Since my childhood, I had a special place in my heart for books. They had, after all, always been my companions. However, I was far from a bookworm. Most of the books I read (and appreciated) were non-fiction books, biographies, autobiographies and technology-related books. Two of my favorite books are Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

I do not like reading more than one book a month, for reading is not my hobby – I prefer reading one book slowly and understanding everything that it has on offer instead of going through as many books as I can get my hands on. I firmly believe that a good book needs – and deserves – a good reader. What is the point of reading something if we cannot internalize it and let it shape our attitude?

If numbers are anything to go by, my packed bookshelf is a testimony to the immense importance books have in my life. They give me the strength to make it through the tough times in life. Whenever I run into a problem, I have some book or the other invariably coming to my rescue. Right now, I am reminded of a well-known quote by Cicero:

A room without books is like a body without a soul.

I would go on to add that just reading a book is not enough; we must try and live by its teachings. I am never scared to give new things a try. I stick to the ones that work for me and discard the ones that don’t. That is how each and every book I read adds some value to my life. Isn’t that how it should be?

It should. Thank you for taking out the time to tell us your story, Nishant! It’s really nice to know how reading motivates you to aim for bigger things in life.

If Nishant’s story prompted you to tell us about yours, we are all ears. It is your chance to get published and inspire others. What are you waiting for?