bhaskar saikia

A traditional thinker might say that reading books equals wisdom. I agree—but I prefer to equate reading books with prosperity. “Wisdom” is a sweet word, but “prosperity” has a certain allure that seduces the ear. The truth is, both are important, and reading is essential to a happy, meaningful life. After all, happiness springs from both prosperity and wisdom.

But how exactly does reading help us get there?

The great Indian guru and economist Chanakya once wrote in Chanakya Neeti:“Learn from other people’s mistakes; life is too short to make them all yourself.”

Others have echoed this sentiment, but Chanakya’s words cut to the heart of the matter—learning from the experiences of others is the smart way to avoid pitfalls. And because we cannot possibly meet all these people in our lifetime, we meet them through their words, their stories, their books.

And by “books,” I mean beyond the syllabus—the kind that speak to your soul and expand your mind.

Books That Shaped My Life

Over the past decade, I’ve read a few hundred books—travel fiction, self-help, history, high finance. Each one left an imprint on me, but some authors have shaped me more than others: Paulo Coelho, Robert Kiyosaki, Michael Lewis, Mitch Albom, Robin Sharma.

I’ve read all of Coelho’s major works—a feat only a true devotee of his storytelling would attempt. But among all these authors, one book stands above the rest for me: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

A Farewell That Became a Legacy

Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University professor, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in 2006. Tradition at the university required senior professors to deliver a “last lecture” before retirement. Though far from retiring, Pausch delivered his on September 18, 2007—before an audience of 400, including colleagues and students—titled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.

In it, he shared life lessons about dreams, happiness, and living well. His most powerful line was:“It’s not about how to achieve your dreams; it’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself; the dreams will come to you.”

That lecture became an international bestseller, written partly as a guide for his young children for the years he wouldn’t be there. Pausch passed away in 2008 at just 47, but his legacy continues to inspire millions—including me.

The lesson I hold closest from him: know the difference between human emotions and material possessions.

Why Reading Matters

Reading allows us to receive life’s most profound lessons—even from a dying man halfway across the world. And there’s truth to the belief that someone facing the end sees life with a clarity the rest of us rarely do.

Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie is another book in this vein—a memoir of Albom’s last days with his ailing professor Morrie Schwartz, brimming with wisdom about love, loss, and purpose.But books don’t just teach us about life and death. They help us realize that most human problems are universal—and somewhere, in some forgotten book in an obscure library, lies the solution we need.

Prosperity of Mind and Spirit

Books broaden our knowledge of subjects and places, and in the process, they transform us—making us calmer, wiser, more rational. This transformation is the truest prosperity, both material and spiritual.

The problem today isn’t a lack of good people—it’s a lack of good readers. The answers to many of our challenges are already written down; we just need to find them and read them.

Mark Twain said it best:“A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.”

Authors I’ve Read the Most

Among the many great writers I’ve read, a few stand out—whose words and wisdom continue to draw me back to their books. Over the past two decades, these are the authors I’ve read the most:

21 books of Paulo Coelho

09 books of Robert T. Kiyosaki

06 books of Robin Sharma

05 books of Michael Lewis

05 books of Mitch Albom

04 books of Sanjeev Sanyal