Reading has always been a big part of my life. I think it’s a great form of an escape, education, entertainment and ways to make new connections. During the last two years, it’s sometimes challenging to read longer text so moving to audio books has been a reasonable step.

Recently, I have done a survey on my Instagram account asking whether people are interested in my reading list and there was an overwhelming demand. Here are the books I’ve read in the last two years. I picked a few out of these which I highly recommend.

Note: I do prefer non-fiction, so apologies if you are looking for feel-good, relaxing pieces.

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah has been a beautiful discovery. His early life story from the South African apartheid where his sole existence was, literally, a crime. He was born to a black mother and a white, Swiss, father. Something completely illegal in the SA during that time. It is an amazing tale of hardship, bravery and a love letter to his complicated mum.

We Are Bellingcat by Eliot Higgins is for anyone who is interested in investigative journalism and modern researching techniques like the use of open source, publicly accessible platforms such as the Google Street View, satellite images, social media and more. Bellingcat made essential discoveries in a number of cases, such as the Skripal/Salisbury poisoning, shooting down of the MH17, origin of weapons in the Syrian war or Yemen, …

Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty is about applying the monk-like thinking to everyday life and its troubles. It provides practical tips and ways to deal with challenging situations.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is about the different routes our life can take depending on our decisions and a stance we choose. Another fiction on my list.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, tips how to live, what skills and attitudes to grow and which bad habits to avoid. Not all applicable in the 21st century. Nevertheless, most things he discusses are timeless, for example the main virtues: moderation, courage, purpose, practical wisdom and justice.

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté has been a great find. It talks, scientifically, backed with evidence and examples, about addictions (not just to substances, but workaholism, gambling,…) their formation, inclination towards development and ways to manage. Truly educational and eye-opening publication.

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Let me know if any book caught your eye.