6 Books Everyone Should Give A Read In Their Spare Time

Reading is a lifelong skill that enables you to have a greater understanding of the world around you. Whether you are reading historical romance novels, satire, mystery, or science fiction, books introduce you to new characters, cultures, and ideas.

Focusing entirely on work and routine tasks at all times may seem like the quickest route to getting things done; however, this will burn you out in the long term and may even prevent you from developing new skills. You need to balance this by using your spare time to do the things that help you develop as an individual. Reading books can help relieve stress, put things in perspective, and ignite your creativity.

Finding a good book to read is a lot like sorting out diamonds mixed with charcoal and it’s tough to tell which one is worth your time. To save you the effort, here is a list of six books you can read in your spare time to escape into an entirely new world and open your mind.

1.To Kill a Mocking Bird – Harper Lee

Published in 1960, this American novel won the Pulitzer Prize for the warmth and humor it offers, despite portraying serious issues like racial inequality. Set in the author’s native land of Alabama, this book sums up an artless tale of pride and shame that is central to the Southern United States.

Nearly 55 years after it was published, this novel was one of the first to come out as an ebook because it’s a curricular centerpiece to examine the themes of discrimination and racism. This book is American literature at its finest and provides great examples of fatherly love through its main character, Atticus Finch. You will discover a unique lesson each time you read this novel.

2.The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity – Julia Cameron

The Artist’s Way is a guide to awaken your inner creativity so that you can live a content life. In this book, the author establishes a connection between artistic creativity and a spiritual link with the Almighty. The idea of creative personality development is outlined in the book through real-life examples. This book will help you find purpose in your life and unshackle your mind from the monotony of the routine.

If you want to realize your full potential and gain more control over your life, you must read this seminal book. If you are going through a tough time, this book will help you get rid of self-destructive behavior, insecurity, and vulnerability. To really unleash your creativity, try reading this international bestseller.

3.Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air is a non-fictional account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. The climbing of Mt. Everest in 1996 was one of the deadliest misadventures in the history of mountaineering, with the death of eight mountaineers.

Jon Krakauer, an author, a journalist, and a mountaineer, was writing a book on Mt. Everest when he ended up in the middle of a devastating blizzard. He was a member of this ill-fated expedition and survived to write about it. In this book, he narrates a remarkable tale and the ordeals that mountaineers go through to achieve their goal in the face of death.

You will find this novel interesting because it explores management principles like situational leadership, team leadership, and decision-making ability. You can use this work to develop your own leadership competency.

4.The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby is a fictional story that revolves around a fictional town called “West Egg” on Long Island. This great American literary work is a love story, a mystery, and a rags-to-riches account of Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel. Jay is a young and mysterious millionaire, who is passionately in love with Daisy Buchanan.

Though this book was written in 1925, it will help you explore a variety of themes like corruption, resistance to change, social turmoil, and idealism, which are relevant to the present times. In more ways than one, this book is a solemn treatment of the American Dream – the idea of a self-made man, the height of success, and financial independence leading to freedom, security, and happiness.

Lessons from The Great Gatsby remain relevant in the present age as the book offers complicated characters that can be understood in fresh perspectives. You will absolutely love this dark version of a classic love story, which is based on pursuing and rediscovering past love.

5. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln – Doris Kearns Goodwin

This book is a biographical portrait of former U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet. Though several books about Lincoln line library shelves, this book has novel managerial lessons to share about the 16th American President. Published in 2005, this book is Goodwin’s bestselling account of President Abraham Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War.

President Lincoln’s strategy of building a team composed of his rivals gives directions to business leaders, who are grappling with similar turbulent situations.

6. Lord of Scoundrels – Loretta Chase

Lord of Scoundrels is one of those novels, which will remain in your thoughts long after you have finished reading the book. It is a must-read if you are a romantic at heart because it is an excellent reminiscent of that fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast.

Jessica Trent, the strong and independent heroine, desires to rescue her brother who is under the destructive influence of Dain – the ‘beast’ who is notorious for his debauchery. The story revolves around Jessica’s determination to save her brother, but eventually reveals her discovery of Dain’s ‘inner side.’

This romantic novel will make you fall in love with it and you will want to read it repeatedly.

Within those ink-laced pages lies a world that is awaiting you with characters you have never known, and cultures and ideas that you are yet to explore. When you have some free time, spend it familiarizing yourself with the authors’ frame of mind. You will be surprised at losing yourself in their world for countless hours. The aforementioned books may not totally change your world, but will expand your thinking as you flip through the pages. They are highly recommended for reading in leisure time.