🧵 Thread

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17 books that helped me, and how. A thread...

1. Chariots of the gods Read it at 17 Growing up in a religious family, this book shook me up, with the proposition that "gods" were actually aliens that visited us. This book sparked the "let's understand the other side as well" movement in me. amzn.to/33NUuvi

2. Brief history of time Read it at 19 As a physics student, in love with astronomy, this book became my Bible. Stephen Hawking's ability to turn complexity into mass consumption taught me the power of an effective teacher. amzn.to/35kaq93

3. Rich Dad Poor Dad Read it at 20 This book shattered all my preconceived notions about money. The biggest one being how buying things is not equal to building assets. Classic, in so many ways. amzn.to/35pDCM3

4. Fountainhead Read it at 21 I recall being obsessed with the book, reading it in my college library for hours. It is this book that instilled in me the idea of "resist the obvious" through the eyes of Howard Roark. amzn.to/3HjJqDK

5. Contact Read it at 22 This book (later made into a movie) introduced me to the undying belief of Ellie and her commitment to her work, despite all odds. I wanted to be her. I wanted to be awesome at my work. Always! amzn.to/36tY92k

6. Tuesdays with Morrie 24 years As I began to realize that physics did not make me happy anymore, I began looking for answers, to rather tough questions. This book helped me realize a bigger meaning to life, than what I had decided for myself. amzn.to/33NG2DA

7. Linchpin 25 years As a student at ISB, I was introduced to Seth Godin. I picked up this book and was blown away. This book taught me how to be an artist in life. How to create art in whatever is it that you do. amzn.to/3t57PIm

8. Rework 29 years Gifted by my cofounding, this book was the best way to challenge the current definition of how we work and reimage it all together. Remains my most gifted book ever. amzn.to/3Ka8saD

9. Accidental Billionaires 30 years This book, documents the founding of Facebook. An incredible story of deceit. Made me realize that everyone carries a burden. Everyone fails. Everyone destructs. We just do not see it. amzn.to/357iwCe

10. Delivering Happiness 32 years As the CEO of a fast growing consumer company, this book helped me understand, appreciate and respect the joys of building a customer-centric company. Something I have attempted to live by, till date. amzn.to/3pgYrAl

11. How will you measure you life? 34 years I was questioning my work, my impact, my role and this book saved me at the right time. Just as Tuesdays with Morrie, this book made me understand the true meaning of life. amzn.to/3Imqm9l

12. Hard things about Hard Things 35 years This book coincided with the start of nearbuy. At a time when building startups was glamorous, this book lay bare the truths, like nobody else had. It was ok to feel overwhelmed through the journey. amzn.to/3hf1TqH

13. Sapiens 35 years A delightfully wonderful book. Just as "Brief history of time", Yuval skillfully simplified the journey of our civilization. Making me fall in love with the art of teaching, yet again. amzn.to/3hjUBBO

14. Better under pressure 36 years I had just laid off 80 people in my team and was devastated. This book saved me. It taught me how to rise up, despite all odds, and face yourself, in order to eventually face the world. amzn.to/3hjUO84

15. Skin in the game 38 years This book blew my mind. Suddenly the world made sense. Whose view matters, should matter and should not, became starkly obvious. amzn.to/3LZEHec

16. Courage: Joy of living dangerously 39 years Upon the recommendation of a follower, I picked up an Osho book for the first time. The book wasn't new. Instead it was a reinforcement, that I needed at that time in life. I decided to quit nearbuy. amzn.to/3pd9TwA

17. Courage to be disliked 40 years Through this book I was able to explain so many of my relationships that I had struggled with, including the one I had with my own self. One of the most powerful books I have read. amzn.to/3IzKHs9

Growing up, I never read books. It was in the 5th standard, during a visit to my mom's relatives, that they gave me 17 Enid Blyton books. For the next 2 years, I read and re-read them. They were my best friends.

As our financial condition improved, I now could buy a comic, during the train journey we undertook during summer holidays. Thus started my adventure with Chacha Chaudhary, Pinki, Billu, Nagraaj, Super Commando Dhruv.

In 11th grade, I became friends with Kunal, who had ALL the series of Archies, Asterix and Tintin. I devoured them in less than 2 months! We both talked endlessly about Aliens. One day he mentioned, "Have you read Chariots of the Gods?" And that was it...

It blows my mind that in 200-300 rupees, I get to read about the entire life, mistakes, adventures, experiences and lessons of an individual. And I am so glad that I have the same child-like enthusiasm approaching any new book, even today.

Reading books can change lives. Which is why, I wanted to write a book that have the same impact on others that reading comic books had on me. "make one fall in love with books" amzn.to/3sg1muY

Giveaway announcement: For every 2,500 retweets on this thread, I will give away these 17 books to those who ask for it. 1. Go to the start of the thread and retweet it. 2. Go to the book you would want and comment on it 3. Winners will be announced 11th March

There is no friend as loyal as a book - Ernest Hemingway