"I walked into walls as a child because I couldn’t put a book down.m
I missed the school bus at the bus stop because I was obsessed with getting to the novel’s climax/anti-climax, much to my working mother’s dismay.
"I’d sniff the pages of a new novel without a shred of shame. The kind of kid that would pass up television for a good ‘ole book. The kind of kid that would make use of everyone’s library card at home, and relish at the thought of going to the library instead of a party."
TYI leaders would like to see more people reading and buying books, hence we’ve compiled a list of exciting books that will aid your aspiring self on your journey towards fulfillment and self actualisation.
List of TYI leaders' favourite books:
Farai "Healer" Mubaiwa chose 'Sweet Medicine' by Panashe Chigumadzi
“It is empowering reading a novel created by a fellow young African feminist. Panashe explores the complexities of young woman as we navigate in a society that is constructed for our downfall,” says Farai
'Sweet Medicine' takes place in Harare at the height of Zimbabwe’s economic woes in 2008. Tsitsi, a young woman, raised by her strict, devout Catholic mother, believes that hard work, prayer and an education will ensure a prosperous and happy future. She does well at her mission boarding school, and goes on to obtain a scholarship to attend university, but the change in the economic situation in Zimbabwe destroys the old system where hard work and a degree guaranteed a good life.
Jacques "Disruptor" van Embden
leaned towards a more "philosophical" genre. He chose 'Starts with Why' by Simon Sinek, because “It's where you have to start.”
'Starts with Why' covers how great leaders inspire everyone to take action.
Kirtanya " Healer" Lutchminarayan
took the intellectual route with A. Parthasarathy's 'The Fall of the Human Intellect', "because we need to to move away from herd instinct and think & question more.”
'The Fall of the Human Intellect' is the first title in an ordered series of nine written works by A. Parthasarathy, and recommended as a “first read” introduction to Vedanta philosophy. Stress, depression, disease in individuals and militancy, vandalism, terrorism in societies is threatening humanity with extinction.
Aimee "Disruptor" Barrett-Theron
chose tennis champ Roger Federer's life story 'Roger Federer: The Greatest', written by Chris Bowers.
It's both a biography and autobiography – For several years, tennis aficionados wondered whether they could really call Roger Federer the greatest ever tennis player. In 2009, Federer ended that debate by completing his collection of career Grand Slams and overtaking Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 14 major titles. With his olympic gold medal from 2008, Federer is now recognised as the greatest tennis player and has achieved legendary status in the wider sporting world.
TYI editor, Saajida Francis,
opted for a timeless classic, Paulho Coelho's 'The Alchemist'. 'The Alchemist' is an allegorical novel, The Alchemist follows a young Andalusian shepherd in his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. The story is a modern retelling of the old classic, The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream. Over the years there have been film and theatrical adaptations of the work and musical interpretations of it.
“Books altered the lens I looked through, books taught my heart how to articulate the language of love and pain, books heightened the colours of life and its possibilities,” Saajida said.