Hope can be a powerful force, especially when the world continues to fight a deadly pandemic. It assures us of a better tomorrow and gives us the courage to go on. But when economies are crushed and millions of lives are lost, hope turns to despair. The good news is, while we sit at home, we can always turn to books for hope. For instance, in books that remind us sometimes things can go ugly, but eventually, love, togetherness, and hope always win.
According to the study, Reading Between the Lines: Reading for Pleasure, those who read have better self-esteem levels, coping strategies, and decision-making skills, and often view setbacks as a part of life that can be overcome easily. Dr Josie Billington, deputy director of the Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society, who worked on the research, says, “While it will not come as a surprise to many people that reading is good for us, the depth and breadth of the benefits of reading for pleasure to our emotional health, empathy and wellbeing are both illuminating and reassuring.”
2020 is coming to an end but the fight against the pandemic is not over yet. So, what better way to start 2021 than reading books that heal from within.
If you are wondering where to begin, here are 13 books that will fill your heart with hope and courage.
Unbowed: A Memoir, by Wangari Maathai
In Unbowed: A Memoir, Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement and winner of the Noble Peace Prize (2004) recollects her tumultuous journey from childhood when education wasn’t a priority for African girls, to her fight against governmental authorities to save acres of forest lands in Kenya. In her journey, she has played a strategic role in women’s empowerment. An inspiring narrative of how resilience and determination move mountains and hearts, this anecdote reflects the capitalist challenges faced and overcome by a woman of colour. An empowering story, Unbowed: A Memoir will leave you brimming with hope and belief that you can achieve anything in life.
Hope in the Dark, by Rebecca Solnit
Hope in the Dark is a collection of essays exploring hope in the midst of social justice movements. With a powerful argument and convincing writing, Solnit’s hopefulness is truly inspiring and contagious. As Rebecca writes, “To hope is to gamble. It’s to bet on your futures, on your desires, on the possibility that an open heart and uncertainty is better than gloom and safety. To hope is dangerous, and yet it is the opposite of fear, for to live is to risk.” One of the biggest lessons this book imparts is how we shouldn’t be afraid to celebrate small wins, even if the fight isn’t over.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
A highly popular book, The Book Thief is engrossing and heart-breaking at the same time. An unusual take on Holocaust, narrated by Death itself, this book tells the story of Leslie Meminger, a foster girl staying in Munich, Nazi Germany. It revolves around the coming of age of Leslie and her friends, the horrors they witness in their town—the food shortages and bomb droppings, the risk her family takes to harbour a Jew, to name a few. Amidst the chaos, Leslie is peculiarly drawn to books, her first one being discovered near her brother’s grave. Read her story that redefines grief and empathy, life and death, hope, and hopelessness.
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, by Albert Liebermann and Hector Garcia
Ikigai that literally translates to “a reason to jump out of bed each morning” is now a worldwide concept that originated in Japan, where it is believed that every person has an Ikigai, waiting to be found and nurtured. Through their book, which is now an international bestseller, Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles have attempted to share this wisdom with the rest of the world. The authors have shared this wisdom after speaking to several centenarians of the Okinawa island which translates to an implementable lifestyle rather than just a philosophy. A must-read book in the self-help genre, this book has also been endorsed by readers who have transformed their lives with Ikigai.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
An epistolary novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a delightful read. Speaking of the post-WWII era, when societies and communities were being rebuilt and books and publishing houses were inching back to prominence, this book talks about a community on a forgotten island of Guernsey that started a literary society as a lifesaving ploy but eventually came together to form one. The book stresses on how difficult times enable people to stand together and support each other.
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