5 Books That Will Change the Way You See the World
I needed a better outlook towards the world — These 5 books helped me do just that.
The year 2020 has been a rollercoaster for most people, it seems we’re going down-hill at gigantic speeds. Although it’s just August, the year has taught me a lot on a personal, financial & professional level.
How can the entire 6 months of a year be this bad!?
It is what it is. I am trapped in my bedroom for the last 5 months working away, unable to go out, unable to meet & connect with people. As someone who enjoyed their music on the way to work on the bus every morning & loved meeting co-workers & feeling like you’re part of a larger machine, moving to an entire WFH situation hurt.
Bored out of my mind, I picked up a book.
I’ve read 5 books this year. Each book has not only elevated and freed my mind, but it has also made a mark in the way I approach the world.
Bad Blood — John Carreyrou
The sub-title really intrigued me on this one.
“Secrets & Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup”
Bad Blood is a book that reveals the inside story of a multibillion-dollar startup, Theranos. It focuses on the rise & fall of the company, how it generated misleading reports that skyrocketed its valuation to $9 billion.
The story is disturbing & alarming, as to how industry biggies poured in their money without actually understanding how (or if) the prototypes were working. What’s even more shocking, the company focused on public health, with a product that did not work!
The book focuses on the corrupt and aggressive tactics used by Theranos to deceive its investors and users, which delivered nearly one million false test results.
Takeaway: Lying about your product to the users & investors might get you money in the short term, but it doesn’t last long. Be true to yourself & to your customers. An honest day’s work is better than a minute of treachery.
Steve Jobs — Walter Issacson
I may not be the first to tell you about this book & I may not be the last.
Steve Jobs is an inspiration. I was 12 years old when the iPhone was announced, so like all 90’s kids, I’ve seen the transformation that the iPhone Announcement at the Macworld Expo in June 2007 brought along with it. Another iconic moment, Apple Computer, Inc was now Apple Inc.
The 531-page book focuses on Jobs’ early life, his childhood, his relationship with his parents, and the sheer determination to move forward in life. This is a book you really need an entire weekend for so that you can focus your thoughts and really appreciate how well Walter Issacson has captured Steve’s personality.
One of the things I most admire Steve Jobs is, he believed he could do something crazy, something that would revolutionize the world.
When asked if he wanted to market research, he said:
“No, because customers don't know what they want until we’ve shown them.”
How brilliant is that!?
Takeaway: From Apple’s “Think Different” commercial, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
The Start-up of You — Reid Hoffman & Ben Casnocha
The book focuses on an important prospect of the current job market, which is true right now, more so than ever.
‘Jobs for life’ are a thing of the past.
My father has been in the electronics industry for the past 35 years, and he’s changed only 3 companies! To put that into perspective, I’ve switched 3 IT companies trying to find the right fit in the past 3.5 years!
It’s difficult to guarantee that your current job will remain yours in the next couple of years. In the fast-paced world, a smooth career graph is difficult to maintain. The book encourages you to think of your career as your own company and to think of yourself as an entrepreneur.
Takeaway: Just being good at what you do isn’t enough anymore, we’re all required to take on additional responsibilities & its important to network effectively to ensure your career graph doesn’t go downhill.
This book is ideal if you’re just starting out in your career.
The Leader In You — Dale Carnegie
This book focuses on the importance of communication, within your team & with your customers. It is impossible for a business to ignore the needs of its customers, especially now that Social Media can make or break your business.
What’s surprising is that the author wrote this book years ago, and was far-sighted enough to understand that customers will rule your business in the future.
The Big Fat Corporate ideology is dead. Corporations that can adapt to user needs and requirements are growing massively. Respect & empower your team & your customers and watch your business grow.
The book also stresses how important it is to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which I think is really important in the current era that we’re living in.
Takeaway: In order to be a leader that will drive the world today & tomorrow, you need to be respectful, a good listener, humane & adaptable. You must master the art of human-engineering.
The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini
I won’t reveal much about this book. It’s not a book on leadership. It’s a book on Love.
I am having trouble writing more and avoid revealing too much, but I can say with absolute confidence that this book will render you speechless. I recommend reading it if you haven’t already. The author is an immensely powerful storyteller and the book grips you so tight that you can’t put it down.
Go on, read The Kite Runner. It does not disappoint.
The 5 books I read this year have made me think and change the way I look at the world. They taught me not to focus on the problems alone, if you do, all you’re going to see darkness. It’s important to find a ray of hope and keep marching on.
Do not lose hope!
P.S. Do you have any recommendations?
