Bill Gates himself confessed that he reads at least 50 books a year. But whether you are Bill Gates or not, reading books expand your knowledge beyond the four corners of the campus. Moreover, books motivate you as you read stories of those who were able to overcome different challenges in life. Here are three books that are a must read for students not only to keep them going but to serve as fuel to their otherwise depleted energy.
On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life
Written by John O'Leary, this also tells the story of a family who had undergone a tragedy but was able to rise from the ashes, literally. The book is both heart-wrenching and inspiring at the same time as it talks about overcoming a personal disaster.
One of the best moments in the book talks about how the author's mother deep encounter with pain as she saw her son suffering, not knowing whether or not he will come out of that accident alive. Yet despite all those uncertainties, the author recounted that they only had one thing in mind - that the fight was on.
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
The title of the book says it all but author Adam Grant puts it wisely when he said that creativity and innovation come when you know how to balance your life. He turned this simple truth into an "a-ha moment' and brings back readers to what matters most in life.
One of the best quotes in the book comes from Polaroid founder Edwin Land when he said that a person's originality in one area cannot really come unless he maintains a fixed set of attitudes and behaviors in other areas of his life. He added further that once a person becomes stable emotionally and socially as a result of those fixed attitudes, then the original area of his life will really shine.
Smarter Faster Better: The Secret of Being Productive in Life and Business
No one defines productivity better than Charles Duhigg. He said that productivity is defined differently according to the situation. He then cited an example that productivity to a scientist means those failed experiments which will lead him to the right formula while for another person, it could mean reading and answering back emails and returning calls. Productivity can also mean taking a walk with your kids on weekends. Then he went on defining productivity as the little attempts we do to get the most meaningful rewards without wasting a lot of efforts to do it. And that is very liberating.
