Books to develop a reading habit.

Here are my personal book recommendations — thrillers, self-help, mythology, and more!

Hello there! This piece is a continuation of my last week’s post titled: Rules of reading? There are none! Many people want to read more and develop a reading habit but, for some reason, struggle to do so.

I don’t mean to preach with any expert tips on how to get started. These are just simple, easy-breezy guidelines that I've shared with my friends, and they've worked for them. So, I decided to share on Substack too. You can read it below and join the discussion. Let’s help people to read more often!

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My Top 6 Book Recommendations for New Readers:

With any further ado, here’s my recommended list for people who want to develop a reading habit. Think of what genre you like watching - in movies and videos - and pick a book in that same genre. Start with a topic that interests you.

1. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

Small books with small chapters are best for people who have rarely finished a book!

This one consists of 100 practical lessons to go through daily life with less stress and more calmness. Every day you can just read one chapter before bed. It is almost like reading quotes on your gadgets but in a slightly longer and better narrative. If you find yourself listening to podcasts about living better-fulfilled lives, buy this book today!

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I have been feeling disappointed about the lack of stories about women for a long time! Why are women’s stories always in a “niche” category – whether in books or movies? While we can think about that later - I would recommend this book (written by a man) about two women in Afghanistan. This is a heartbreaking tale of sisterhood that might make you cry! If you would like to read a poignant story about women’s friendship, pick this one. However, if deeply emotional stories are not your thing, then pick something else from the list.

3. Any mystery novel by Agatha Christie

If your go-to genre is thrillers and mysteries, just pick any book by Agatha Christie! My love for thrillers grew after reading Agatha Christie's novels in my late teens. Being a slow reader, I can still take a break but some people can't keep their mystery novels down after starting. How about skipping “binge-watch” the coming weekend and start reading a detective book instead? Some of you might finish it over the weekend, while others might take time and both are great! Remember, there is no deadline to finish a book!

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Probably one of the most-loved young adult novels and an even bigger coming-of-age movie in the last couple of decades - The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a beautiful read with life-changing quotes that we might have stumbled upon while scrolling our phones. I watched the movie first but being a reader I knew that the book would even be better and I was right! If you like coming-of-age movies, pick this book right away. Even if you have watched the movie, I suggest you read the book too - it will be a revisit but through words and might feel like knowing an extended version of the story with fewer edits.

5. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Anybody looking at being better with building habits and increasing productivity - this book is what you need. It is very easy to read, filled with interesting, practical tips and is worth all the hype! It has helped me to be consistent with my writing habits too. If you find yourself listening to productivity-related and self-improvement podcasts, start your reading habit with this book as it will prove to be an extension of the topic you are already learning about.

6. The Palace of Illusions and The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

These two books are a retelling of the two most important epics of Hinduism - Mahabharata and Ramayana - from the point of view of their main female protagonists - Draupadi and Sita. One of my best friends urged me to read these and since then I have suggested them to everyone. If you are interested in mythological stories or would love to read a feminist reimagining of an ancient tale, you’ll love these books.

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There was a great suggestion from fellow Substack writer,

Abhishek Singh

that I would like to share. He said he suggests a good comic book for people who are starting their reading habit. I feel that’s a great tip as they are easy reads with interesting plots and are visually appealing too with the illustrations. I don’t know much about comics but if anyone does, please share your suggestions in the comment section.

Here’s Abhishek’s publication:

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I also haven't read much of romance and horror - but as a genre they are quite popular and would be a great first book for many. Please suggest recommendations from these two genres and others too, for first-time readers.

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Coming up next: A travel story!

I usually write about travel, crafts, cuisine, culture, slow living and my creative journey. The last two articles are very unlike what I usually write about. But thanks to the supportive community of Substack, I feel encouraged to try things beyond my comfort zone.

I am Namrata Gohain, a designer-turned-storyteller, writer and content producer. I document stories on responsible travel, crafts, cuisine, slow living and my creative journey.