Book Author Why It’s Often Banned / Challenged 1984 George Orwell. Its dystopian critique of totalitarianism, political oppression, and anti-government themes have led many governments — as well as local school boards — to ban or challenge it. Community Library+2GFCMSU Research+2 Brave New World Aldous Huxley Its sexual content, themes considered “immoral,” as well as its questioning of religion and traditional family values, have caused it to be banned or removed in several countries or school districts. GFCMSU Research+2LibGuides+2 The Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salinger Frequently challenged (especially in the U.S.) for profanity, sexual content, and its themes of teenage angst and rebellion. Wikipedia+2Syracuse University Research Guides+2 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain Long censored for perceived racial insensitivity (especially due to historically offensive language), as well as content deemed inappropriate for certain readers. Butler University Library Guides+2Community Library+2 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Its frank depiction of racism, injustice, and use of offensive language has led to repeated challenges and bans—especially in school curricula.

~Fiction~ A couple of my favourite book series that I re-read from time to time are the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss and the First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Both are well-written fantasy page flippers and are great ways to end the day (note: you may end up staying up later than intended). Disclaimer: The third and last book for the Kingkiller series is yet to come out--it's been like 14 years lol--but I still highly recommend the series. ~Non-Fiction~ Two books that were impactful in my own self-development were books about leadership. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek and Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink. Both are written by qualified leaders in different domains. Both offer different perspectives and tools for being a leader. ------------------------- What about you? What do you suggest?

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is one of the best books for those on the journey of personal development. Core concept, small, positive daily choices accumulate into life-changing results; conversely, neglecting them leads to decline. Just 1% improvement daily, reading being a cornerstone habit—one of the simplest yet most transformative daily disciplines. Cultivate a routine of reading at least 10 pages (or audio 10-15 min) daily of something positive, educational, or growth-oriented to steadily reshape your mindset and habits.

I’ve read this book twice now. It’s recommended by Alex Hormozi himself. If you want to reflect on whether or not you’re a good leader, Or You want to be a leader, And want to know why you want to… Please read this book.

Fuck drugs, my addictions are audiobooks. During my peak, I consume them like Tic-Tacs. I don't care where I am, in the car, the restaurant or during sex. It is always a great addition to any activity. I am about to dive back into one of my favourite series again. My girl is going to Bali for some time, so it is great to go through the same story and have additional touchpoints throughout the day. I am also extremely similar to the main character, so I think she will understand me on a deeper level by going through this series. It’s one of the wildest LitRPG/progression fantasy rides I’ve ever been on. It has great humour, insane world-building and a surprisingly deep philosophy. But it isn't just entertainment. I believe that fictional stories help us understand each other while also instilling powerful beliefs in our lives, as we learn from the lessons presented by the characters. Here are 3 key lessons I learned from Jason in "He who fights with Monsters": 1. Power Doesn’t Fix Your Problems—It Exposes Them Jason might be one of the most reluctant heroes I’ve ever read... Every time he levels up or gains a new ability, his inner demons, insecurities, and questionable choices rise right alongside. It’s a reminder that gaining strength (in life or in a LitRPG system) doesn’t magically solve everything. It just gives you new problems to wrestle with. This one hit deep. 2. Morality Is Messy One of the things I loved most was how the series constantly challenged the idea of “good guys vs. bad guys.” Jason is moral, but not nice. Villains sometimes make sense. Heroes sometimes make brutal choices. It really drove home the idea that growth means living in the gray areas and owning the consequences. This is something I don't think most of us consider very often anymore... 3. Humor is a Weapon (and a Shield) Jason’s sarcastic, self-aware humour is not just comic relief, it’s survival. He uses it to build friendships, defuse tension, and sometimes to cover up his own fear or pain. Honestly, it made me rethink how often we use humour in real life the same way, to protect ourselves while we figure things out. As someone who is deeply interested in psychology, this gave me a whole new perspective on how we engage with each other.