The Five Most Important Books that I've Read

Topic from The Daily Post

This post has been sitting in my drafts folder for a while, because I've been agonizing over this list. Really, how do you choose just five books when you've read hundreds over your lifetime? Then there was the question of "Important, how?" (impacting my writing style? giving insight to a personal struggle? just a good story that stuck with me?) and whether I should include the obvious books. In the end, I skipped The Bible (the obvious choice for a lot of people) and other pretentious sounding works like Homer's The Odyssey (but I did like that one). I just decided to go with the books that stood out in my mind.

The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale is one of very few high school required reading books that I actually read all the way through instead of simply scanning the Cliff's Notes. Actually, I think it was this book that piqued my interest in dystopian novels. Surprisingly, it's hard to pinpoint any one specific thing about this book that makes it one of my favorites. For one thing, it was completely unlike anything else that I had read up until that point, and I was invested in the story from page one. It was also realistic; the story was not so far-fetched that I could not see it happening (though certain aspects of it were a bit fantastic). Overall, it was well-written, and it's one of the few books that I can read over and over again.

Shifting
This is one of the most powerful books I've ever read because it assured me that I wasn't alone. There are so many times when I, as a black woman, have to shift my thinking, speech, etc. due to my environment. Where others get to simply be themselves and not give it a second thought, those in my position--hit with two minority designations--have to consider how words, actions, appearance and attitudes will affect interactions with others (those who do and don't look like us). For a while I wondered if I was the only one that dealt with that, putting on different faces for work, church, school and home. While this book did not necessarily provide answers to that feeling of multiplicity (presumably because there are none) it was a relief to know that it wasn't just all in my head. I'd recommend this book to other black women as well as non-black women and men. It may help to ease some of those relationships, or at least create a jumping point for dialog.

Naked
Like Shifting, Naked focuses on the stories of black women. This time, the discussion is about their unique physical features in their own words. Although I knew I wasn't the only black woman to face issues of self-confidence, identity and body image, it was comforting to read the stories of others. I love that this book is told directly from the perspective of black women (not an outsider looking in). And actually, women of all races and backgrounds can relate to many of the stories that are told. This is one of those books that I want to share with other women in my circle, as well as little cousins, nieces and my own daughters (should I ever have any).

Modern Girl's Guide to Life
This was one of the first non-fiction/self-help books I ever read. Honestly what first drew me to this book was the cartoonish drawing on the cover. (Yes, I sometimes judge books by their covers. DJM!) I love that this book is filled with information about such a wide range of topics. Most of it is common sense, admittedly, and it wasn't just a light, fun read. (The cover lied to me y'all!) But it is interesting and a great reference. I feel like the author did a great job with this one.

The Hell With Love
I bought this book of poetry after a break up... I can't remember which one. My favorite thing about this book is how it is divided up into the different stages one goes through at the end of a relationship (according to the authors of course). As I cycled through those stages repeatedly I went back to those poems and found a different one that spoke to me. Reading it outside of the context of a jilted lover, I appreciate the poets' differing styles and word choice. Any fan of poetry should have this book in their collection.

 

So there it is, my five most important books in no particular order. Hopefully I will have books on someone's most important list one day soon! So tell me, what are the most important books that you've read, and why?