Reading nourishes the soul, just as food nourishes the body. I used to be a real bookworm as a child, and I am still an avid consumer of the written word in all its forms.
I love visiting bookshops and I wouldn’t feel at home in a flat without books. I also read lots of magazines and newspapers, although I tend to consume them on my phone these days.
Reading is fun, widens your horizons and even makes you a better person. Studies have shown that reading fiction increases empathy and improves social cognition.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons that women tend to have better emotional intelligence than men. Women read more books in general and far more fiction than men. Only 35% of men read fiction.
Reading is also good for your mental health, because it provides a form of escapism that is more intense than any other art form. It seems to also have a positive effect on your overall health: people who read books live longer than people who don’t.
I must have read hundreds of books by now, from classics such as Jane Eyre and 1984 to bestsellers such as Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton.
But few have truly blown my mind and altered the way I look at the world. Below are ten books that have just done that.
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
This is a gripping and brilliantly researched book about the Sackler family, who made billions from their company Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. OxyContin was a large driver behind the opioid epidemic in the US. The book sticks to the facts, leaving readers to make up their own minds about the responsibility and moral obligation of regulators, consumers, doctors and pharmaceutical companies. For me, it’s a piece of investigative journalism and a novel at the same time.
The (dating) world would be a better place if it were mandatory to read this book. Jay Shetty blends wisdom from ancient technologies with modern psychology and offers plenty of practical advice about how to build healthy relationships and develop emotional intelligence. I have gifted the book to many of my love interests and friends over the years in the hope that they will find it as inspiring as I have. My favourite chapter is about how couples can inspire each other and grow together. I hope I’ll find a partner with the same vision someday.
Of Boys and Men by Richard V. Reeves
An eye-opening book about the struggles of men and boys in today’s world. The book focuses primarily on the US, but I believe many of the themes and issues affect Europeans in the same way. The book has helped me see things from the male perspective and understand why so many men struggle with relationships, loneliness and mental health challenges.
A book about how evolution has shaped the female body and an education in all the amazing things it is capable of. What I found particularly interesting is the interplay between culture and biology. The author explores what is truly “natural” for our species using a huge body of research. Females will see their own bodies in a completely different light after finishing the book.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
This is a refreshing new perspective on food, the industry around it and what we should (probably) eat from a moral and health perspective. The book follows the author’s attempt to find out what an ethical, sustainable and morally sound meal could look like. My respect and appreciation for farmers and their work, as well as my willingness to pay for good food, increased exponentially while reading it. I also feel weirdly confident that I could slaughter a chicken ever since.
Girls just wanna have funds by Alexandra Williamson & Girls just wanna have impact funds
Every woman should be in control of her finances. This book is a practical and relatable guide on how to do just that. There are plenty of other good books about female finance, but what I like about this book in particular is that it doesn’t try to scare women into managing their finances but tries to open their eyes to what money can do for them if used correctly (A lot of other books just seem to shout: invest or you will die poor). The main message is that money is a neutral tool for freedom, security and living the life you want. The second book (Girls just wanna have impact funds) was a major inspiration for me to use my investments as a drive for positive change in the world.
A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
This book touched my heart and my (Austrian) soul. Set in the Austrian Alps, it follows the life of Andreas Egger, an ordinary man living an ordinary life in post-war Austria. It’s a reminder about seeking the beauty of life in every moment.
A novel about an unusual love story, which is surprisingly popular with men for some reason (in my experience). There is a reason why some people say Rooney is the voice of a generation…
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Stepping outside of your comfort zone and into the shoes of other people’s lives is one of the many things books offer. This novel is as much a book about Black British identity as it is about feminism, homosexuality and womanhood and generational shifts at the same time.
Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard
A semi-autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard published in 1984. War and colonialism from a child’s perspective. It’s about resilience, the innocence of childhood and the moral complexity of war. The book haunts me to this day.
Happy Reading!