Books
As a self-identified bibliophile; I love to read! I am guilty of buying books instead of handbags or shoes. I find reading therapeutic and have been asked by several friends to share the books that I read. So I will share the books that have resonated with me and hope that they will do the same for you. Over the years; books have transformed, mentored, and challenged me. So watch this space as I share books and potentially events to meet in person to discuss books over a nice brunch.
Transformed Me.
There are countless books that have transformed me. The beauty of reading is that I have learned to appreciate other people’s perspective.
Mentored Me.
There are a few authors who became my unofficial mentors. I believe that you can learn from anyone by observing, reading, and listening.
Challenged Me.
There are so many books that have challenged me. I believe that it is so important to read books that will challenge your thought process.
2025 has already started with a reading bang. I set a new reading goal which is to read 30 books in 2025. Am sharing one of the books that I read in January 2025. It is called Speak by Tunde Oyeneyin. Tunde is a make up artist and Peloton cycling instructor. As someone who is trying to navigate this thing called life while finding my voice, I always get motivated reading other people’s stories. I realise that there is no magical moment and that any successful story has a lot of ups and downs before you “arrive.” Tunde shares her story on how she grew up in Houston, Texas in a Nigerian family while pursuing her goal to become a makeup artist. After taking a SoulCycle class in New York, she realised that her calling was to be a full-time cycling instructor. Her journey to become a globally recognised cycling instructor was not a smooth one and while working on that goal, she dealt with a lot challenges such as losing three relatives in six years and learning how to cut ties from relationships (professional and personal) that no longer served her or her goals. I took over 100 notes while reading this book. This is a book for anyone who feels in a rut and needs to be encouraged and reminded that his or her voice matters so speak up and pursue your dreams it isn’t easy but it is worth it.
Most people spent their New Year’s Day recovering from a hangover but I spent mine reading this book while my family was sleeping. 2024 was a tough year for me. I was dealing with a lot of challenges and looking at the books that I read the second half of the year, I realised that I was reading too many books about people overcoming hardships. I wanted to focus 2025 with a refreshed mindset so decided to read Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven. William is a retired US Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the US Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014. He was also the chancellor of The University of Texas System from 2015 to 2018. The book was created after the commencement speech that he did at the University of Texas Austin which involved him sharing the ten lessons he learned during his career in the Navy. Though the lessons are pretty straight forward, sometimes the key to application is through constant reinforcement. The main message is to start each day with a task completed even it is as simple as making your bed. William also highlights that life is not fair and that you will often fail but the main thing is to find people who will help you through life, step up when times are tough, and never ever give up. Like is about taking chances and risks. So every day, be grateful, and start your day by making bed.
Maame by Jessica George is another book that I really enjoyed reading. It was voted as one of the best non-fiction books in 2023 by GoodReads. It is about Madeline “Maddie” Wright, a young woman in London who struggles to balance her life as a caretaker of her critically ill father, her mother’s verbal tirades, and a challenging career. When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie moves out on her own. I connected with this book because it covered several themes such as mental health; grief; dating; family dynamics; and career management.
How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair is book that I highly recommend. It was voted as one of the best memoirs in 2023 by GoodReads. It is about Safiya who was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The book is about her life being raised by a father who is strict believer in a military sect of Rastafari. Her mother did what she could to bring joy for Safiya and her siblings with books and poetry. This is a story about hope, imagination, and resilience. I cried, laughed and cheered.
Everyone has a book that has changed his or her life. That is how I feel about Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell. This book provides 15 steps on how to turn mistakes into stepping stones. It also highlights that the three things that block us from moving forward are paralysis, procrastination, and purposelessness. It is so important to get moving, build momentum, make mistakes, and move on. So if you need a book that will spark the fire in you to turn your mistakes into stepping stones that will propel you; then read this book. As an insecure type A; I am learning that failing and bouncing back are a part of life.
For 2024, I gave myself a challenge to read 24 books. Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman was the 18th book that I read in September. This book is a friendly reminder that time is finite and while technology has afforded us with more “flexibility” we sometimes take time for granted and not spend time on the things that matter because we assume that we have time but the reality is that our time here is limited. As someone who tries to be everything to everyone; I thought that this book was a friendly reminder that there is no right or wrong decision but one has to decide how you spend your time. So while many of us do not want to accept that our time is limited; I think it is liberating to know that we have limited time here so it is important to make the most of our time and accept that we will never have the time to do everything and that is okay.