Leaders are Readers – 10 must read Classics!

One of my goals at the start of the year was to read more good old-fashioned books. Specifically, works of classic literature. Having started on this journey, I can tell you that it’s been extremely rewarding and well worth sharing. 
I’ve compiled ten timeless novels which I believe are essential reading for all. These books are of unparalleled prose, packed with wit and wisdom capable of igniting a new understanding of the world. I hope you enjoy it. 

And without further ado, here is my top 10: 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – An all time classic! A moving tale of race and class in the 1930’s Deep South. A struggle for justice against not just hostility and hypocrisy but prejudices of all kinds. This has become one of the top selling books of all time, selling over 30 million copies. 

1984 by George Orwell – A classic dystopian novel which is widely acclaimed for its portrayal of society under a surveillance regime. Written in 1949, this book introduced terms such as ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Orwellian’ in to the public speak. What uncanny foresight.

The Art of Reading

Reading is not an activity reserved simply for the literary connoisseurs amongst us. As students and children most of were exposed to the likes of CS Lewis, Kipling or even Shakespeare. I remember reading the ‘Famous Five’ stories by Enid Blyton when I was young and how exciting those adventures were. 

In today’s age of internet, video games and cable television, reading seems to have lost its appeal. Tastes are changing along with the times. We are living in an Attention Age, with its influx of social media and an abundance of information. Maybe that has something to do with it. 

I came across a dismal statistic recently which stated that over 34% of people in the UK claim not to have read a single book in the previous year. Isn’t it time we change this statistic?

A Poem from ODB

I like to read Our Daily Bread (see here for more info) and today’s poem was pretty good so I thought I’d share it with all of you:

Success is in the Attitude

My childhood evolved from the East End of London, an area often synonymous with crime, poverty and inequality. A salad bowl of multiculturalism though it’s done nothing to halt the mushrooming divide between the rich and poor. 

It is here I learnt the real value of education. It never failed to dawn on me that it was the key to break through the ills of our society. Education opens the doors of opportunity that no other skill can provide. I credit its influence in laying the foundation for my own development. 

If education is the building block of social mobility then attitude is surely its cement. It impressed upon me the importance of having goals and ambition. Prosperity is as much a state of mind as of economics.

‘Let your light shine’

One of the driving forces behind the conception of this blog was a thirst to make a positive contribution in our society.

It’s been said before that it’s not who we are but what we do that defines us. Each of us has the means to make a real change today. By cultivating our talents, we help make ripples of difference in the lives of others.

To better the world we live in, we must first better ourselves. If we are to reach the promise of our potential, we must move away from our fears and inhibitions. To grow, sometimes we must leave our safety zone, our nest of comfort. To fly, we must spread our wings and soar to new heights with faith and courage.

So let us walk this journey together, to inspire, rekindle and inflame anew the light of those around us. The lamp we light for others will also brighten our own path.

I’d like to share a clip from the film ‘Coach Carter’. It echoes a powerful sentiment, that is – we’re all meant to shine!