This post will be challenging because there are captivating books out there. I have read some books recently, but three stood out. One pioneer book that addressed the ills of colonialism in Africa was Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The book describes in detail how African societies fell apart with the coming of colonialism. If you are conversant with my blog, you will notice that most Igbo proverbs and wit blog posts do not conclude without mentioning Achebe’s works.

Another book that made me reflect profoundly is Perception and Deception: A Mind-Opening Journey Across Cultures by Joe Lurie, former director of International House. I recommend this book because it taught me to be open-minded when dealing with people from different cultures. The book unpacked real-life experiences and examples of intercultural exchanges with excellent storytelling, elaborating on understanding and dealing with differences when cultures clash.

Last but not least is Schwarzenegger’s newest book, Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life. I admire the author’s courage, resilience, and hard work; and the book summarizes these qualities. I pre-ordered Be Useful before it even came in print. The author told his story—setbacks, challenges, and eventual wins, rising from nothing to becoming one of the greatest names in the bodybuilding and cinema world. He became a former governor of America’s pioneer state—California. How did he do it? It’s all detailed in the book.

There are many books I would love to include on the list, but these three are my champions for now.