Suddenly have some
extra free time? I figured you might. Here are a list of books worth checking
out.
To
be entertained:
Born a
Crime by Trevor Noah
Story about Trevor
Noah growing up in South Africa. The way he grew up and the way I grew up were
worlds apart. Short and entertaining read. One of the best books I’ve ever read.
Around
the World in Eighty Days
Jules Verne is a legend. Verne and H.G. Wells are considered the fathers of science fiction, his stories involve travel and
adventure. This might be my favourite fictional book of all time. You can skip the movie.
Troy Trilogy by David Gemmell
Lord of the Silver Bow, Troy: Shield of Thunder, Fall of Kings
I don’t re-read books
but after a 12 year break, I needed to dive back in. Luckily I forgot almost
every event that happens so it was like reading it for the first time. Better
than Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. It’s a long read but if you like fantasy,
you need to read this.
Chess
Story by Stefan Zweig
Boats are an incredible
setting for a story. This book only takes about an hour to read and while you
might say chess is a boring topic for a book, I think you will find this
fictional book quite compelling. Give it
a shot.
Handmaid’s
Tale Margaret Atwood
A little Canadianity.
I fell in love with the show then read Handmaid’s Tale and
The Testaments. Testaments
not necessary to read but I would read the book then watch the show. Everything
that happens in the book and on the show happened at some point in history. It
gets a little dark but if you’re feeling gloomy, this might be the book for
you.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
How can someone be
such a great chef, writer and TV personality? Anthony Bourdain’s writing is thrilling,
he tells great stories and makes you feel like you are right beside him while doing things that are far too inappropriate for my mother to read about.
New York by Edward Rutherford
This book is a
monster. One of the first historical fiction books I’ve ever read. Follows one
family from the 17th century to 2009. If you like history and are interested in New
York, Rutherford does an impeccable job painting what life would have been like during those years.
To
learn:
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
One of the greatest stories
of survival ever told. Shakelton set out to cross the Antarctic in 1914. You might have
guessed that things did not exactly goes as planned. Top 5 book for me. My English isn't very good so it's hard for me to describe how great this book is.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
It’s hard to believe
this was Louis Zamperini's his life. To say that he lived a full life from 1917 to 20014 would be a gross understatement. If you are into history and unbelievable
stories that apparently happened, read the book but stay away from the movie.
The Subtle Art of not Giving a F*ck and Everything is #@%!ed A Book About Hope
Mark Manson is my favourite author. He’s smart, funny and level headed. He’s what the world needs. His
articles are helpful and can aid you with almost any issue you are facing. Read
these books to gain insight into how our minds work and how to live more rationally.
https://markmanson.net/
Digital Minimalism
and Deep Work by Cal Newport
If you feel like
technology is taking over your life, read these books for some perspective on
how to reduce technology’s impact on your life and how to work more productively.
Sam Harris Lying
Sam Harris is one of
the smartest people alive. His podcast is A1 and writes mainly about religion
and philosophy. Lying is more of an essay and might change how you view even white
lies.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
One of the most
popular books of all time, Dale Carnegie shows you how better manage relationships in your life.
I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi
If you want to learn
about personal finance in a relaxed and humorous tone, read this. This is the book
that helped me get my financial life together and pay of my $31, 500 debt.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
A classic personal
finance book. Shows two different approaches to money. You can decide which
approach is best for you.
For
kids but also for adults
Love You
Forever by Robert Munsch
There are no words.
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds
This is a fun little
book. Ish is a great word to use and this book does a tremendous job explaining
how best to live life ishly.
The Lion
the Witch and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis
This is a book that
completely surprised me. I don’t remember why I picked this book up but I was all in from the first page. I’m not going to watch the movies or read the other
books because this book was everything I wanted from it. Read it to your kids or
just read it before bed but be warned, you might end up going to be later than
you had planned.
The
Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Originally written in
French, this book is a tale of child trying to figure out what exactly is the
deal with grownups. Not sure anyone knows what the deal with grown ups is.
Authors I like but not
mentioned above:
Bill Bryson
non-fiction. Short History of Nearly Everything.
Murakami-Hit or miss.
Japanese. South of the Border, West of the Sun
Tim Ferris-Useful
advice on how to be better at life. Tools of Titans
Malcolm Gladwell.
Super smart, Canadian and solid podcasts. The Tipping Point
Michael Lewis. Great
storyteller. Liar’s Poker and Moneyball
Stay safe. Stay inside. Stay together.
"Since all of the public libraries are closed, I'm checking you out instead."
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