BOOKS I READ IN 2015

It wasn’t my goal or resolution to read more in 2015, but as a matter of fact I read many many great books in 2015 bcos one or two reasons, first I had a lot of free times, which in correlation with second, I’m single and not ready to mingle (ha), and third, I realized I developed from what I read, even though it didn’t change me immediately but it gave me new points of view and great advice. I used to read on my long commute in Jakarta’s traffic, or before bed, or on the weekend when I feel to tired to go out. And so far I found it useful to read than watching endless of TV series *grin.

Here is the list of books that I read in 2015 (not in particular order). They are mostly bestsellers. Some has been a bestseller since decades ago.Still wonder why you should read them? Trust me they worth your time (but only if you want to).

• GIRLBOSS - Sophia Amoruso. This book is a memoir of Sophia Amoruso the founder, CEO, (when the book was written) and Creative Director of Nasty Gal. She made Nasty Gal from sketch. And you immediately know that you got to have the #girlboss attitude to be so effective, fast but detail, to have conversation in your business with all stakeholders to lead a successful company. 
• The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz. A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom A Toltec Let me tell you the Four Agreements: First, Be Impeccable with Your Word. Second, Don’t Take Anything Personally. Third, Don’t Make Assumptions. Fourth, Always Do Your Best. Those are the Four Agreements explains in this book through wisdoms and spiritual teach. Simple but every word is true, “Our normal human tendency is to enjoy life, to play, to explore, to be happy, and to love.” - Ruiz, Don Miguel.
• The Crossroads of Should and Must - Elle Luna. This is not just another book about passion, it explains in a simple easy way. What is should, and what is must. It gives logical and attainable way out to help you realize and follow your dreams. Know what’s your should, and what’s your must, and why you should choose MUST. I really love the fun layout and colorful design. I highly recommend it for those who interested in creative jobs, who happened to be "stuck" somewhere and dreaming about another thing. "We can’t prove Must. We can’t point to it, or define where it stops and starts, because it’s not a thing that we can see."
• Problem Solving 101 - Ken Watanabe. I thought this book is complicated when I browse and give first glance through the pages, turned out it is not. In fact it gives simple, but structural way to solve problem. As it says A simple book for Smart People. What I want to point out is it teaches us to find and set the purpose and goal, in detail, and the roots, then we break it down, analyze, and act on it. This applies in everything in life basically.
• The Richest Man in Babylon - George Samuel Clason. (I read it in Bahasa Indonesia because the original English version was written back in 1930s and used words that quite unfamiliar for me, so I found that read it in other translation might be easier to understand without losing the essence). Using stories about people in ancient Babylonia, it gives messages and advices about your financial management in the most simple way.
• Who Moved My Cheese -  An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your  Work and in Your Life - Dr Spencer Johnson. This book taught me that I am my own problem. Changes are happen a lot throughout our lives. “Cheese” is a metaphor for what we want to have in life, whether it is a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace, or even an activity like jogging or golf. Each of us has our own idea of what Cheese is, and we pursue it because we believe it makes us happy. Our cheese changes every time. When You Move Beyond Your Fear, You Feel Free. Imagining Myself Enjoying New Cheese Even Before I find It, Leads Me To It. The quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Find New Cheese. It Is Safer To Search In The Maze Than Remain In A Cheeseless Situation. What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?
• Show Your Work - Austin Kleon
• Steal Like An Artist - Austin Kleon. Austin Kleon defined himself as a writer who draws. You could see from this two books. Creative manifesto. His words are something to believe in as an artist. It’s really relevant to creativity work these days. Realistic.
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki. Robert Kiyosaki tells about financial point of views in his stories about two dads, the rich dad and the poor dad. This is also a manifesto, you could believe it or not. I so believe it although it’s hard to keep the mindset in practical living. "The rich buy assets. The poor only have expenses. The middle class buys liabilities they think are assets." - This is so true. In general, these are the lessons:
• Lesson #1 The Rich Don't Work for Money 
• Lesson #2 Why Teach Financial Literacy? 
• Lesson #3 Mind Your own Business 
• Lesson #4 The History of Taxes and the Power of Corporations 
• Lesson #5 The Rich Invent Money 
• Lesson #6 Work to Learn Don't Work for Money
• Think And Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill. This is also a manifesto. As it says This Book Could Be Worth A Million Dollars To You. I wish I had read this years ago when I was started making money. because as soon as I start reading and practicing his advice in real world, I managed to achieve my financial goal. "Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill. Of course not just by thinking about what you want to get to also how to achieve it. But to really think about it, analyze it, what is it that you really want, your burning desire. Since it’s introduction in 1937, millions of copies have been sold around the world. It still remains one of the top selling books of its kind. 
• The Defining Decade, Why your Twenties Matter - Meg Jay. I was inspired by the TED Talk she gave that I watched on Youtube that I began to interested in reading this book. It’s so good and I believe that our 20’s is so important that we should build ourselves. As an expert in studies about 20s Dr. Meg Jay, phd put a lot of insights from her practice in helping 20 something and their problems, from choosing a job, career, passion, dating and relationship, making decisions, and many more. I can totally relate. Every 20s should read this.
• Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan. The only fiction book that I read in 2015 because my friend Caca gave it to me and Andrea my crazy gay Asian friend kept mentioning it when we hung out. I was hooked and finished it in just couple of days, the description about this crazy rich asians lifestyle is hyperbolic (as it should be). It's funny and I can relate to some of the facts from the book, like the Chinese culture, the patriarchy, the matchmaking, and the language. I even shared the story about ang mor kaw say to my parents and they were hysterical.

During 2015 I also started a couple of other books but haven't finished them yet.