When life gets a little too busy and hectic; and the migraine in our head throbs a little too incessantly than normal, it’s always a good idea to take a break and get some fresh air. Better yet, we clear our head with a good book to distract us, to ground us, or to entertain us before diving back into the thick of things.
Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman
Imagine being transported into the mind of the greatest scientist of all time. Imagine following his life right at the time when he was about to realize his magnum opus, his greatest work, and undoubtedly, his greatest contribution to the collective knowledge of humanity.
I’m talking of course about Albert Einstein. In one of Alan Lightman’s most notable work, Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional take on what went through the head of the famed scientist as he tried to reconcile the many properties (and possibilities of time).
Each chapter Lightman presents readers with a different idea of how time might move. He applies all these possibilities in the picturesque landscape of Einstein’s Switzerland. It’s the perfect book if you want to immerse yourself entirely in a complex idea presented in a serene, almost nostalgic way.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The book was first written in German in 1922 before being translated and released in the U.S. in 1951. It chronicles the life of Siddhartha, a nobleman living in Ancient India.
From the moment of his birth, Siddhartha was destined for greatness. After renouncing a life full of joy and luxury, Siddhartha went on a quest to find true enlightenment. Along the way, he met ascetics who call themselves Samanas. They starve themselves and withheld simple joys of life in the hope of achieving enlightenment. Siddhartha follows their ways, hoping to achieve the same thing.
Eventually, he forged a new path, one where he balances between self-denial and the pleasure that comes with living. The book is as religious as it is philosophical. It’s a great way to broaden one’s mind and recenter one’s self in the midst of a busy week.
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho
This novel pushed Coelho to international stardom. It cemented his reputation as an author that expertly wields symbolism and creative storytelling that leaves people captivated. The story follows the journey of a shepherd boy as he searches for his treasure. His recurring dreams take him from the rugged terrain of Andalusia to the deserts of Egypt.
Along the way, he meets a magical older man claiming to be the king of Salem. He tells the shepherd that it is his Personal Legend to reach the pyramids of Egypt. The books take readers to different settings and realization as they follow the shepherd’s quest.
We are a force to root for his endeavors as well as scrutinize our own. Along the way, we can’t help but realize what we truly value and the lengths we go to achieve that.
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
On certain days when everything seems too overwhelming, grabbing a familiar literary classic that never fails to entertain us for hours on end is always a good idea.
One of the best teen fiction books in my collection is the Harry Potter series, and I always make it a point to read the whole thing every couple of years. Compacting Harry’s story down to a few sentences would almost do JK Rowling’s entire masterpiece a disservice. Suffice to say that Harry Potter transcends age and time. It’s as relevant now as it first came out in the 90s.
The problems that the characters face in the books have their corresponding counterparts in real life which are why to this day I routinely read that book. I feel like in each chapter my life is mirrored in the pages in some way, and I’m able to think of other solutions to my current problems.
The series serves more like a guide now than entertainment. When I find myself wanting a little more clarity, I turn to Harry Potter for answers.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Around 100,000 years ago, the earth was home to more than five human species. But today, we’re left with one, just as Homo sapiens. What happened to the rest of the human species? Where did they go? In a groundbreaking book by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari, he explores humanity’s rise from the plains of Africa to dominate almost every corner of the world.
He explains how we come to believe in gods, formed nations, created human rights, trusted money, laws, and books. Towards the end, he dives into the reasons why humanity became inevitably enslaved by bureaucracy. There’s a lot to unpack in Harari’s book, and it certainly is a good reminder of how far humanity has come.
