Books worth reading during your spare time
Many students consider it difficult to find some spare time and widen their cognitive horizons through book reading during the academic year. However, taking the time to read well-recognized books will help you ace your career skills, ensure personal and professional success, and improve your life. In this article, we suggest that you take the time to read four books that have been written by influential professionals and have positively affected the lives of millions of readers.
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter And How to Make The Most of Them Now, by Meg Jay
In this book, Meg Jay argues that twentysomethings are the most transformative period of our adult life. Her main argument suggests that work, relationships, personality, social networks, and even the brain can change more during our twenties than any other period in adulthood. Based on her experience and work with hundreds of twentysomething students and clients, Jay describes the required tools to make the most of your twenties. The Defining Decade has been published in more than a dozen countries all over the world and has sold more than 250,000 copies in all formats. It is also worth checking Jay’s related TED talk: Why Thirty Is Not The New Twenty.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
Since it was first published in 1989, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been translated in more than 40 languages, sold more than 25 million copies all over the world and helped hundreds of readers become more effective in both their personal and professional lives. Stephen Covey argues that the principles of fairness, integrity, honesty and dignity can help people solve their problems, and ensure personal and professional success. The undeniable impact of this book has been proven by the fact that it is one of the rare books that have influenced presidents, CEOs, educators and individuals all over the world to improve their businesses, careers and personal lives.
How to Win Friends And Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
The teachings of Dale Carnegie have helped millions of people around the world boost their self-confidence and improve their lives. In this book, Dale Carnegie offers practical advice and explains techniques on how to improve your interactions with friends, colleagues, clients and customers, and make life more rewarding. His advice will help you learn how to influence others, make friends quickly and easily, increase your popularity, improve your public-speaking skills, and learn how to win new clients and customers. The book has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.
Thinking, Fast And Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
Have you ever wondered why managers feel overconfident when developing corporate strategies, why it is difficult to predict what will make us happy in the future or what is the effect of cognitive biases on everyday issues? This book describes the two systems that determine the way we think, and make decisions affecting both our personal and professional lives. System 1 depends on our intuitions, feelings and emotions, while System 2 depends on slow thinking and our logic. Daniel Kahneman is a renowned psychologist and was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002.
These four books constitute only a small list out of a great number of well-recognized books that will help you learn how to control your weaknesses and enhance your strengths, develop effective leadership and communication skills, and improve your personal and professional life. You can also try reading other books of the authors mentioned in this article. Take the time to read the suggested books and get ready to boost your career skills during your spare time!
