Sample this: If all the pages that were read in India last year were to be connected end-to-end, it would equal the International Space Station orbiting the Earth about 29 times.
This fun fact may discount a commonly held belief that the reading culture is on the wane. The jury is out on that count but what has indeed changed is the way we consume books. While the feel and touch of the hardcover has its place, more people are now reading e-books and listening in to books on phones, laptops, desktops and tablets. Reading today is a more versatile, dynamic activity.
If reading more figures on your list of new year resolutions, start with what India’s bibliophiles loved to read in 2022, powered by data from Amazon Books and Kindle. It’s a diverse list that deal with everything from managing money and finding one’s purpose to grandma’s tales and epic war stories. When it came to gifting, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse was among the top five gifted books in 2022, along with Ikigai and How I Made $2,000,000 in The Stock Market.
Here’s the full list of favorites from 2022:
#1 The Psychology of Money (Morgan Housel)
The page-turner showcases timeless lessons on wealth, greed and happiness. Through 19 short stories, the author explores the strange ways people think about money and teaches readers how to make better sense of one’s finances.
Shop Now: The Psychology of Money
#2 Atomic Habits (James Clear)
The non-fiction book is all about how small changes or ‘atomic habits’ can have a compounding effect to make a lasting change in one’s life. James Clear, uncovers a handful of simple life hacks, delving into psychology and neuroscience to explain how small changes can have a revolutionary effect on one’s career, relationships and life.
#3 The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Joseph Murphy)
Said to be one of the most promising self-improvement books, this book is all about how one can improve relationships, health and develop internal strength. The book brings together the best of both scientific research and spiritual wisdom, explaining how our subconscious mind has the power to change our lives.
Shop Now: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
#4 Ikigai (Garcia Hector)
This evergreen, short and simple non-fiction book promises to help the reader find his/her ‘Ikigai’ - the Japanese word for ‘a reason to live’ or ‘a reason to jump out of bed in the morning’ - to make every day joyful and meaningful.
#5 How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie)
Said to be among the world’s top 100 non-fiction books, this is Dale Carnegie’s most famous work that was first published in 1936. It’s a comprehensive guide with clearly listed techniques and principles that will help readers through everyday problems and make success look easier.
Shop Now: How to Win Friends and Influence People
#6 Rich Dad Poor Dad (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
Even after 25 years, the book by Robert T. Kiyosaki is still ranked as the top personal finance book of all time. The international bestseller is more important than ever, as the pressing need for and the power of financial education has not changed. It’s timeless wisdom and no-nonsense lessons help people get smarter with money and secure a better future.
#7 Do Epic Sh*t (Ankur Warikoo)
In his first non-fiction book, author Ankur Warikoo laid down the key ideas that fueled his journey, starting with him wanting to become a space engineer to creating content seen and read by millions. The book delves into the importance of creating habits for long-term success, foundations of money management, embracing and accepting failure and the truth about empathy.
#8 Grandma’s Bag of Stories (Sudha Murthy)
Ideal for young children, the book contains stories with morals, accompanied by colourful illustrations about kings, princesses, cheats, hidden treasures and naughty animals. The stories are all spun by the lovable Ajji, the doting grandmother, and the simple language makes reading the book a pleasure for young readers.
Shop Now: Grandma's Bag of Stories
#9 Life’s Amazing Secrets (Gaur Gopal Das)
The maiden book of Gaur Gopal Das, popular monk and life coach covers a range of concepts, from the human condition and finding’s purpose in life to lasting happiness. The light-hearted, thought-provoking book will help readers strengthen their relationships, discover their potential and align themselves with the life they want to lead.
Shop Now: Life's Amazing Secrets
#10 War of Lanka (Amish Tripathi)
This is the fourth book in Amish Tripathi’s Ram Chandra series, which is the second fastest selling series in India’s publishing history. While the first three books of the series explore the individual journeys of Ram, Sita and Raavan, the fourth book sees all their narrative strands coming together.
Shop Now: War of Lanka (Ram Chandra Series Book 4)
Book Club with Ankur Warikoo
Amazon India today launched ‘Book Club with Ankur Warikoo,’ where all book lovers can come together to read and discuss one book each month. Subscribers will get access to a monthly newsletter with the ‘pick of the month’ recommendation and an invitation to join a live interactive session with Warikoo to discuss books.
