5 Books Everyone Should Read

In my Humble Opinion 😅

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If you know me, you know the first book already. Let’s not beat about the bush:

1. The Bible

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I might have just lost a chunk of my readership by putting the Bible first on this list. If anything, I consider the polarizing nature of this book (or collection of books, if we’re being very specific) a testament to the authentic power of the words it contains.

It is the highest-selling book of all time! Governments have banned it, kings have burnt it, sceptics have ridiculed it… and yet people the world over continue to attest to how it has changed their lives. It continues to stand head and shoulders above every other written piece of work.

Objectively, in the fight of statistics vs opinions, we know what wins. Read the Bible (a little at a time — I recommend starting with the Gospel of John) and then build your own opinions.

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People (by Dale Carnegie)

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I think this is one of the best books in existence on how to succeed in basic human relationships.

It reads like a how-to manual backed with convincing proofs and narratives. I know it’s good because every chapter left an effect I can only describe as “intuitive”. For example, when Dale says to smile in the book, my mind goes “duh”, because everyone should know this. However, we can all think of someone whose face put us off at some point because they just wouldn’t smile.

I know, I know, people have all kinds of defences for the “resting b*tch” face, but people are people, and a smile will open more doors for you than all the explanations we have to offer.

I can’t believe I’m about to quote Burna Boy, but…

“You go explain tire, no evidence.”

Smiling is just one of the lessons. Read the book.

3. Man in the Mirror (by Patrick Morley)

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I should be clear that this book is most useful for men. I am, after all, a man. For women, I hear that “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” by Elizabeth George is an excellent alternative.

Man in the Mirror is one of those books that reads you as you read it. After every chapter, I found myself asking, “How does this guy know so much about me?”

To put it simply, the book is wise. It is practical, it is forward-looking, and it simply makes sense. I think the title is very apt because each page shows you your own self in some way that makes you back up and rethink your choices and ideas. It is the type of book that makes men out of boys.

I highly highly HIGHLY recommend it for men, young and old alike.

4. Mere Christianity (by CS Lewis)

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This is my latest read. I finished reading it two days before starting work on this article.

CS Lewis has some of the best writing I have ever read. Period.

Mere Christianity is the best piece of writing I have read from CS Lewis to date. Do the math and imagine how good it is!

In this book, Lewis, a late-comer to Christ and former atheist, takes the central ideas of Christianity, breaks them apart, and rebuilds them piece by piece using the most interesting analogies and explanations.

“But Kwadwo”, you say, “I don’t care much about Christianity.”

Yes. That’s precisely why you should read this book. You will quickly realise why you should have started caring long ago.

Do I agree with everything in the book? Probably not, but that’s the beauty of the book: Lewis does not try to coerce the reader into agreeing with him, he just connects dots until you see a picture that was already there or the the picture that could be there, hiding in plain sight.

5. He Chose The Nails (by Max Lucado)

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I first read this book when I was a teenager, and I fell in love. I don’t think I fully realised what Jesus did on the cross for me until I read that book.

It was intense. The book oozes passion. It communicates your value while simultaneously stirring humility, because who are you that the Son of God willingly chose to suffer all that He did for you? How are you so loved and yet so unworthy?

In this book I saw a picture I could not unsee, and it was a major contributing factor to my moving from a fear of hell to a love for the God who cared enough to rescue me.

It has been over a decade, and I still remember what that book did inside of me. Trust me, you should get it. It does not tell you of God’s love, it shows you.

Aaaaaaand that’s it from me! If you don’t mind, could you share your list of good reads?

You will?

Cool! Thanks.

Oh, and don’t forget to clap sha.