Top NonFiction Books I Read in 2016 Part 1

As this year is closing down, I have decided to produce some lists under the title “Read in 2016” for you such that would have more trouble managing your TBR lists next year (*grin*). More titles to add to you to-read lists. Well that’s the whole intention of all book lists such as the Top Tens, and the Top Fives, of the year, to introduce you to books that , are the chances, you might have not read and I will try every ounce to convince to at least take look at the titles over Goodreads.com or Amazon and may be, add to your wishlist/TBR/to-read list.

This has become customary all over the internet. Every year at the end, I open various browser tabs and links in them which lead me to a specific amount of lists that carry those Top Tens and then I try to match with the list in accordance to the books I have read. I wholesomely failed this year, but have made additions to my TBR in cosmic amount which I am sure is going to expand over this lifetime. *Sigh*

This list picks up some NonFiction titles I think you should definitely take a look at:

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Some practical words of wisdom to configure life by a Roman Emperor. This text is pretty old yet convenient to read. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD. He is considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers and what we read today as Meditations is actually a personal notebook written by Marcus, for himself. He divided his work into 12 shorter volumes that comprise today the Meditations. One might question, what to learn from a man who is now a part of wandering dust, who is dead for almost 18 centuries? Wisdom. Wisdom is the crux of life.

In each of the 12 volumes, Marcus’ writing is clear as he describes the virtue of one’s life as a plot that progress as the essence of how universe as a whole works. In his journal, he reminds himself with understanding of universe is recursive in nature.

[Read Full Review]

Mastery by Robert Greene

In Mastery, Greene elaborates that Mastery is a process of gaining knowledge in the ways that are rational and in a field you are passionate about. He further goes on put emphasis on acquiring skills for your trade but that takes time and this entity is only available in limited amount. Only by acquiring skills necessary and devoting time, one can apply them with a balance between their intuitive and rational mind to create a dimensional mind.

I like Greene’s style of deciphering his own ideas and messages into words and illustrating it with storytelling.

On Anger by Seneca

On Anger is a book which is further divided into three books in which Seneca reflects how this passion, this feeling can make us endure for the rest of our lives. He describes anger as an emotion, “and under its possession any human being does remain not humane.” We have all felt anger, on various points. Sometimes it us, many a times it because of the others we think. Some follow it is quite pragmatically causing terror that reflect up on the rest of the humanity. Some just want to avenge on the injury they have become a victim to.

Man think himself injured, may wish to avenge his wrongs, and then may be persuaded by some reason or other to give up his intention and calm down. I do not call that anger, it is an emotion of the mind which is under control of reason.

[Read Full Review]

The Art of Creative Thinking by Rod Judkins

We are all capable of thinking creatively. Why? It gives better productivity, more satisfaction than the mediocre, and improves visualisation. Rod Judkins, the author of The Art of Creative Thinking, is a lecturer and an academic on the arts. But this certainly doesn’t mean one has to attend or get some modern education on attaining the creativity. There is no fountain of creativity to drink from.

On reading The Art of Creative Thinking, I observed from Chap 1, that Judkins knows what he is talking about. He quotes, he para-phrase, and he writes mostly about the obstacle one intends to face when suffering from lack of creativity and how to develop some cues and turn them into habits as you progress in your daily life. This is not a self help, or is concluded in that way, this is my conclusion. You can have yours once you are done with it. That’s why Judkins’ book is so special. It doesn’t conclude in a definitive manner and rather leave that part up to you.

[Read Full Review]

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is an antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected by society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.

Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better.

Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them.