Ever since I was little, I have loved the effect of books. They can make us realize things in forms we can't necessarily get outside of the fantasy or other reality they often have us envision. As a college student soon entering their last year of school, on top of currently undergoing the craziest adventures in life by far, I find it an insightful opportunity to be able to reflect on my life, as well as grow, from books. After all, they are all useful for us to some degree, but out of all the books I've read; there are only a couple that really stood out to me, which I still remember in great detail years later, and helped me grow in some aspects.
Watership Down: While the idea of a book about talking bunnies seems playful and plainly for fun, this read actually displays leadership skills, conveys the hardship of a government system, and can even includes very relatable social issues. It encouraged me to go towards my instincts, no matter how hard the path it entails may be. Richard Adam's Watership Down helped me get through a hard transition in my life, and made me realize that your life can change and challenge you in ways you never imagined, at any given moment.
The Universe in a Nutshell: This book deeply broadened my scientific imagination, more so than some information-packed science courses I have taken. It encouraged me to think in-depth into the biggest mysteries of the universe, some of which I never even considered, and amazed me with incredible facts I haven't heard of anywhere else. As fun as this book is important, this masterpiece by Stephen Hawking outlines many importances we have to consider in life, and which are essential to know regardless of whether or not we're into science. The ideas in it made me think about how many possibilities lay out there, which I think is fascinating as we reside in a world beyond our understanding.
The Hobbit: While J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Series really triggered my wildest imaginations, it was actually 'The Hobbit' that I found more relatable. From being a leader among those you don't feel you fit in with, to being a bigger person when you least want to; 'The Hobbit' portrayed adapting to tough situations and changing yourself for the better. Being a strong person and pushing yourself past your limits, even when you're unsure of the outcome. Being in college, and going towards a path I am sometimes unsure about--really made me relate to the book. 'The Hobbit' is a great way to see the importance of taking risks while discovering your capabilities in the process.
To Kill a Mockingbird: I have always thought this book is as essential read for everyone, because it's crucial to overcome false perceptions, and to understand what really matters in life. We constantly have to make tough decisions, but they aren't always easy to make when there are also factors among us that may influence us to unknowingly make the wrong decisions. We are also exposed to the big challenge of standing up for ourselves, when no one else agrees with us. Through relationships, accepting that bad things happen to us, not being judgemental but not blind-sighted either; this book teaches us many of the most valuable lessons in life.
Harry Potter: When I first read Harry Potter in 4th grade, I remember how exciting and mysterious the adventures were. Reading it as a college student is still those, plus an entirely different experience. For one thing, Harry Potter is more relatable in college, since the characters in it are away from home, facing harder challenges that deal with relationships, finding yourself, responding to difficult situations, even conceptual difficulties, and experiencing loss, fear, and defeat. Each character in the series teaches us different lessons, and each one exposes the truth of both good and evil traits. What's truly amazing about the series is that the whole world it conveys is so entirely different from ours, with characters that live completely different lives, yet we can still relate to them on so many levels. And in our muggle world, we are much more similar to one another than we think, even if they don't seem to relate to us at all. Even having powers beyond our imagine can't prevent negative factors that come with life; which is interesting to know and apply to our lives when we sometimes feel hopeless.
Disrupt Aging: This one may be entirely different from what most people my age read. It deals with ageism, and aging itself. Written by a senior citizen, the author outlines how different your life becomes once you're 50. For me, reading this book was like looking way into my future, and getting insight about how different your life really becomes, as well as how similar it is in some aspects. It really changed my perspective, being as young as I am, on aging and growing as a person. It's not possible for us to feel what older citizens feel like later in life, but this book is as close as we can get, and it helps us reflect on all we've accomplished so far. Furthermore, it reminds us that it's never too late to find a new purpose in life, and discover our true calling.
Maus: While this is downright one of the scariest, and saddest books I have read, Maus completely changed my outlook on every single part of my life. Portraying the life of a real holocaust survivor using cartoon mice, the author creates an extremely elaborate, and powerful way of showing us an important piece of history, while challenging our own perceptions of what's good and bad in life. Our brains naturally try to either forget, or cover up extremely sad things in the world; but it's essential to understand the true dangers of our world, while learning to appreciate ours more.
It's incredible how much books can change our outlook on life, and where we've come so far in it. When we're at the most challenging, exciting, and different part of our lives, it can be fascinating to escape to another reality, while still being able to reflect on our own to some extent. I think everyone, bookworm or not, should dwell into the world of books, and get some lessons and perspectives from fictional worlds we may not be able to get in real life.
