Let’s face it, reading can be tedious. With a crippling work schedule, long commute time, and so many adult things to catch up on, books are not just it. Especially self-development books that can sometimes be difficult to grasp. You want to relax after a long day at work and not read anything unexciting. To save you that stress, I read some of what is generally considered as the best self-development books.
Below are key lessons from the books (something light):
1) “The Power Of Habit” – Charles Duhigg.
Summary: You can learn and unlearn any habit.
Habits are neurological patterns formed in the brain and there are three parts to the formation of any habit – the trigger, the routine, enjoyment. Understanding this helps on the journey to either forming or dropping any habit. The best part? – one good habit can help in the formation of other good habits and vice versa.
2) “How To Win Friends And Influence People” – Dale Carnegie.
Summary: Smile, don’t be an asshole.
Genuinely care about people and their interests. You can never go wrong with kindness, being genuinely concerned, a smile, and a sprinkle of emotional intelligence.
3) “The Course Of Love” – Alain De Botton.
Summary: “Love is a skill rather than an enthusiasm.”
When all the excitement and hormones of infatuation fade away? Will you still choose your partner down the line?
Maybe they don’t wash plates or they fight danfo drivers, will you still love them? or, they like cold indomie? What will you do? Learning to love someone is a skill that must be acquired like riding a bicycle. It’s not by gra gra. It takes patience, humility, and time.
4) “Shoe Dog” – Phil Knight (Founder of Nike).
Summary: Find the price for success, pay it, and hope you are lucky. Like really lucky.
Life comes with opportunity costs. The price of building a worldwide business comes with the risk of failure, losing valuable time with your kids, fighting with your best friends. It can also mean making your innermost dreams come to life and the development of one of the best sports brands ever. Life is a series of tradeoffs and always know the charges that come with any option before embarking on it.
5) Soldiers of fortune – Max Siollun.
Summary: Hands from Nigeria’s past still have a far-reaching effect on today’s reality.
Every young Nigerian should understand Nigeria’s history. This book explains how the period from 1984 to 1993 shaped Nigeria’s current reality across political, economic, and sometimes religious landscapes. It addition, it helps to understand how good intentions can quickly go bad. “You either die a hero or you live long enough to become a military dictator.”
