Does anyone ever feel that they don’t read enough anymore?! Like, proper reading? Besides emails, Instagram captions and the news headlines. Every time I get lost in a great book, I vow to do so more often. The ultimate form of escapism - and often, learning - it really does have to be one of the great pleasures in life, yet it's so easy for our To Read pile to slip to the bottom of our To Do pile.
And not only is it good for our minds, reading can actually make us better leaders - here are five reasons every leader should be a reader:
1. Reading makes us better THINKERS. It’s one of the most efficient ways to acquire information and leaders need a lot of general information to keep perspective and seize opportunities.
2. Reading upgrades our people skills. It can help us better identify with people and boost our emotional IQ.
3. Reading improves our COMMUNICATION. Combined with improved emotional IQ, reading expands our vocabulary to choose persuasive words and motivate behaviour.
4. Reading helps us RELAX. Its proven to lower stress levels, which is an ongoing struggle for today’s leaders.
5. Reading keeps us YOUNG. It has been proven to help prevent dementia and sharpen our mental capacity in later years.
I've rediscovered my love for reading lately (a looming dry January and no WiFi for 3 weeks over Christmas helped lol!) and have definitely got the bug again... if you haven't picked up a book for a while, I highly recommend carving out the time to do so. Put your phone on silent, switch off Netflix or go to bed half an hour earlier - it really is so worth it.
Here are five fantastic reads to get you started.
The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell
Master of chilling suspense, Lisa Jewell brings us the can’t-look-away story of three entangled families living in a house with the darkest of secrets. A captivating, unsettling and atmospheric psychological thriller about dysfunctional family dynamics.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris
A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
This is Going to Hurt - Adam Kay
A first-hand account of life as a junior doctor in all its joy, pain, sacrifice and bureaucracy, and a love letter to those who could one day be holding our lives in their hands. A genuinely funny collection of stories and a unique insight into the NHS - heart warming, hilarious and devastating all at once. (Probably not one for the squeamish).
The Heart's Invisible Furies - John Boyne
Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do, eccentric Dublin couple, Cyril is anchored by his heartfelt friendship with glamorous and dangerous Julian Woodbead. An intensely emotional, mesmerising family saga told over seven decades and brimming with live, joy, pain and forgiveness.
The New Fashion Rules - Victoria Magrath
If you fancy a slightly lighter read, this is a fascinating insight into the constantly evolving world of fashion and social media by one of the most influential bloggers around, Victoria Magrath aka In the Frow. Right up my street for obvious reasons and I nod along and smile every time I pick it up - a great coffee table book to dip in and out of.
A few others that I love include:
Bill Bryson, The Body – This is a massively fascinating book on how our body works, down to the cellular level. (I have had to read certain chapters and paragraphs over and over again, because it does get detailed, but it is truly awesome and makes me want to go back and study medicine or biology all over again)
Michelle Obama, Becoming – Read this and join the ‘Michelle for President’ movement!
Fashionopolis, Dana Thomas – Get woke on fast fashion and the climate crisis. Scary biscuits!
Liver Detox, Anthony William (The Medical Medium). Another fascinating one. I am a wee bit obsessed with @medicalmedium on Instagram – and if you want to kick start your health or help yourself heal from inflammation or illness, his advice is a great starting point.