po Bronson)
Packed full of stories featuring characters from all walks of life who shared with Po Bronson about the life choices they made as well as the decision-making processes behind them. Do you believe in epiphanies? Should you stay on in a morally decrepit job? Should you stay on in the same job forever? Po Bronson shares his reflective insights on these questions and more.
As a bright-eyed 20+ year old who had existential angst, I derived so much comfort from understanding how others lived their lives and examining how I should live mine.
- “How children succeed” (Paul Tough)
Paul Tough examines why some children from tough backgrounds succeed in life and comes to the conclusion that having grit matters. Now, if you are familiar with Angela Duckworth’s work on grit, you may find that this book doesn’t feature particularly novel insights. Nonetheless, an ex-colleague from my previous workplace gifted me the book. And I always feel flattered that she regarded me highly enough to buy this for me.
- “What I wish I knew when I was 20” (Tina Seelig)
Don’t you love the whimsical title? So do I. Tina Seelig taught an entrepreneurial class at Stanford, so her book is about the challenges she threw her young adults - and how they rose to the occasion. It reminds me that when push comes to shove and when we are forced to work with limited time and resources, our survival instinct kicks in. Our mental gears churn furiously; we lean on each other to make the best out of a bad situation; and sometimes, we succeed beyond our wildest dreams. This book reminds me to keep fighting the good fight!