April 10, 2016

The books that changed my life

Developing a habit of reading on a regular basis is great for you. A book can help you deal with stress, relax and you can understand the world more. Most importantly reading can give you great knowledge, wisdom and insight that will help you think of yourself and the world from a different perspective and assist you in having a better life and career.

We asked some of our friends what books have changed their lives, in the hope they may do the same for you.

Yazmin Joy Vigus, Founder of aliljoy.com

Little Women – Louisa May Alcott

I read Little Women at university and fell in-love with the March sisters and Jo’s rites of passage. From when she cuts off her hair to when she moves to New York to follow her dream of being a writer, however much a cliche, Jo March will forever be my literary hero.

The Odyssey – Homer

Don’t be put off by the ‘epic’-ness of The Odyssey. A fantastic read following the hero Odysseus on his voyage back home after the Trojan war. Fantasy, love and action – it has it all! Can someone make this into a movie already!? This is where the roots of story, as we know it, all began. This book ignited my passion for storytelling. Advice: unless you’re particularly passionate about poetry opt for the prose version.

Kathy Smart, Business Development Manager-Task Squad, vInspired

The Secret Garden –Frances Hodgson Burnett

‘This book taught me that the heroine doesn’t always have to be ‘good’.
I’m a big fan of Frances Hodgson Burnett, and as a child read her tale of ‘A Little Princess’ so many times the book fell apart and had to be held together with sellotape. Although I loved the story, I was always troubled by how ‘good’ the main protagonist Sara was. Even at a young age I knew full well I could never live up to such standards and worried that this meant I wouldn’t be entitled to a happy ending, certainly not in the way Sara, Cinderella and Princess Aurora were. Thankfully one day I was given a new book, The Secret Garden. Mary is a difficult, spoilt, angry and obnoxious little girl, yet she still gets to be the heroine. In the story she develops friendships, has adventures and changes a young man’s future. Naturally she grows and changes but at no point does she suddenly become self-sacrificing, graceful and demure. She becomes happy, and uses her strength and determination to motivate others. As an obstinate little girl myself I remember being so relieved, realising that maybe it was ok to be boisterous, and that being competitive and energetic didn’t necessarily eliminate my chances of a happy ending. If Mary Lennox could do it then so could I. I whole heartedly recommend this book to every stubborn little princess who knows her happy ending will involve being herself.

Kelly Dolan, Communications and Social Commerce Specialist, UK Trade and Investment

Rich Dad, Poor Dad-Robert Kiyosaki

This book is a really easy read with lots of anecdotes and examples on how to manage your money better. I really enjoy hearing ‘rags to riches’ stories from entrepreneurs like Robert, where they openly share their mistakes, what they learnt on the way and how you can avoid them yourself. I would definitely recommend this book for young people who haven’t necessarily been taught how to manage their money and want an easy, crash course in doing to help ensure success.

Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization (Exploding the Myths)- Anthony T. Browder

I came across this book when I was researching for my Dissertation and it completely blew my mind. As a child I was fascinated by history (and still am!) but never understood why at school our knowledge of African and Caribbean history was limited to the Slave Trade and Civil Rights Movement. This provides a fascinating insight into the history of Africa and its impact on wider civilisation as we know it, with images and examples throughout.

Harveen Chugh, Consultant and Managing Director, VIS-3

Lean In-Sheryl Sandberg

This really inspired me and I think I’ve recommended it to almost every female I know! It helped me understand what being a feminist means and how we all (males and females) have a responsibility to support rather than compete with each other in the workplace. It also highlighted the importance of how women carry themselves in meetings and how you project yourselves to colleagues such as in discussing a payrise, or even that going on a date after work is just as important as someone going to pick up their children(!) Even though some women disagree with parts of the book, I think everyone can find something relatable and inspiring from the book.

The Rainmaker-John Grisham

I read this is in my summer holidays after finishing secondary school. Aside from the books we had to read for school, I was not into reading much, but it was such a page-turner that it changed my perception of what a good book could be. It led me straight into a summer of reading and I think I went through at least 20 books over the holidays!

Remi Ray, Founder of Remi Ray

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho 
The book has so much depth to each element and an unspeakable truth that only when you are tapped into a focused mind-set – can you truly understand each teaching carefully concealed in the text.

Stephanie Bolton, Lifestyle Editor, Girls Talk London

Refugee Boy-Benjamin Zephaniah

Refugee Boy didn’t so much change my life as shape it. I read this book when I was a teenager and it shaped the way I view refugees. The focus is on Alem Kelo, a 14-year-old refugee from Ethiopia and Eritrea and details him and his family’s struggles in their homeland and their bid for asylum in the UK. It’s eye-opening, heart-wrenching and despairing. I’m glad I read this book when I did – before I even really knew what refugees were – because it means that ever since I’ve heard the word, I’ve always been filled with the deepest sympathies for anyone in that situation.Despite having read this book at least a decade ago and only once, I’ve recalled it often lately because of the current refugee crisis – this book never leaves you and rightly so.

How to be a woman-Caitlyn Moran

Moran’s book changed my life by getting me to question how I saw being a woman and all it entails, from why I dress the way I do to my hair removal habits and my relationships. Most importantly though, Moran changed my view (and I think a generation’s) on what it means to be a feminist; we might have the vote, but there’s still an awful lot still to fight for. I recommend How to be a Woman to every woman because even if you don’t change any of your habits, at least you know why you do them and who’s to blame for the unrelenting pressures that, as a female, you face everyday. You might even start calling yourself a feminist too.

Annika Allen, Co-Founder of The Colour Network

Rich Dad, Poor Dad-Robert T. Kiyosaki
This was the book that I was reading as I was on the brink of making the leap to start my own business and helped to enlighten me and give me that extra push. In Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Kiyosaki explains how to escape the “rat race” and achieve financial independence. His real dad was poor but worked hard to make money by chasing a higher salary while his entrepreneurial rich dad, who was his friend’s father was the one that inspired him and supplied him with the tools needed to secure financial freedom. Luckily, I’ve always been pretty good with money but this book did teach me the importance of financial literacy and formed the start of my collection of empowerment, self-help and educational literature and taught me to think out side the box when it comes to business and making money.

The Coldest Winter Ever-Sistah Souljah
The story follows Winter, the beautiful first born daughter of a drug dealer Santiaga who grew up in the ghetto of Brooklyn but moved to the suburbs. She’s vain, spoiled, selfish and when her dad goes to jail and all their bank accounts, valuables and property are seized she is left to fend for herself. Winter is resourceful and sharp has a knack for surviving but is also very stupid and naïve as well which eventually leads to her downfall.With so many young girls being seduced by vanity, celebrity life and money via social media and reality TV and with knife and gun crime escalating with youths being misguided by all of the glitz and glamour of the drug game, this is an excellent story to set them straight.I read this as a teenager and it was my first introduction to a black author and further emphasised to me the reasons why I wanted to be able to tell people’s stories through the work and writing that I do.  I was also fascinated with the author Sistah Souljah as she proved that one person can wear many hats and be successful at many things. She is a film producer, lecturer, novelist, former hip hop artist and social activist who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. As someone that also juggles more than one thing – although they are all centred around the creative industry – her spirit and drive for success and the impact she has made on the world inspired me and made me question the legacy that I will leave behind.

Check out: 7 books every career girl should read