Find your next uplifting read in this personal list of self-help books curated for a brighter, more grounded year.
Every year, I make a book list. It is a kind of ritual for me, a way to start out the new year. When making such a list, I do not look at the current bestsellers or what is trending on social media. Instead, I ask for advice. Whether it be some of my closest friends, or a bookseller nestled in a tiny bookstore, I have always found the greatest of books through the recommendation of someone else.
I have compiled such a list for you, dear readers. A list of books that kept me grounded last year and changed me for the better. The world is overwhelming sometimes. It is loud, noisy, and fast. As a philosopher by training and a former bookseller, I have always turned to reading in these times of anxiety. Books are both my escape and my courage; they help me forget the world briefly and give me the strength to brave it again.
One of the principles I live by is to stay open-minded. I have had the privilege of sharing knowledge from all corners of the world, from Japan to the Middle East, from the Nordics to Indigenous philosophies. These books are not affiliated in any way; they are recommendations purely from me to you, from one booklover to another.
Each of these reads has marked me. Every time I finish the last page, the thoughts stay with me, in my mind and my heart, and I can only hope they will do the same to you.
So, without further ado, here is my short, personal list of ‘Books That Are Actually Useful to Read This Year.’
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
A gentle read that reminds us to savour every last moment and learn how to be present in ordinary moments and actions. South Korean writer Haemin Sunim eases readers into finding the beauty in nuance and overall appreciating the impermanence of life. After finishing The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, I found myself becoming more observant and grateful for regular things, like sunshine on a winter’s day, or a stranger smiling as they pass me on the street.
The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way by Francesc Miralles and Héctor García
Through reading this book, I was introduced to the Japanese concept of ichigo ichie, roughly meaning ‘one meeting, one chance’ or ‘one time, one life’. This book will demonstrate how every moment is unique and fleeting, like snowflakes that fall and melt on your fingertips. There is beauty in things not lasting, but it means we must appreciate the moments as they happen, and never forget to live in the present.
Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton
Kempton’s exploration into the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, the art of embracing imperfection and simplicity, was one of my favourite reads. Wabi Sabi revealed to me the beauty in flaws, and is a philosophy that quietly rebels against a world focused on constantly consuming and chasing perfection.
Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki
Natsume Sōseki’s 1914 masterpiece is a modern classic in Japanese literature, following the meeting of a young university student and an older man who is referred to as ‘Sensei’. It is both powerful and remarkable how well Sōseki explores sensitive and complex topics with honesty and empathy, and one of the books that I resonated with the most deeply.
Everyday Ubuntu by Mungi Ngomane
This book on the African philosophy of Ubuntu emphasises the value of community and shared connection. Humans are social creatures, and Ubuntu highlights our strength in being together and caring for our community. Ubuntu refers to an idea that “I am because we are”, meaning that our identities are formed by our communities, and is a powerful reminder to care for those around us.
The Essential Rumi Translated by Coleman Barks
I had always heard the Persians had the most beautiful poetry, and I learnt this first-hand whilst reading The Essential Rumi. Rumi was a 13th-century poet and Sufi mystic who is renowned for his moving and lyrical poetry. The expert translation by Coleman Barks gently guards the poems’ meanings whilst allowing English speakers to appreciate Rumi’s life lessons and observations on the human experience.
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
The Danish concept of hygge has been sweeping the architecture, philosophy, and well-being worlds, and is explained in this fantastic book by Meik Wiking. In the midst of a busy world, I needed a sign to value my own comfort and appreciate simple moments of togetherness. I learnt, through reading, that hygge was so much more than lights and warm blankets, and was a read that stayed with me long after I had finished the last page.
Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living by Linnea Dunne
Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living explores that feeling of finding just the ‘right’ amount. As well as philosophical advice, this book is a practical guide to decluttering your life and your mind and finding mindfulness in moderation.
Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage by Joanna Nylund
The title speaks for itself – this is a book about courage, about Sisu. In the world we live in today, I find we sometimes need the courage just to keep our heads up and continue. I try my best to live by what I believe in, and reading this book allowed me to find focus and integrity in every choice I make.
The Power of Nunchi by Euny Hong
Hong perfectly captures nunchi, the Korean art of understanding others’ thoughts and feelings. Nunchi is in all the little things: noticing the tiny aspects of social interactions, and learning to be aware of the way other people feel. The Power of Nunchi is a masterclass in becoming socially mindful and beginning to notice everyday social nuances.
The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking
Author Meik Wiking deserves a second book on this list simply because of his skilful expansion on the values of hygge, through taking readers on a trip around the world. Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute and explores cultural practices from all over the planet to find the key ways we can influence our well-being and happiness. Although I have many goals in life, happiness will always be one of my top priorities, which is why this book had to make the list.
Reading is vital to my life and my perception of the world, and I know that this is a passion I share with all of you. These books are not a replacement for the genres you always read, but rather to provide a kind of toolkit for living each day with intention and authenticity.
I wish you a wonderful and literature-filled year ahead, full of hope, resilience, and the hunger to always learn more.
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Vincent Phan
Vincent is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 1000 Libraries Magazine. He is a Paris-born ex-corporate turned bookseller and philosopher, on a global mission to spread the joy of physical books in our age of digital technology.
