Choose to Take the Journey

When I was a child, I hated reading. I was slow at it, kept losing my place, and got headaches every 10-15 minutes. But each week my mom checked out books from our local library, forced me to read them, and then questioned me about their content. Little did I know she hadn’t actually read any of them, but it was enough to know that I was being quizzed that I did as I was told. Because of that early childhood experience–or rather, despite it, depending on how you look at it–I’m now an avid reader. No other activity has impacted my life quite so profoundly as reading. If you are the average of your 5 best friends, then allow a good book to be one of those friends. When you read, not only are you accessing the writer’s thoughts, but his best thoughts, the ones he felt fit to share with the world.

Since quite a few people have asked me for recommendations, I thought I would share my top 5 books. The only problem I encountered was this: how does one compare a play like Hamlet to a book like The Selfish Gene? In my opinion, you can’t. So I decided to make a separate list for each of my 5 favorite genres. Here we go, in no particular order:

(1) FINANCIAL

1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, 238 pages
My friend gave me a copy back in college. I tried reading it then, but found it so boring I couldn’t get past chapter 1. While attending optometry school, I tried reading it again, this time making it through chapter 2 before calling it quits. Somehow, by my third attempt, I fell in love with the book. I devoured it in 3 days, rereading it a second time the following week, and rereading certain sections a few more times in the following months. If I could only recommend one book to you, it would be this one.

2. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, 272 pages
More of a beginner’s book on money, it is a great place to start if you reckon yourself a financial dummy as I used to (and still do).

3. Financial Self Defense by Charles J. Givens, 432 pages
Warning! Extremely dry and boring to the point of involuntary weeping! That said, extremely useful. Do not read this book cover-to-cover, but in pieces, to be applied to your life gradually.

4. The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton, 224 pages
A casual financial book that gets you to sock away some of your hard-earned cash.

5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki, 274 pages
Classic. Move from under-appreciated employee to hands-free investor as quickly as possible.
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(2) NONFICTION, INSPIRATION

1. Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins, 544 pages
Many people consider this to be his magnum opus. I wholeheartedly agree. I suggest getting the audio version first and if you like it, then get the book if you want more of the same.

2. Feel the Fear by Susan Jeffers, 214 pages
This was the first book to get me into the whole self-help genre. Given the emotional tenor of my life at the time, this was the best book I could have possibly come across.

3. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, 272 pages
This is one of those books that’s so good you don’t want to share it with anyone else lest they become as enlightened as you! Yes, it’s that good. An absolute gem for all writers and would-be writers. It doesn’t talk about how to write so much as the psychology of writing and getting published. That said, I can’t say I would recommend it to non-writers though.

4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, 384 pages
A no-frills book that’s a bit on the dry side. But if you’re missing one too many pieces of your life’s jigsaw puzzle, you’ll probably pick up a few in here.

5. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, 238 pages
Wow. What can I say? Heart-pounding, blood pressure rising, get-up-and-go kind of inspiration. I don’t even remember the details of the book anymore, but just thinking about it gets my heart racing.
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(3) SCIENCE

1. Genome by Matt Ridley, 368 pages
When I used to be into genetics, my brother got me this book for my birthday. Man, did I love it. The subtitle says it all: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters.

2. Red Queen by Matt Ridley, 416 pages
Another great pop science book by the inimitable Matt Ridley. If you’re interested in evolution, I highly suggest you pick up a copy.

3. Sperm Wars by Robin Baker, 400 pages
This book makes you a bit paranoid about cuckoldry, but I was never one to avoid taking the red pill.

4. The Biology of Belief by Bruce H. Lipton, 240 pages
This is quite a good attempt at reconciling science and the soul. I don’t agree with the conclusion that the author deduces, but he did put me on the path that would ultimately shape my own beliefs on the matter.

5. Neuroscience by Mark Bear, 855 pages
Ok ok, I know this is a textbook, but I really couldn’t help myself. By far, it is the most enjoyable textbook I have ever read and I give it most of the credit for switching my university major from Genetics to Neuroscience.
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(4) PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION

1. The Warrior Within by Bruce Lee (John Little), 240 pages
Did you know Bruce Lee was a philosopher? Neither did I. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

2. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, ~100 pages
Extremely dense, this book is a collection of aphorisms. I would not recommend reading the book in one sitting, but maybe 1-2 aphorisms a day, allowing sufficient time for each one to percolate throughout your mind.

3. Bhagavad Gita by Ved Vyasa (Stephen Mitchell), 224 pages
What a pleasant surprise this was! I recommend the Stephen Mitchell translation for this book, although I do not recommend his horrendous translation of the Tao Te Ching.

4. Letters from a Stoic by Seneca (Robin Campbell), 254 pages
Warm, engaging prose illustrating the thoughts of a stoic. If I didn’t know these letters were written during the time of ancient Rome, I could have almost mistaken them for having been written in contemporary America. Timeless advice.

5. The Holy Bible, ~1100 pages
From The Great Gatsby to The Matrix, if you haven’t read this, you’re missing out on a ton of Biblical allusions. My only advice would be to do your research before buying–not all versions are created equal.
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(5) FICTION

1. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, 1008 pages
I devoured it in 3 days. After finishing, I remember an incredible sense of melancholy for having to leave the walls of its pages.

2. The King Must Die by Mary Renault, 338 pages
I love mythology, especially Greek mythology. And I love realism. This is a credible rendition of the myth of Theseus.

3. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart, 494 pages
Another ‘credible’ rendition of a myth, this time about Arthurian legend.

4. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, 224 pages
One of only 3 books that were required reading during my compulsory education that I actually enjoyed. Simple, fun, and relatable.

5. The Iliad by Homer (Robert Fagles), 704 pages
Did I mention I love mythology? Especially Greek Mythology? Among the big 3 (The Iliad, the Odyssey, and The Aeneid by Virgil), this was my favorite. In case you didn’t know, Homer practically invented the world ‘epic’.
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Ok, that’s all for now. Feel free to leave your own recommendations below in the comments section. I’m always looking for more books to read.

A. T. Bui