Do you love to read amazing books? So do I!
Do you have any time to read all of these books? Neither do I!
There are a million-billion-quadrillion books to read in this world, but not enough time -- especially with all of the stresses of college finals beating at your noggin with a bag of dense, and ever so boring, textbooks.
Every trip taken to a Barnes & Noble always begins with you thinking that you will walk in a martyr, and walk out a productive human being with severe intent and thirst for knowledge. I do it every time. I walk in an ignorant human, and I have a holly-jolly skip out the door feeling like I could become the next Gandhi after reading the 26 new books that I just bought while simultaneously clearing out my bank account from all the purchases. Then, as I walk in through the doors of my humble abode, the books make their sad descent to the pile of already forsaken books, scattered on the bedroom floor along with the neighboring undergarments of the past week.
These poor books face a horrible fate every time they are taken off the shelves and brought into my home and homes of other humans that face the same dilemmas. The only time to truly read all the books you want is when all of your school obligations are thrown in the gutter for Winter and Summer Break. So for this upcoming Winter Break, I present to you the top five books I wish to read in that short month.
1. "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World" by Adam Grant
In this book, author Adam Grant introduces the idea of individualism through the practice of abstract intellectual thoughts and social behaviors. He advocates for the rejection of conformity and acceptance of originality. He provides some examples of people in history that are considered revolutionaries of their time.
When I picked up this book, it took me away just by the title covering. "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World." How could you not want to grab the book by it's binding and read all of its contents? I want to see what his ideas are on embracing originality and if I can take a few new steps to defy conformity. Especially with all of the swirling truths and lies in the media on our television sets, I'd like to learn how to proudly state my original opinion on pressing matters.
2. "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo
I really, really need to read this book. I don't know how many times I'm looking for a pair of socks and find a mismatched bunch that all smell like three day old soda and corn chip farts.
My biggest clutter issue is clothes and shoes -- second is books, third is paper, fourth is hair products and jewelry. I need to get my life together.
According to Kondo, she claims that she has a "revolutionary category-by-category system," versus the "room-by-room" or "little-by-little approach." I have only read the first 10 pages of the book due to excessive procrastination, and have yet to declutter my life and find the prosperity that it promises me. Hopefully it's a good read.
3. "The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart" by Robert W. Bly
This book contains 1,200 words that it will teach me in order to be accepted into society as a well-learned scholar. Skimming through the pages, I found quite a bundle of exceptional words that I might like to use on the daily, such as:
Quisling - A traitor; a person who conspires with the enemy
Grouse - To complain or grumble about one's situation
Sublime - Reaching new levels of quality and perfection unduplicated elsewhere; of such immense beauty that the viewer's breath is taken away, metaphorically speaking.
Once I learn all of these words, you will see such a huge improvement in my writing that you might accuse me of stealing valuable intellectual property. When in all actuality, I have tattooed these words onto my arms and breasts.
4. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey
Let's be real -- I'm not an effective person. Never am I ever an effective human being. I procrastinate until my eyes start bleeding and I cry over every sad little fox that cries in a Disney movie. As you can tell from the previous books, I'm aiming to become a fully-functioning adult, if that's actually a thing.
In this book, Covey presents you with seven life-changing behaviors that will make you a better human. I read the first 30 pages, then put the book down after it asked me to start listening to people more -- which I've been trying to do since I purchased the book three years ago. I've gotten better, but I'm still as stubborn as an ox.
5. "Female Choices: Sexual Behavior of Female Primates" by Meredith F. Small
Currently, I'm 90-something pages into the book. I had to stop reading it because of finals. Hopefully it's not overdue at the library. I haven't checked it yet.
From what I've read so far, the author states that female primates have a strategy that varies between species and/or cultural groups on how to attract males. I read one section that explains the phenomenon of "friend zoning," and how they studied this behavior amongst Japanese Macaques. I think it's a good read and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in primate behavior. Fun fact: humans are primates (all the more reason to read the book).
Will I actually have time to read all of these books? Probably not. Who does? But for what it's worth, it's never bad to aspire to learn more, to grow more, and to be more through books.
