Books that will help kickstart your reading habit

In this fast-paced, globalized world, where technology and electronic gadgets surround us everywhere we go, it's important to take a step back and embrace the simplicity of old-school ways. Holding a paperback in your hands can bring back nostalgic feelings and rekindle the joy of getting lost in a magical story. If you're looking to reminisce about the pleasures of childhood reading, here are some novels that will turn anyone into an avid bookworm.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

In 1963, Dr. Joseph Murphy wrote a book that has since sold over a million copies worldwide and is considered one of the best spiritual self-help books of all time. The Power of Subconscious Mind focuses on the importance of self-love and how it can help people overcome their fears, sleep better, and have healthier, long-lasting relationships. Dr Murphy explains in his book that life events are influenced by the workings of our conscious and subconscious minds. After years of research, he believed that there is a Great Power behind the spiritual life and that this power is accessible to everyone.

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Published in 2018 and written by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, Ikigai has become an international bestseller with millions of copies sold across the globe. According to the book, everyone in Japan has an Ikigai, which serves as their reason to wake up every morning. Residents of the Japanese island of Okinawa, known for their longevity, believe that discovering one's Ikigai is the key to leading a happy and healthy life. This profound book presents life-changing tools to help uncover our individual Ikigai, which is said to reside within all of us. Its teachings encourage us to let go of our concerns, pursue our passions, and find our purpose in life.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 1967 novel is a timeless classic and is regarded as one of the greatest books ever written in literary history. One Hundred Years of Solitude, originally published in Spanish as Cien Anos and then translated to English, tells the story of the Buendia family across several generations. The novel is set in the fictitious town of Macondo, founded by the family's patriarch, Jose Arcadio Buendia. The plot revolves around the chronicles of the Buendia family and the irreconcilable circumstances they face. The novel portrays various emotions such as love, animosity, and salvation, providing readers with a fulfilling reading experience.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Written by the renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari in 2011, Sapiens is a groundbreaking novel about the creation and evolution of mankind. The international bestseller discusses how biology and history have defined human beings and enhanced our understanding of the ancestors of mankind. Several years ago, there were six different species of humans inhabiting the earth, but presently there is only one—homo sapiens. The book delves into the fate of those other five species of humans and also foresees what could happen to us. It combines history and science, connecting developments that took place in the past with their impacts on the modern world. Dr. Harari through his book urges us to look into the future as well, as the present generation has flouted the rules of nature, which will have dire consequences that the next generation will face.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic written by Harper Lee in 1960 and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1961, has now been adapted into an Academy Award-winning movie. After its release, the book became an instant bestseller and critical success, selling over forty million copies worldwide and being translated into more than forty languages. This story, about a young girl and her journey towards adulthood, is set in Alabama during the Great Depression and delves into a society where good and evil coexist, offering a deeper insight into human behaviours and emotions. What was once considered a simple love story has evolved into one of the greatest achievements in American literature.

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is a bestselling debut novel written by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. It has sold over 37 million copies worldwide since its release in 2003. The story takes place in Afghanistan, primarily in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, and also in the United States in later years. It follows the life of a young affluent boy named Amir and is set against the backdrop of significant events in Afghan history, such as the fall of the monarchy, the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, and the rise of the Taliban in the late 1990s. The novel delves into themes of fierce love, regret, salvation, and redemption. It has inspired various adaptations following its release including a 2007 movie of the same name.

The Alchemist

Originally written in Portuguese by the Brazillian author Paulo Coelho in 1988, Alchemist is a global best-selling novel with over seventy million copies sold across the world and has been translated into various languages over the years. The book which is now a modern classic revolves around a young shepherd boy Santiago and his voyage across North Africa and the pyramids of Egypt as he pursues his dream of finding a coveted treasure there. Throughout his journey, Santiago learns several important life lessons from different people he encounters along the way. The Alchemist has been critically acclaimed as one of the best self-help and philosophical novels of all time.