“I want to read but I have little time on my hands,” my friend told me the other day. “If you had to suggest selected books for me to read this year, what would they be?” she asked.

I realized I had been asked this question countless times in the past two weeks after the advent of the New Year. I am familiar with this feeling. At the start, we have no way of knowing the number of books we will be able to read this year, but whatever selected we lay our hands on, we want every last bit of it to be worth our time.

If you too are looking for such books, here are 10 of those I’ve read and found worth every minute I spent reading them. A good mix of fiction and non-fiction, these books will keep your reading regime colorful while ensuring you get something valuable out of each one of them.

1. Choose Yourself by James Altucher

Genre: Non-fiction, self-help

Choose Yourself is one of the most resourceful books I’ve read in my life. I suggest it to anyone who has not read it, even if non-fiction and self-help are not your thing.

Written by one of the most renowned self-help authors in recent times, Choose Yourself takes you on a journey of self-prioritization to make your life fulfilling in every way possible. It contains lessons and ideas inspired by Altucher’s own experience and that of countless thinkers and world leaders molded into simple steps you can undertake every day to get yourself out of the rut of life.

On every page of the book, you will find something that, if implemented, will change your life in big and small ways depending on how consistently you follow the advice. For instance, in the chapter “Don’t Have Opinions” in the book, Altucher explains how your arguments should never be centered around changing someone’s opinion because attempting to change people is a waste of time. This is one of the most profound pieces of advice I’ve received in my life. Applying this has brought considerable mental peace and saves me a lot of time and energy.

“Only worry about your own happiness, which doesn’t have to be limited by anyone else’s stupidity unless you allow it to be.”

This book is full of such enriching ideas and reading it is bound to make you see yourself in a new, hopeful light.

2. The Stranger by Albert Camus

Genre: Psychological fiction

Do you ever wonder what is the meaning of life? What is the meaning in suffering, loss, birth, and death? If yes, then Camus’s The Stranger might yield some intriguing answers.

A classic book in the field of philosophy, in it, Camus explains his concept of the meaning of life through a fictional story. He narrates the account of Meursault, a 30s something man living a simple life but attaching no extreme emotions to the perceivably major events around him. Be it the death of his own mother, his girlfriend proposing him for marriage, or being convicted on death row for killing an Arab man, Meursault remains devoid of extreme emotions. Instead, he finds meaning in trivial everyday things such as the sweat trickling on his brow, the feeling of heat on his body, and how despite how people’s lives turn out, the color of the evening sky turns the same shade of pink every day.

“I hadn’t understood how days could be both long and short at the same time : long to live through, maybe, but so drawn out that they ended up flowing into one another. They lost their names. Only the words “yesterday” and “today” had any meaning for me.”

Through Meursault’s story, Camus expounds on his philosophy of Absurdism - the idea that man’s life holds no absolute meaning, rather, it is only what he makes it to be.

The Stranger is a classic and an important book taught as a part of the curriculum in many schools across the globe so if you’re planning on reading a few books this year, you mustn’t miss this one.

3. 1984 by George Orwell

Genre: Dystopian science fiction

Orwell’s 1984 is relevant even 70 years after it was written. Based on the idea of a dystopian world, the book gives you a taste of life under a totalitarian rule- where the government controls every move you make- through the story of Winston Smith.

Winston is a resident of Oceania, a province ruled by the “Party” whose leader is an unseen entity called “Big Brother”. Big Brother can see and hear everything you do through microphones and two-way televisions called Telescreens, no matter where you are. If citizens have rebellious thoughts, they’re considered to be “thought crimes” and they are liable to be punished. Even history is rewritten and reimagined according to the Party’s wishes, as a governing body called the Ministry of Truth rewrites historical records. What happens then, when Winston starts harboring thoughts of upheaval in collaboration with a rebellious party? The answer involves reducing human thoughts to anything unlike you’ve ever imagined.

A harrowing account based on the reality of the horrors of the world in the post-World-War II-era, 1984 will open your eyes to the worst of the socio-political evils the world is capable of.

“War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength.”

Reading this book made me realize the importance of independent thoughts and revolutions. Even if politics doesn’t interest you, this book will show you why it is necessary for each one of us to understand leadership and have our own opinions of them.

4. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaledias

Genre: Mystery/thriller fiction

I have read countless mystery books in my life but none of them come close to shocking me the way The Silent Patient did. The brilliance of this book can be determined based on the fact that it beat Stephen King, who was ruling the spot for quite some time, to bag the 2019 Goodreads Choice Award in the Mystery & Thriller category.

A brilliant psychological thriller, The Silent Patient narrates the story of artist Alicia Berenson who is found with a gun in her hand alongside the shot body of her husband Gabriel Berenson. It is unclear who killed him, but there is no way of knowing because, after this incident, Alicia stops speaking. Meanwhile, psychologist and long-time admirer of Alicia’s work Theo Farber becomes curious about her case. He decides this to be the perfect opportunity for him to try to interact with her and bags it when he gets accepted at the institution in which Alicia is admitted. As he goes through Alicia’s past to find the reason she refuses to speak, Theo must also come to terms with another link that connects him to Alicia.

The storytelling in this book is so impeccable that you don’t realize when the twist hits you in the face. In that moment, the sheer brilliance of the book culminates and you can’t help but crown this book as one of the best mysteries to have ever been written. I suggest you drop everything you’re reading and pick this book now!

5. A Brief History of Time By Stephen Hawking

Genre: Science non-fiction

The idea of space, time, and the universe intrigues us all. However, not all of us delve much into it because of the jargon and the depth of research associated with such topics. Instead, we look for simpler accounts that can explain all this to us in layman’s terms. Legendary scientist and physicist Stephen Hawking wrote A Brief History of Time exactly for this purpose: to answer the common man’s questions of the concept of the universe and its timeline.

This is the simplest yet the most detailed and well-explained account of the advancements in the field of time and space I’ve come across. Hawking ensured this when he wrote the book because he didn’t intend it for academics and professionals, but for normal people who would want to buy it off the airport store’s shelves. He has explained concepts such as the findings of the origin, the current state, and the future of the universe accurately and succinctly using diagrams and references in the book, each of which he has broken down to the last term for a normal reader to understand.

Such profound were his explanations regarding the vastness of the universe that I realized how insignificant the things I presume to be big in my life are in the grand scheme of things.

“The assumption that the universe looks the same in every direction is clearly not true in reality. For example, as we have seen, the other stars in our galaxy form a distinct band of light across the night sky called the Milky Way. But if we look at distant galaxies, there seems to be more or less the same number of them.”

Irrespective of whether you come from a science background or not, you will be left wondering in amazement at both the universe we live in and Hawking's ability to explain complex concepts clearly after reading this book.

6. Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Genre: Spiritual/philosophical non-fiction

How does a man’s mind function when he faces the worst-case scenario? How do you deal with a situation which forces you to hope against hope, no matter what the future holds? How do you train your mind to not only deal with but also take pride in the inevitable suffering?

Psychologist and founder of logotherapy, Viktor Frankl, answers all these questions in his account of survival at Auschwitz, the most dangerous of Nazi concentration camps, during World War II in this book. Frankl talks about how, if a person can find a purpose to live, he can survive even the worst impending atrocities.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

He also talks about the basic concepts of his school of therapy-logotherapy-which helps the human mind seek solace even in suffering by finding something to live for.

Reading his story will give you the hope you need to sail through tough times in life. Viktor Frankl survived on a stale piece of bread, a bowl of watery soup, and hope for three years in one of the most wretched living conditions humanity has witnessed. This proves that humans can find the strength to deal with the worst situations in life if they put their mind to it.

You will always find yourself looking up to this book after you read it. This is one of the once-in-a-lifetime accounts you mustn’t miss.

7. Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

Genre: Spiritual non-fiction/self-help

The monk life, full of peace and purpose, is one of the most sought-after lifestyles in the world. Yet, not many of us can afford to leave everything we have behind and live like celibate monks in ashrams. What we need is a figment of advice from their lives we can apply to our modern lifestyle.

Jay Shetty, a former monk-turned-podcaster, teaches you how to imbibe monk practices in your everyday life in Think Like a Monk. Based on his experience as a monk, he expounds on tips to lead a peaceful, and mindful existence in a normal urban lifestyle. He explains how you can use monk principles to improve the quality of your relationships, feel more fulfilled in the work you do, and deal with inner conflicts. He also presents a step-by-step guide into the best practices of mindfulness and meditation.

“Imagine you’re driving a luxury rental car. Do you tell yourself that you own it? Of course not. You know you only have it for the week, and in some ways, that allows you to enjoy it more — you are grateful for the chance to drive a convertible down the Pacific Coast Highway because it’s something you won’t always get to do. Imagine you’re staying in the most beautiful Airbnb. It’s got a hot tub, chef’s kitchen, ocean views; it’s so beautiful and exciting. You don’t spend every moment there dreading your departure in a week. When we acknowledge that all of our blessings are like a fancy rental car or a beautiful Airbnb, we are free to enjoy them without living in constant fear of losing them. We are all the lucky vacationers enjoying our stay in Hotel Earth.”

Such powerful and convincing are the words in this book that if Shetty’s written-word ends up resonating with you, then this could be the book that changes the way you live.

8. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre: Non-fiction essay

The concept of feminism has blurry edges even today with there being no absolute direction to guide this sentiment. That’s why we need quality literature that puts convincing arguments in favor of feminism and shows us the right approach towards it. Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists is one such book.

In this book, this critically acclaimed author not only lays convincing arguments in favor of feminism but also deals with the men’s side of the issue.

“We spend too much time telling girls that they cannot be angry or aggressive or tough, which is bad enough, but then we turn around and either praise or excuse men for the same reasons.”

The author’s understanding of the root causes of gender issues and insights into why society functions the way it does now will give you a new and unbiased perspective on this topic.

“What is the point of culture? Culture functions ultimately to ensure the preservation and continuity of people…Culture does not make people. People make culture.”

I have yet to come across either a man or a woman who is not convinced with the way the author presents the idea of feminism in this book. For this reason, I believe irrespective of their gender, everyone should read We Should All Be Feminists at least once in their lives.

9. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Genre: Young adult fiction

No one can understand the loss of losing a parent better than your sibling. But what if the sibling reminds you of the side of your parent you never want to see?

Clap When You Land narrates the story of two girls in their late teens, Yahaira and Camino, who are forced to bond in unusual circumstances. They come to know they’re sisters from the same father but different mothers after their father dies in a Dominican-Republic-bound plane crash. With him gone, the girls must now deal with the tantamount loss, seeking solace in each other while making peace with their father’s sin.

A journey of growing up and coming to terms with an unusual situation, Clap When You Land will teach you how solace can sometimes be found in unexpected places if you just make peace with the truth and embrace the inevitable.

For its powerful story and unique delivery in poetry-verse style, the book nabbed the title of the 2020 Goodreads Best Young Adult Fiction.

“Papi will have two funerals.
Papi will have two ceremonies.
Papi will be mourned in two countries.
Papi will be said goodbye to here & there.
Papi had two lives.
Papi has two daughters.
Papi was a man split in two, playing a game against himself.
But the problem with that is that in order to win, you also always lose.”

10. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Genre: Historical fiction

If you must read a book about war, then let this be it.

Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale tells us the story of the most overlooked yet prominent part of a war- one that is fought off the battlefield.

Sisters Isabella Rosignoll and Vianne Mauriac in 1939 France find their lives caught up in the dynamics of World War II. While Vianne must adjust to life with her child without her husband back in the village of Cariveau with a German soldier quartered in her house, Isabelle becomes a secret agent for the usurpers in Paris and undertakes the task of transporting fallen airmen through the evasively snowy peaks of the Pyrenees.

Both women thus end up doing things they neither imagined nor thought themselves capable of, as relationships evolve, loved ones are left behind, and new connections are formed.

“In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”

This book will stir up feelings you never thought existed in you. In more than one way, it will change the way you think about women and their lives.

“Men tell stories. Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over.”

The Nightingale bagged the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Historical Fiction of 2015, so if you’re looking to read something in that genre, this is one book you mustn’t miss.

Bonus

11. Anne of Green Gables by L.M.Montogmery

Genre: Feel-good fiction

There are only two types of readers: those who haven’t read Anne of Green Gables and those who love it.

A story of a young orphan girl brought to the old Cuthbertsons by a stroke of luck, Anne of nowhere suddenly finds herself becoming Anne of Green Gables after they choose to adopt her. Thus begins Anne’s story. As you read, you learn that little Anne is expressive, loquacious, and curious in every situation.

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”

Her age hardly justifies her words. Her reactions to even the most mundane situations are delightful to read, her happiness being so pure, it's contagious!

“There’s such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I’m such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn’t be half so interesting.”

Brimming with innocence and youth, Anne’s story set in a quaint sleepy village in 18th century England will transport you to a happier and simpler time and place. This classic that was recently adapted into a Netflix series charms everyone.

Anne of Green Gables is the first book in this series of eight books. You will hardly be able to stop at one and will yearn to finish the series once you pick it. It’s best you get started now!

Final Thoughts

Each of the above books will add value to your life in some way. I’ve tried my best to include the best books in this lot that will justify the time you spent reading it. So if you haven’t already started your 2021 reading spree, go on. Pick one of these books and let me know what you think once you’re done!