It's time to switch it up! Books to read in this season

Back story

It has been more then 14 days now that we’ve been locked down and I am pretty sure that by now some of us have finished binge watch their favourite Netflix series and don’t know what to do with their time. Well, how about switching it up by going back to basics. And by basics, I mean books. I have never been someone who likes to read, until I studied philosophy. We always had lots of books to read and I got use to it. I then started buying books that weren’t uni related to read in my spare time. That’s how it all began and now I cannot get enough. I’m always excited when I start a new book and I love the smell of it.

Finding your genre

Now if you aren’t much of a reader, like I use to be until I had to read for uni, it can be difficult to start. Especially when you don’t know what books to read, since you don’t know which one is good. But there are several ways for you to find your “perfect” book: One of those ways is to go by other people's recommendations. Another way is to go with the type of series that you like. Meaning choose the genres (romance, biography, sitcoms etc.) that you will normally go for if you were to choose series to watch. In other words, go for what interest you. Stick to what you would like to watch if that book was to be filmed and turned into a series. At least that’s what I would do as a beginner. Simply because it’s an easy way to start and then later on, you can switch to other genres. The whole idea is to first of all inspire and get you started (in case you are a beginner) or to get you back in the reading game (in case you are an OG).

Book recommendations (English / German)

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

This book is amazing and has impacted my life in a positive way. I am someone who likes to travel. Back then, solo traveling wasn’t an option for me because I was afraid until I came across the book. After reading it, I took my first solo-travel.

About:

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist. The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Get the Book here

The richest man in Babylon by George S. Clason

I love this book and the wisdom in it. It teaches you how to manage your money, how to save and the role of good investments.

About: An inspirational guide to personal money problems which presents eleven ancient Babylonian tales revealing the way to financial success.

Get the Book here

Sei wie ein Fluss, der still die Nacht durchströmt: Geschichten und Gedanken by Paolo Coelho (only available in german)

This book is beautiful and easy to read. Each and every chapter is very beautiful and thoughtful.

About: A spiritual guide for people who are on the way - on the way to themselves, to realize their dreams, to conquer their inner mountains. A book of hours that is like a minute book - for the traffic jam on the highway, while waiting for the bus, on the train, while walking, in the evening before falling asleep or when you lie there sleepless.

Get the Book here

Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill

This one is another financial book. Teaches you about finances and how to manage your finances.

About: Think and Grow Rich reveals the money-making secrets of hundreds of America's most affluent people. By thinking like them, you can become like them. This powerful 1937 classic, with analysis from self-development authority Tom Butler-Bowdon, will continue to be listened to through the decades of economic boom and bust, proving that the magic formula for making-money never changes.

Get the Book here

The power of the subconscious mind by Joseph Murphy

About: This book can work miracles in your life. I have seen miracles happen to men and women in all walks of life all over the world. Miracles will happen to you, too - when you begin using the magic power of your subconscious mind. This book is designed to teach you that your habitual thinking and imagery mold, fashion, and create your destiny; for as a man thinketh in his subconscious mind, so is he.

Get the Book here

The Purpose driven life: What on earth am I here for by Rick Warren

About: In the Purpose Driven Life you'll find the answers to three of life's most important questions:

The Question of Existence: Why am I alive?

The Question of Significance: Does my life matter?

The Question of Purpose: What on earth am I here for?

Living out the purpose you were created for moves you beyond survival or success to a life of significance - the life you were meant to live.

Get the Book here

The “why” café by John P. Strelecky

About: In a small cafe at a location so remote it sits in the middle of the middle of nowhere, John - a man in a hurry - is at a crossroads. Intent only on refueling before moving along on his road trip, he finds sustenance of an entirely different kind. In addition to the specials of the day, the cafe menu lists three questions all diners are encourage to consider. Why are you here? Do you fear death? Are you fulfilled? With this food for thought and the guidance of three people he meets at the cafe, John embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him from the executive suites of the advertising world to the surf of Hawaii's coastline. Along the way he discovers a new way to look at life, himself, and just how much you can learn from a green sea turtle.

Get the book here (German)

The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness by Ichiro Kishimi

About: The Courage to be Disliked follows an illuminating conversation between a philosopher and a young man. The philosopher explains to his pupil how each of us is able to determine our own life, free from the shackles of past experiences, doubts, and the expectations of others. It's a way of thinking that is deeply liberating, allowing us to develop the courage to change and to ignore the limitations that we and other people have placed on us. The result is a book that is both highly accessible and profound in its importance. Millions have already read and benefited from its wisdom. This truly life-changing audiobook will help you declutter your mind of harmful thoughts and attitudes, helping you to make a lasting change, achieve real happiness, and find success.

Get the Book here