My Top 5 Books from 2021
Out of the 54 books that I’ve read and listened to in 2021, here are my top five that I could not put down.
1. Give and Take by Adam Grant
I’ve always considered myself a giver. I love giving without hoping for anything in return because 1.) that’s not the point of giving and 2.) expectation can lead to disappointment. Some might say that it is a selfish reason and I will proudly accept that.
I believe that when we first enter a relationship, friendship or romance, the first question we should ask ourselves is what can we give not what can we take.
However, we live in a world where “Nice guys finish last”. Givers can’t really fall to the bottom if they aren’t careful.
The book Give and Take by Adam Grant gives us good strategies on how to be a Giver and still rise to the top.
The main difference between successful Giver and Taker is that Givers succeed in a way that creates a ripple effect, enhancing the success of people around them. On the other hand, Takers advance themselves and hold the world back.
This book really inspired me to become a proud giver and gave tips on how to avoid burnout and deal with takers.
2. A Guide to a Good Life by William B. Irvine
The title sounds cheesy but this book is actually what we all need to learn how to deal with the chaos in daily life.
Drawn upon Stoic philosophies, this book gives eye-opening ideas and exercises to help anyone who wishes to have a meaningful, peaceful and good life.
It is from this book that I first learned about negative visualisation where we imagine the worst thing that could happen as if it already has so 1.) we are prepared when it happens, 2.) we are grateful that it didn’t happen or 3.) we realise whether it is as bad as we imagined it to be?
This may sound pessimistic but being optimistic can distract us from actually dealing with the truths and reality. This counter-intuitive approach also reminds us for all the good things we have right now because they won’t last forever.
This book also offer other Stoic advice to help you achive tranquillity and virtues. It really has changed how I think about things and approach life.
3. Deep Work by Cal Newport
This book brought to my attention that, in order to produce and innovate valuable results, we need deep work — a state when you perform a task without any distraction for an extended period that it pushes your brain to the next level.
On the other hand, shallow work can be replicated by anyone because it demands less cognitive capability, which is why it is often performed when distracted/multitasking.
In a world with constant notifications and distractions, deep work is the concept that we should all be aware of. It has become rare yet more valuable than ever. Consequently, those who are able to perform this will thrive in their working life.
4. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin
This book changed how I think about money. We work to dedicate our time and life energy to get money in return.
It taught me to calculate my actual hourly wage, taking into account the transportation time, energy and all other factors that we might not be aware of.
So that before I spend money on anything, I now ask myself, “Is this worth the life energy and the time I have put in for?”
The book also gives easy-to-understand plans and other guidances on how to achieve financial freedom.
5. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
It was after reading this book that I became aware of my relationship with time.
The hard truth is we are all mortal with a limited amount of time on this earth. Everyday, we’re moving closer to the end of our life so it is important that we don’t take the time we have for granted.
Burkeman usually takes a different view to go against all the other optimistic self-help gurus and simply just gives us the hard truth.
This book won’t give you tips on time management but will give you the framework and concepts for you to think about to manage your own time with examples from ancient philosophers.
The main ideas I got from the book were:
- By spending years looking for that thing [the perfect match], you miss out on years of potential happiness…
- Due to our finite time on earth, the smallest decisions we make daily close off other infinite paths that we could have spent time on, which could have led to different lives we could have lived.
- How much of the value of time comes not from the sheer quantity you have, but from whether you’re in sync with the people you care about most — or how much you have contributed to the world.
Thank you 2021, I’m grateful for the lessons and knowledge I learned during your time.
Life is a long journey of learning. If we’re not learning, then we’re not growing.
What are your top five books from 2021?
