My favorite books and how they changed me

They say that a book is equal to a thousand friends . I couldn't agree more with a statement . Reading books , especially fiction books has been known to make you more empathetic . It made me understand the people around me better , judge them less , sympathize with them , and connect with them more meaningfully . It also certainly challenged many of my prejudices. It helped me academically by developing my critical thinking skills , improving my concentration , my comprehension abilities and my memory retention . It has also improved my vocabulary and general English usage . I developed my reading habit early in my childhood ( at the age of 11 ) and it has served me well ever since. I started off with some engaging fictional books and later got into non-fiction books . But there were some selected few that have had the most positive influence on me . Initially my purpose behind reading was to improve my language skills. And as a result I dreaded reading. But later I came across a Youtuber who talked passionately about books . She loved reading so much that she made a career out of it .It made me contemplate about my reason to start reading . I got inspired by her and bought some fictional books in the young adult genre . Up until that point I couldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams that I could fall in love with reading . I think it would be an understatement to say that reading changed my life . It made me see for the the first time in my life that there's more to explore , more to feel than I have previously known . Some of the books that I read , shook me by the shoulders and made me acknowledge the potential that was lying dormant in me. It motivated me to see farther, dream bigger and work harder . It made me rethink my priorities and changed my worldview. Now let us start with the top 5 books that have had the most influence on me . ( 1 ) Radio silence My favorite quote from this book is : " I wonder - if nobody is listening to my voice , am I making any sound at all ? " This novel written by Alice Oceman explores the stories of two teenagers . Two teenagers who are brilliant at what they do but first must gather the courage to follow their heart and face their demons . The girl Frances is a study machine who neglects her own passions and succumbs to the pressure of societal expectations . Later she discovers her voice , her identity and her passions with the help of her friend . This book was emotionally gripping and it has taught me to appreciate the impact that people around me have had on me and be grateful for that . How people around us change our inner narrative and change us for the better . It inspired to discover my truth , follow my heart , discover my voice and realize my potential . ( 2 ) The code of the extraordinary mind Written by Vishen Lakhiani . My favorite quote from the book goes like this - " The people making you feel guilty for going your own way and choosing your own life are simply saying , ' Look at me I am better than you because my chains are bigger .' It takes courage to break those chains and define your own life ." The book illustrates a lot of different diagrams and models about how people who were odd , outliers , visionary , acted and lived their truth made the most difference . It taught me to celebrate the differences between me and other people rather than being afraid of them and letting them make me feel insecure . This books also talks about the importance of creating short- term and long - term goals . How the people who play it " safe " often don't make it big in their lives , and the people who take risks end up being a better version of themselves . ( 3 ) Fierce Fairytales and other stories to stir your soul This might as well be my most favorite book of all time . It is a poetry book written by Irish - Indian poetess Nikita Gill . My favorite poems from this book are the ' Trapped ' , ' Take Back Your Fairytale ' , ' Baba Yaga ' , 'Difficult Damsels ' , ' The Moral of Your story ' , ' Devour Your Monsters ' , Of Kings and Queens ' , and ' Question Your Fairytale ' This is also the most hard - hitting book in my bookshelf . Nikita is also my all time favorite author and poetess in the sense that she uses scientific facts in poetries , she reimagines the stories of queens and princesses , godesses and folktale heroines . Much of the inspiration behind HerStory goes to Nikita Gill . Her poems are raw , powerful and electrifying . She writes about misogyny , sisterhood , honoring your roots , How standing up for yourself is taught to be evil to girls , She twists the stories of damsels who need rescuing into princesses who can bring down monsters on their own .She helps the readers realize how we are all made up of magic. She has encouraged me to fight my own battles and gave me the courage to win them . How , contrary to the societal prejudices women grow more powerful with age and their wrinkles are just badges of honor . How ugly is a concept taught to women ( and only women ) to pit them against each other and just another strategy to divide and rule . How we as women should strive to be more than pretty ( because we already are pretty ). We just have to realize that it is a trillion dollar industry that would collapse if just realized that we are beautiful and worthy of all our dreams as we are . Just as the way we are . How we as society should focus on fostering sisterhood among young girls instead of envy . At this point I am actually thinking of getting this book laminated ! ( 4 ) The sun and her flowers A poetry book written by the Canadian - Indian poetess , activist and thinker Rupi Kaur . My first poetry book . My favorite poem from this book is the legacy - " i stand on the sacrifices of a million women before me thinking what can i do to make this mountain taller so the women after me can see farther ? " This is an emotionally - gripping book . It features poems on the strength of the women who made it out of their traumas and used their voice to make a difference . It made me realize how often the society makes women think that they are incapable , insufficient and unequipped to make a difference and pursue their passions . How we, as women already have everything within us to succeed . It helped me see and appreciate the strength inside me and other women . How breaking , grieving and losing are essential parts of the journey to becoming our most happiest , freest and authentic version of ourselves . ( 5 ) Untamed , Stop pleasing and Start Living Written by Glennon Doyle an American author and queer activist. I don't think that there can be a better description of the book than the one given by Dr . Brene Brown , another favorite author and activist of mine which goes like - " Some books shake you by the shoulders , while others steal your heart , Untamed does both at the exact same time : Wake up ! Love YOU ! " My favorite quote from the book has to be this - " When women lose themselves , the world loses its way . We do not need more selfless women . What we need right now is more women who have detoxed themselves so completely from the world's expectations that they are full of nothing but themselves . What we need are women who are full of themselves . A woman who is full of herself knows and trusts herself enough to say and do what must be done . She lets the rest burn . " At the end my purpose behind writing this book will only be fulfilled if you pick up any one book from the ones mentioned above and commit to reading them , letting them challenge your worldview and finally change you for the better. I hope you let the book that you choose guide you out of the darkness of ignorance and indifference into the warm light of revolution , freedom and responsibility . I hope you take it upon yourself to make this world a better and just place to breath , to live and to BE along with me and the many activists , one step , one word and one protest at a time.