Because let’s admit it, 2020 is too much!
2020 came with a bang and it’s definitely not yet done with its mind-blowing surprises. And it is no surprise that some of us might be looking for new perspectives and source of inspiration that will help them cope with all that is happening.
With that, here are some books that might give you new ideas and philosophies, and who knows? It might also help you navigate your life in a new, better direction.

Freedom the Courage to Be Yourself is written by Osho. American novelist Tom Robbins describes Osho as ‘the most dangerous man since Jesus Christ’ while the Sunday Times of London named him as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century.” This book will help you realize what is the meaning and real essence of freedom. Above all, this will challenge you if you’re really capable of handling the freedom you always wanted.

Manuscript Found in Accra, one of Paulo Coelho’s best-selling novels, it tackles different issues that fit all eras and all ages – from the definition of knowledge, our standard of beauty, to the true meaning of love, fate, and adventure. If you’re the type of reader who loves to highlight quotable phrases, be ready to highlight the whole book.

Authored by Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a one of a kind book on its genre. It elaborates the important lessons in life, the value of sharing, playing fair, cleaning up your own mess, living a balance life, and being grateful even on the simplest, smallest things. This book will bring you back to your childhood and will revive the missing piece of innocence we all seem to lose as we grow older.

Hear the Wind Sing is one of the first novels of Haruki Murakami that launched his career to be one of the most respected contemporary writers of today. Every writer or an artist can surely relate to this book of Murakami. This reflects the challenges and struggles in coming up with a well-thought craft, expressing your thoughts and feelings through arts ,and how having a reliable friend affects our lives.

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern, author of the best-selling novel, PS, I love You “is about a person who finds out who they are. About a person who is unraveled and whose core is revealed to all that counts.” This painful beautiful story will give you goose bumps just as you finished reading it. It will leave you thinking for hours, or maybe days and months of how you’ve used, and whom you spent your ‘gift’ with.

John Grisham’s The Rainmaker published in 1995 may be old but gold. The novel talks about the ever-booming societal issues of today, which we, for a short while, thought does no longer exist – racism, terrorism, death penalty, and of course, issues on human rights. This may also be a timely read not just for the citizens of the United States, but of the Philippines as well, thus the extra judicial killings.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is written by John Boyne and was published in 2006. The book was set in 1942 and deals mainly with innocence, friendship, and in between – violence and moral authority. The book will definitely play with your emotions and teach you a strong stance on treating people around you. Also gives a hint or two on how the universe comes back at you.
(All photos are from Google. This article is written with Almaine Pedraza)