Centre Stage: Unveiling My Bookshelf
The first 10 reads of my annual challenge.
Hi there,
This week I’d like to dive into my annual reading challenge and talk about the first ten books I have read this year, giving a brief review along with each entry, in case you are looking for new book recommendations for your own collection.
This year I have set myself the target of reading 40 books throughout the year. I thought this challenge would be tough enough that I might fail to get through all forty but not so challenging that I would have no chance.
With that introduction out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are the first 10 books in my annual reading challenge.
1. Odd Balls: The Funny Side of Rugby by John Scally
Let’s start with a sporty book. I thought this book by John Scally was a hilarious book that talked about Irish rugby through the ages and discussed some side-splitting anecdotes about our country’s most brilliant players and characters throughout history. One for both the rugby aficionado and those new to the game (me!). It is guaranteed to bring laughter to everyone.
2. The Last Line: My Autobiography by Packie Bonner
Another sporty book. This time we switch to football, with former Celtic and Republic of Ireland Goalkeeper, Packie Bonner. This book was interesting, as it goes into a lot of the most important moments in recent Irish football history. Bonner talks about that save in his autobiography, qualifying for the first major international tournament with Ireland at Euro ’88 and the two World Cups Italia ’90 and USA ’94. Bonner also mentions the Saipan incident prior to the 2002 World Cup.
3. Dalymount Park by Colin White
Okay, I’ll admit that I feel I kind of cheated with this one. Historical is one word you can use to describe this ground, and much of this book comprises amazing photos from some top photographers and photojournalists from throughout the history of Dalymount Park. With insights from some of those lucky enough to grace the field in their playing days, and contributions from some of the greatest legends of Irish football, I would say this book is one for the collections of any sports history buff.
4. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Despite its complexity, this book takes readers on a fantastic journey as a father and son bond through the highs and lows of a cross-country trip on motorcycles. On their journey, they meet old friends and talk about the philosophy of life. Prepare for an epic adventure as you traverse the highways and back roads of the United States while reading this captivating book.
5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This one from Robert Kiyosaki is all about financial management and how to take personal responsibility for your finances. The book advocates for the reader to learn financial literacy, investing in the stock market and real estate, starting and maintaining a business and lifelong learning to master financial intelligence.
The story is about the life lessons shared by Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad” who is, in fact, his friend’s father. He is an entrepreneur and investor who teaches Robert and his friend about financial responsibility from a young age. His “Poor Dad” is Robert’s father, a man who worked hard all his life but never achieved financial security. This book is a must-read if you are thinking about improving your own financial IQ. There is always time.
6. A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer is a heart-wrenching read. The book tells the story of a young boy mistreated in the most savage way by a mother who is suffering from some clear disturbance. It details the horrific abuse suffered by the child from the mother and his siblings, from not getting any food for days on end and having to search through the trash for leftovers, to getting punished by scalding. This book was a tough read but an important one as it details the abuse that most can only imagine goes on behind a closed door, with the child unable to ask for help.
7. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles
Another great book if the goal is to accumulate money. This book talks about living life in a “certain way” and thinking in the same way. If your goal is to make more money, it is filled with positivity and guidance for living and thinking about life. It encourages the reader to feel like they deserve to get the riches they want and live life expecting those riches. It also encourages the reader only to do that which brings happiness to their life for work as it will help increase the amount of riches one receives when they are happy and peaceful in life.
8. Night by Elie Wiesel
Night by Elie Wiesel is a book about surviving the holocaust caused by the Nazis during World War II. This book is a tale of one of the most tragic events in our human history and tells us in graphic detail the horrors of being a prisoner of one of the concentration camps devised by the Nazis to enslave millions of Jewish people throughout the war.
It details the capture and separation of Elie, his father, mother, and sister shortly after they were taken prisoner. It tells the story of a human being who struggles through the most horrific circumstances, questioning his faith throughout, but holds on to hope that the good will always triumph over evil.
9. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
The Automatic Millionaire is another financial wellbeing book. This book provides readers with a comprehensive set of tools for gradually accumulating wealth through automated methods, resulting in a significant financial growth that goes unnoticed until they discover their amassed fortune one day. In addition, the book advocates the ‘Pay Yourself First’ method of making money, which is to set aside 10 percent of your pay and save it for yourself.
10. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
This is the tenth and final book of this part. The Richest Man in Babylon is a series of stories of many characters in Ancient Babylon who tell stories about accumulating wealth. This book also teaches the reader the importance of the ‘Pay Yourself First’ rule of making money and advocates for the reader to efficiently and effectively pay off any debts owed so they can have control over their own money and make their money work for them. This book is an excellent read if you are learning about financial literacy and how to take care of your finances.
That’s it for the first ten books of my annual reading challenge. The next update will cover books 11–20 of my annual reading challenge and you can expect that post in the coming weeks.
If you are undertaking your own annual challenge, tag me on Instagram or Twitter and let me know what you are reading. I’m always looking for more inspiration for my reading challenges!
Until next time.
James.
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