I decided to re-read this book to start off my year. Published in 1903, the author argues that thoughts shape a person’s character and circumstances: ‘you become what you think’.Advice for young men on purity, chastity and manliness.With its self explanatory title, I found it quite useful for time management, the bane of my life.Published in 1964, a forceful book on Christian living and morality.Short meditations based on the teachings of Saint Jose MariaQuite an insightful book.The author argues persuasively on how different the world would be by 2050, mostly driven by the rapid and uncontrolled expansion of technology. He made these predictions in 2018; replacement of jobs by AI, mass lay-offs, migration crisis etc, and as early as the 2020s, we already see them happening.I stumbled upon this book one day in the library and the title caught my attention. A paragraph from the last chapter reads,‘But a warning for people who rely on their occupation entirely for their emotional nourishment. What happens come retirement, or if the job ends abruptly when the company either collapses or makes them redundant? Suddenly the great bulwark of their life is swept away and they are left alone and bereft’.I recall reading this book in my childhood and the inspiration it gave me then. For the exact same reason, I decided to re-read it in 2025. I think for eternity, the story of Ben Carson will continue to inspire many.Perhaps the book that left the biggest impression on me in 2025. I was already skeptical about what we call food these days anyway and I hold a conspiracy theory that the spike in developmental problems such as autism and other congenital diseases is diet related. After reading the book, I definitely became more conscious of what I eat.Another book I stumbled upon while in the library, and ordered on Amazon on the spot. Sadly, it turned out to be a catchy title for an underwhelming write-up. On many occasions, the author completely veered off topic and I constantly had to recheck the title to confirm I got the correct book. At times, it wasn’t clear if the author was writing a biography, or was being a black activist, or a gay rights activist.Published in 1932. First chapter, first line: ‘I wish to clear up some points which often, I find, remain confused, and cause thus an unhealthy back-to-the-mind in many a man. You are a man, and not an angel, and you will never be‘.I bought this book in solidarity with the author after he was detained for supposedly defaming Aare Afe Babalola in the book. After reading it (disappointingly poorly written by the way), I understood why Afe Babalola went after him and completely agree he must face the music.A very educative book on marriage and family, especially regarding the Catholic church’s doctrines on those topics.Another compelling book on the very important topic of confession, which I found very illuminating.Undoubtedly my worst read of the year, coming from a self-professed student of the Chinua Achebe school of arts. A collection of some essays and speeches he delivered in the 60s-80s which I found uncharacteristically unenchanting, unlike ‘The Education of a British-protected Child’. And finally, my most insightful book of the year. The author, a renowned psychologist posits that the major problem of mankind is loneliness, arguing that the loss of a sense of community has led to a state of anxious individualism, bordering on neurosis. Guess what? He wrote the book in 1953!
