YEY, we are more than halfway through the year! This is a perfect time to share the great books I have read.
But before doing so, let me deal with the question of why it is important to read.
I am dyslexic, which means that reading is not an easy thing for me.
Through years of discipline, l have made reading an indispensable part of my life. I have benefited immensely from this habit.
Reading books, quality newspapers and magazines has enriched my life.
I read extensively on current affairs, personal growth, leadership, management and technology.
This has aided my personal growth and expanded my horizons.
There are very few things I cannot discuss intelligently as a result of the broad literature l read.
I am an autodidact. For example, I am a successful journalist and yet I never attended a school of journalism.
My wife, Nyaradzo, reads far more than I do. She tends to read fiction for fun, enjoyment and relaxation. I battle to read fiction.
I read mainly for knowledge acquisition, critical thinking and personal growth.
One of the benefits I have noticed from years of reading is that my writing skills have improved exponentially.
I have become more confident and now enjoy writing, which used to be a challenge for me.
Not anymore.
Sadly, we live in a time where social media is ravaging our precious time.
Most of us claim not to have time to read and yet waste inordinate amounts of time on social media, particularly WhatsApp, reading fake news and inane and toxic material.
So many people engage in mindless scrolling which numbs minds.
The mindless scrolling robs society of creativity and critical thinking founded on facts.
This generation is the most uninformed even as it drowns in a glut of information.
To thrive in this information overload and post-truth age, discernment in what people read is essential.
Discernment comes from realising time is a precious resource and requires tremendous discipline and intentionality.
Misinformation is on an industrial scale with disastrous consequences that will be felt for generations.
Misinformation breeds ignorance, mistrust, division and confusion which cumulatively poison the essence of humanity and undermines democracy.
A vibrant society is engaged and seeks out verifiable information from reputable sources.
Below are the books that have impressed me over the past six months:
- , The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination by Stuart A Reid
- King Leopold’s Ghost, A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild
- The Coming Wave, AI, Power and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma by Mustafa Suleyman
- Hidden Potential and The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant
- The New China Playbook, Beyond Socialism and Capitalism by Keyu Jin
- Building the Life you Want and The Art and Science of Getting Happier by Arthur C. Brooks & Oprah Winfrey
- Right Kind of Wrong and Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson
I am old-fashioned. I only read physical books and never audio or eBooks.
I underline and highlight in the books and keep going back for inspiration, wisdom and new ideas.
I am grateful that I have passed my reading habit to many people and love the feedback from old and new readers.
From this week, we are launching the @TrevorBookClub WhatsApp group. Join us and let’s have fun sharing and discussing what we are reading.
Please pick up a book and start a habit of reading. Thank me later!
- Trevor Ncube is chairman of Alpha Media Holdings and host of ICWT
