Five books for the 2016 journey

Let me start by apologising to my numerous fans and readers for failing to appear on this page for three weeks. As the New Year berths, life happens and sometimes you are unable to meet up with your responsibilities. But hey, its well and I am back on my feet for us to continue to […]

Let me start by apologising to my numerous fans and readers for failing to appear on this page for three weeks. As the New Year berths, life happens and sometimes you are unable to meet up with your responsibilities. But hey, its well and I am back on my feet for us to continue to inspire each other with books, witty thoughts and recommendations. Thank you for being there.
Today we bring you books for the 2016 journey, for rebounds, for success, for more knowledge and deep philosophical thoughts. Here goes.
Oliver James: Affluenza: This book is a new book that affects us all. The title reflects on how modernity has affected our behaviour especially the youth. I often wonder how young people manage their thought processes in the face of the number of distractions they have. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. I personally don’t want to be followed and I am not savvy at following anyone but when you have the hang of it like my brother, Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai, then it can be used to your advantage. I am yet to catch on. However Affluenza which is making its way into this column for the 2nd time is an important book for 2016 that shows how we have distanced ourselves from real human activities and we are now driven by gadgets. The line must be drawn to remain wholesome. This book tells us that the Affluenza virus is sweeping through the English speaking world and it is leading to depression and addictions.
The Sweet Talk of Success is a collection of 35 amazing stories of 35 amazing women and how they overcame major challenges in their lives. Culled from Today’s Woman magazine, this book will touch the life of all women because our issues are the same worldwide and is not domiciled in any particular faith. With a world increasingly turning to rape as a socio-psychological escape and using women and little girls as human bombs, women everywhere are in chains.
I am unable to leave out Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet as this is the book by my bedside that reminds me of philosophers of old. Again it’s not new to this page but every new year, everyone must revisit this book. Today lets share Khalil’s thoughts on Reason and Passion.
And the priestess spoke again and said: Speak to us of Reason and Passion.
And he answered, saying:
Your should is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgement wage war against your passion and your appetite.
Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody.
But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements?
Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.
If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.
For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;
And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.
I would have you consider your judgement and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house.
Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both.
Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows-then let your hearts say in silence, “God rests in reason.”
And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky, – then let your heart say in awe, “God moves in passion.”
And since you are a breath in God’s sphere, and a leaf in God’s forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion.
The Art of Betrayal– By Gordon Carera, BBC’s security correspondent is about life and death in the British secret service. This is a must read by all and sundry and particularly by our security forces in the face of the insurgency. Its an amazing read.
Under the Udala Tree by Chinelo is a new book whose craft is beautiful, some of the issues controversial. Inspired by Nigeria’s folktales and its war, the book is a deeply searching, powerful debut about the dangers of living and loving openly. Acclaimed by Vogue, the Financial Times, and many others, Chinelo Okparanta continues to distill “experience into something crystalline, stark but lustrous” (New York Times Book Review).Under the Udala Trees marks the further rise of a star whose “tales will break your heart open” (New York Daily News).This story offers a glimmer of hope – a future where a woman might just be able to shape her life around truth and love. Grab a copy.

BONUS BOOKS

a)     Nwando Achebe’s The Female King of Colonial Nigeria, Ahebi Ugbabe reminds us of who we are, who we used to be and who we would become. Nwando, a historian of repute brings us a beguiling tale of an Igbo female king.

b)     The confessions of St. Augustine is an Epic. A book for all times.