With the abundance of time we have during the current debacle we’re in, finding activities that are beneficial and purposeful can be challenging. Our society is a very rapid one where we are constantly on the go. There’s never a better time than now to delve into the declining art of reading books. Whether you were a childhood reader who lost the passion or are interested in learning new skills or stories that could help your own life, here are ten great books to check out in the meantime.

 

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

 

Written by an emperor who ruled Rome from 161 AD to 180 AD, the 12-series chronicles set the foundation for self-improvement. It’s a book that reflects on his private life and is one of the foundational texts for the school of thought known as “Stoicism,” the endurance of pain and strife without the display of feelings and without complaint.

 

The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield

 

The War of Art is a 2002 nonfiction book by author Steven Pressfield. The book is a good manual for people in any creative space facing an internal battle to share their works with the world. It argues that the resistance we face before we actually sit down and do what needs to be done is the barrier between being an “ameatuer” and being a “pro”.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

 

This book originally published in 1985 is now a series on Hulu. The book takes place in a dystopian future New England, where the United States government has been overthrown. The story is told in first-person from the view of Offred and chronicles her story navigating the world of new powers.

 

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

 

Based in the Nigerian Civil War that took place in Biafra from 1967 to 1970, this compelling novel details the tragic conflict that affects the lives of five main character’s lives. The novel tackles themes that still affect modern day Nigeria like politics, identity and colonialism.

 

The Tiller of Waters by Hoda Barakat

 

Niqula Mitri, a fabric salesman in Beirut, is the main character in this book, who’s experiencing hallucinations during the Lebanesse Civil War. His story is both beautifully and tragically interwoven with the relationship between fabric and the human experience.