Great books I have read so far in 2024

By Trevor Ncube

Yey, we are halfway through the year! This is a perfect time to share the great books I have read so far.

But before doing so, let me deal with the question of why it is important to read. I am dyslexic, which means that reading is not an easy thing for me. Through years of discipline, I have made reading an indispensable part of my life. I have benefited immensely from this habit.

Reading books, quality newspapers, and magazines has enriched my life. I read extensively on current affairs, personal growth, leadership, management, and technology. This has aided my personal growth and expanded my horizons.

There are very few things I cannot discuss intelligently as a result of the broad literature I read. I am an autodidact. For example, I am a successful journalist and yet I never attended a school of journalism.

My wife, Nyaradzo, reads far more than I do. She tends to read fiction for fun, enjoyment, and relaxation. I battle to read fiction. I read mainly for knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, and personal growth. One of the benefits I have noticed from years of reading is that my writing skills have improved exponentially. I have become more confident and now enjoy writing, which used to be a challenge for me.

Not anymore.

Sadly, we live in a time where social media is ravaging our precious time. Most of us claim not to have time to read and yet waste inordinate amounts of time on social media, particularly WhatsApp, reading fake news and inane and toxic material.

So many people engage in mindless scrolling which numbs minds. The mindless scrolling robs society of creativity and critical thinking founded on facts. This generation is the most uninformed even as it drowns in a glut of information.

To thrive in this information overload and post-truth age, discernment in what people read is essential. Discernment comes from realizing time is a precious resource and requires tremendous discipline and intentionality.

Misinformation is on an industrial scale with disastrous consequences that will be felt for generations. Misinformation breeds ignorance, mistrust, division and confusion which cumulatively poison the essence of humanity and undermines democracy. A vibrant society is engaged and seeks out verifiable information from reputable sources.

Below are the books that have impressed me over the past six months:

1. The Lumumba Plot – The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination – by Stuart A Reid
2. King Leopold’s Ghost – A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa – by Adam Hochschild
3. The Coming Wave – AI, Power and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma – by Mustafa Suleyman
4. Hidden Potential – The Science of Achieving Greater Things – by Adam Grant
5. The New China Playbook – Beyond Socialism and Capitalism – by Keyu Jin
6. Building the Life you Want – The Art and Science of Getting Happier – by Arthur C. Brooks & Oprah Winfrey
7. Right Kind of Wrong – Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive – by Amy Edmondson

I am old fashioned. I only read physical books and never audio or eBooks. I underline and highlight in the books and keep going back for inspiration, wisdom, and new ideas.

I am grateful that I have passed my reading habit to many people and love the feedback from old and new readers. From this week, we are launching the @TrevorBookClub WhatsApp group. Join us and let’s have fun sharing and discussing what we are reading.

Please pick up a book and start a habit of reading. Thank me later!

Trevor Ncube is Chairman of Alpha Media Holdings and host of In Conversation With Trevor. This is an excerpt from the weekly Newsletter .
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In Conversation With Trevor

In Conversation with Prudence Katomeni Mbofana

In this week’s episode Trevor sits with Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Performing Artist, Vocal Coach & Songwriter. Prudence’s passion for music started at the age of 3. She says she comes alive when she is performing in front of a live audience. Prudence has spread her wings into acting and teaching music.
Watch this episode here..

Audience Responses

Prudence Katomeni Mbofana episode, our community had this to say:

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