There are some books that entertain you while some simply inform or stir-up your emotions. And then there are those books which speak directly to your soul - these books make you think, question, change your beliefs and perspective and they may even end up changing your life. Back when I was a teen, my father used to bring home books for me to read and some of them truly changed my life. The impact a single book can have is immense! So here I am, doing the same for all the moms out there. This is my list of the top 5 books you need to get your kids to read, and trust me - you’ll be thanking me later.
1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
The adult version of this book was a huge success, so no wonder a teen edition was written after. This book is meant to serve as a “road map” for all the teens out there, teaching them what they need to do in order to find success in all the aspects of their lives. And, come on, let's face it: as teens are on their path to become adults, it doesn't hurt to have that little extra guidance. The book teaches healthy habits like being proactive, prioritising things and practising empathy. It also highlights relationships and staying hopeful when things tend to get tough. It’s the kind of book that children can find courage in so many different situations and one they can read over and over again.
2. Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide To Living Your Best Life by Vernon Brundage Jr.
Sports itself is an ideal way to motivate your teens as it teaches them discipline and patience. For particularly those teens with an interest in sports, this book is one of the best there is. It’s written in the context of a sport- basketball and is divided into “quarters” similar to the quarters in a basketball game. Throughout the book, readers learn some of the most important life lessons gained and practised by some of the legendary athletes of all time including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. It aims to encourage readers to find success in anything they strive to do in life whether it's academics, athletics, the arts or something in between.
3. This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell
From the outside, it might seem to you that every young person is empowered and ready to stand up for what’s right but knowing exactly how to be an ally and an activist isn’t necessarily always instinctive. This book educates teen readers on how they can contribute towards the fight against racism. The book also includes what it’s looked like throughout history as well as some important examples of how it may appear today. It provides insights into what you can do and say when you see injustice.
4. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
This book focuses on highlighting a very uncomfortable truth about life: if you want to go out and create something, you will end up facing many, many roadblocks. Whether it's self-doubt, naysayers or laziness, there are loads of things that will keep you from doing what you long to do. This book ensures to help you easily and clearly identify the enemy of your creativity and helps outline a battle plan to conquer this very internal foe. Think of it as a tough love situation for yourself. Whether or not your teen is traditionally ‘creative’ this book will help them see that nothing good will happen unless they master the toughest foe out there: themselves.
5. Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Do you ever feel like your teenage ninja is not feeling productive? This very book- Essentialism focuses on showing how one can achieve the disciplined pursuit of less. Being an Essentialist is about having a disciplined way of thinking. It means to try and challenge the core assumption of ‘We can have it all’ and ‘I have to do everything’ and replacing it with the pursuit of ‘the right thing, in the right way, at the right time’. This very pursuit of less allows oneself to regain control of their own choices so that they can channel their time, energy and effort into making the highest possible contribution toward their goals that try matter.
So while these are my top 5 picks, there are so many books out there that are worth a read. I am super excited to know what your teen is reading right now or what their favourite book is and why. Let’s get sharing!
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