I recently read Francine Rivers’
Mark of the Lion series, and followers of
my blog already know that it changed my life. I decided to ask some Nigerians about the books that have changed their lives. The bookworms were quick to answer, and with great enthusiasm.
‘My earliest memory of myself is lying down on a bed reading a book in Yoruba, J.F Odunjo’s
Irinkerindo Ireke Onibudo written in old Yoruba,’ says Monike Charles-Binitie, a Human Resources Manager/Consultant. ‘I love books. Reading Frank Peretti’s series around 1996 changed my outlook on angels. Francine Rivers’
Mark of the Lion series is also a special one for me. I must have read
And The Shofar Blew by the same author about 10 times. Then Dee Henderson’s
O’Malley series is a tearjerker for me. Ted Dekker’s books make me question if I truly love the way God wants me to love. Sorry, I can’t pick a particular book,’ she concludes with pleasure.
Even those who didn’t start reading early have a lot to say about getting into literature. Mofolusade Sonaike, Founder of Trezorlandia, gushes, ‘I must confess I was never that much of a reader, until I picked up a Francine Rivers novel a few years ago! I took out my meagre salary then and bought all of her books, and I mean all! She is such an amazing writer. She made me love reading. It opens up your mind and builds your ability to visualize things. I once went through a mentoring program with IBM and my assigned mentor, Mr. Weyinmi Egbe made me read Malcolm Gladwell’s
Outliers and Chris Widener’s
The Art of Influence. I read both books twice over!’
Farida, a Business Monitoring and Performance Analyst who is married with a son says, ‘
Power of a Praying Woman, Power of a Praying Wife, and
Power of a Praying Parent all by Stormie Omartian. Also,
What’s It Like to be Married to Me? By Linda Dillow.’ Any books on career and personal development? ‘No, these are the ones that impacted me most,’ she answers.
When asked which books have changed her life, Bisi Olabode-Foghi, Founder, Acier Sena Services and mother of one, also appreciates Stormie Omartian. ‘
Power of a Praying Woman’ by Stormie Omartian. This helped empower me with wisdom and awareness as to my own unique God-given strengths as a woman.
The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord by T.D. Jakes. This book helped put things in the right order they should come, in crystal clear perspective to me even while I was still single.
Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now by Maya Angelou; a collection of little ‘real-life’ stories and poems that taught me to take pride in being a black woman amongst other things.
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson; a little but most wonderful book that greatly shaped my attitude to life,
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki; this was what helped me realize I couldn’t afford to sit around waiting for paid employment to help me fulfill my dreams,’ she closes.
Not surprisingly,
Rich Dad Poor Dad tops the list for other entrepreneurs also.
‘I read
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki when I was about 13 years old, then read from
Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew twice in University.
Delivering Happiness by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh brings customer service to life. I also read books by Kenneth E. Hagin and Bishop David Oyedepo, you’ll need some faith to run a business in Nigeria, actually, in any part of the world,’ says Kunle Jinadu, MD/CEO, Jaramall.
Other business owners also list similar books.
‘
The Bible,
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey,
Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl,
Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, and
Advanced Selling Strategies by Brian Tracy.” ~ Stanley Oyovota, Founder, Barows 21
‘I don’t read much but amongst the few I have read, I would say
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (Robin Sharma),
The Magic of Thinking Big (David Schwartz) and
The Richest Man in Babylon (George Clason) have contributed positively to my life.’ ~ Adebola Olatoyese Aroloye, Founder, Smart Plus Cedar
‘There is no one single book that has changed my life but there are several which stick in my memory for various reasons.
Shogun by James Clavell and
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson are a couple that stand out for me.
Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis was another that stood out for me.’ ~ Emeka Mordi, Managing Director,
Buyam.com.ng.
For Nigeria’s leading life strategist and author of
From College Dropout to Corporate Sellout and
From Friend to Fiancée, Steve Harris, it is a single book;
My Vision: Lessons on the Road to Excellence by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, the Ruler of Dubai. ‘It’s a great read on inspirational leadership in the modern era, and how he turned Dubai around in 11 years from a backwater emirate to a First World nation. It’s a great book.’
Now that is one book I would definitely love to read! What about you? Which books have changed your life? Share with us in the comments section!
About the writer: Joy Ehonwa is a writer, editor and online proofreader who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a copy-editing, ghostwriting and transcription business, blogs at www.anafricandiva.wordpress.com and www.girlaware.wordpress.com, and tweets @JoyEhonwa
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This article was first published on 17th October 2014 and updated on June 26th, 2015 at 2:34 pm
jehonwa
Joy Ehonwa is an editor and a writer who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a proofreading, editing, transcription and ghostwriting service.
Email: pinpointcreatives [at] yahoo.com
Comments (17)
Only the Bible I can say has changed my life but there are a few others that have contributed too. Ted Dekkers Circle series, Frank Peretti’s “this present darkness” and “the visitation”, Michael Lewis “the big short”, Malcolm Gladwell’s “outliers”, Scot Anderson’s “think like a billionaire…”
The Jebusite
Thanks, The Jebusite! I really need to get on Ted Dekker.
The Circle series will scrutinise your love for Christ. Great series.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers changed the way that I loved people. I was too bloody selfish till I picked up the book. Sad to say, I was very like angel, cut and dried, I was going to get all that I wanted from life by being business like and all, that has changed, now I am committed to walking in love and getting hooked to God’s desire for me.
A Voice in the wind by Francine Rivers changed the way that I worked and served people. Hadassah was always so selfless and willing to do the will of God. I was never so proud as when I heard her say: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God”. I know what it cost her and I was sure she would die, die happy because God was pleased with her, no doubt. But God didn’t take her, He let her live to fulfill his plan for her life. I see a lot of me in Hadassah too. I have never taken cane for anyone that was so nasty to me though, she embodies Christ. I would love to embody Christ like that too.
Blessed Child and A man called Blessed changed my life. It opened my heart to the possibility of miracles in our day and in our time and how to treasure intimacy with God above fame. Fame changes human beings to monsters a lot of time. The preacher was using the 10 year old boy who lived with monks to make money, greed in action. I was disgusted. The authors were Ted Dekker and Bill Bright. I had goose bumps all through the days I read those books.
And the shofar blew by Francine Rivers taught me the value of chasing God and doing ministry God’s way and how easy it is to derail and how difficult it is to see and discern if our motives are right or wrong. I cried when I read this book, there was so much pain.
The lineage of grace by Francine Rivers helped me see the role that women have played in the church and can play in the church. I personally hate orthodox roles. I saw different women and how they related with God and how they discovered who God is. It was an eye-opener.
and so many other books but I will say full stop now.
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Thanks Tessa, this is an amazing response! Very rich. Some of the books here are on my reading list, and now I feel so far behind on this Ted Dekker thing!!!
‘God’s Master plan for your life’ by Gloria Copeland affected me in way I never thought was possible. I also love Francine Rivers, her books minister to my Spirit and make me see my self as a person with purpose on an assignment. ‘Divine’ by Karen Kingsbury also made me understand purpose. ‘This Present Darkness’ by Frank Peretti made me more aware of God’s involvement in our daily lives, while Ted Dekker (a talented ‘somebody’) makes me think deep. I look forward to reading ‘House’ by Ted and Frank *explosive* and the ‘Mark of the Lion Series’ by Francine. There are many writers whose books, one or two, have really blessed me, but Francine, Frank or Ted does it for me any day.
Francine Rivers for the win! I love Karen Kingsbury too, gosh…
Read “God’s Master plan for your life” too. Removed the last dot of worry in my life. Bought a few more and gave out to friends too.
There have been so many books that have Influenced my life over the years and they have changed with the season. My Bible has been the greatest source of inspiration especially now that I can switch through several versions in one go. I dared to call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh is one book I read now and again. Reminds me of how intimacy with God as a father can be, seen through the eyes of one who couldn’t dare take it for granted. Redeeming Love by Francis Rivers opens my eyes over and over to grace so amazing, I can never tire of reading her. The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine showed meThe power of forgiveness and witnessing and how Francine just took her gift and gave it back God reflects through that Trilogy. The Shofar Blew is a check for me.taught me not to get caught up in ministry. The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason helped build financial intelligence. Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew showed me how a nation could be transformed by right thinking leadership. The Seven Habits by Stephen Covey and The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell too helped build my attitude and I dare not forget The Power of Being a Woman by Michelle McKinney Hammond and several books by Myles Munroe.
Oh…and Ted Dekker. Just not right to have forgotten him. His books are awesome. I could go on and on…
Awesome list! I’ve read quite a few and I feel the same way. I really, really need to read another Ted Dekker. I’ve only read Blink, and it was truly an eyeopener!
So many books have impacted my life but i’ll try to list a few that I can remember right now. I’m sure more will come to me later.
The Bible – my nos 1 fav book to read. Helps me through difficult life situations.
Passport of Mallam Illia by Cyprian Ekwensi gave me a perspective of the northern Nigerian landscape that’ll stay with me forever.
Ted dekker – Blink taught be the balance of freewill vs God’s omniscience. The martyr’s series taught me the delicate balnce between good and evil. Blessed Child showed me the need to be holy (set apart unto God) and the many ways we can be distracted. Showdown, Saint, Adam, the list is too long to explain the theological truths his books expose me to.
Frank perretti – Present darknes and piercing the darkness taught me the power of prayer and the war in the spiritual realm over ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. The oath taught me how monstrous it is to tame sin or be complacent about it.
Rich Dad poor dad taught me financial principles and opened my eyes to see poverty as a mindset not necessarily about possessions.
Redeeming Love and Scarlet thread by Francine Rivers taught me how far God’s love will go to save me from myself.
7habits of Highly effective people – taught me that excellence is not a skill or talent but a choice people who want to stand out make.
I love being a woman by Patsy Clairmont taught me to appreciate womanhood at a time when I desperate wished I was a boy. While Why you act the way you do by Tim lahaye helped me understand who I was as a person.
Scared Marriage by Gary Thomas taught me about the purity of marriage and how God intended it to be. While for women only by shaunti feldhann confirmed what I knew about the difference between men and women and how to adapt to them. While power of a praying wife by stormie omartan helped me know how to pray for men in general.
What happens when women pray by evelyn christenson showed me the importance of having a prayer chain and spiritual leaders.
Last but not least is A simple plan by Scott Smith taught me the depths humans can go to because of greed.
Wow! Thanks for sharing, Ann.
For me, there are 3 books, aside from the bible, which is timeless. The first is Black Beauty by Anna Sewell,which I read when I was in primary school, it’s about a horse going through life and all the experiences the horse went through, At the time, it was the biggest book I had ever read in my life. The second is Roots by Alex Haley… it completely opened my eyes to slavery and changed the way I thought about family and relationships, and keeping memories, then Angela Davis, An Autobiography by Angela Davies, about the author’s experience during the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, which helped me understand civil rights, politics, and the need to speak up for ones beliefs. I’d also probably say The Alchemist by Paul Coehlo, which helped me realise the need to find and follow ones passions
Ted Dekker fan…
A Swamp Full of Dollars by Michael Peel and The Jewish Phenomenon helped shape my acumen for business and things to focus on in the pursuit of trans generational prosperity
The bible is number one for me and the first Francine’s I read was….And the shofar blew. IT opened my eyes to the lifestyles of ministers and the troubles their wives have. I’ve read quite a number or Francine’s after that and of course the Hadassah story is a mind blowing lesson on the power of forgiveness. The Atonement Child is a lesson any Christian girl should read to understand God’s beauty in difficult times like having an unplanned child. Karen’s books also touch me and are really contemporary in nature. Beverly Lahaye’s &Terry Blackstone’s Seasons books are really touching and also life changing. I wept, laughed and also prayed as I read.
I’ve read quite a number of books that altogether have changed my outlook on people and life in general.