Books for developing self-awareness
He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened. — Lao Tzu
Self-awareness is essential for teenagers and one of the great way to do that is by inculcating a reading habit while you are still in school.
In a research paper by Vivian Howard titled ‘The importance of pleasure reading in the lives of young teens: Self-identification, self-construction and self-awareness’, he concluded that if teenagers indulge in pleasure reading they gain significant insights into mature relationships, personal values, cultural identity, physical safety and security, aesthetic preferences, and understanding of the physical world, all of which aid teen readers in the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence goes hand in hand. An emotional mature person is much more understanding, compassionate and adaptable to their surroundings. It is important to realise that physical maturity doesn’t go in sync with emotional maturity. However, the latter could be built with time and efforts. Initially, it is important to track down your emotional journey and that could be easily done by writing a journal towards the end of the day. Reading is also a vital habit that can help in becoming self-aware. Here are some books that you can read to embark on the journey of emotional intelligent, self-awareness and the awareness of the world.
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
- Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
Here, is a quiz for all young bibliophiles out there!
1.) Who is the author of ‘The Dark Room’?
a) Rabindranath Tagore
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) RK Narayan
d) Ruskin Bond
2. Atticus Finch is a fictional character from which Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of 1960?
a) The Overstory by Richard Powers
b) The Goldfinch by Tartt, Donna
c) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
d) Beloved by Toni Morrison
3. Which place is the origin of One Thousand and One Nights?
a) Africa
b) Australia
c) Canada
ANSWERS:
1. c | 2. c | 3. d
-Athena Education Consulting
