Top Books that impacted me

1. Ikigai by Héctor García

Ikigai is a Japanese concept which translates to a reason for being. This concept is illustrated above by the Venn diagram created by Marc Vinn and Dan Buettner and Ikigai is the middle spot where the four categories overlap (What you are good at, What the world needs, What you can be paid for and What you love). The book dives into Japanese culture specifically in Okinawa where people tend to live longer than age of 100 by adopting the concept of Ikigai.

This book impacted be because it helped me realize finding joy in the most mundane activities in life. As well as, getting up everyday in the morning is a bliss. The secret for diet is to stop eating after you are 80% full. Here are the other key message takeaways:

• Stay active and don’t retire

• Don’t fill your stomach

• Take it slow

• Surround yourself with good friends

• Smile more

• Get in shape for your next birthday

• Reconnect with nature

• Live in the moment

• Give thanks

• Follow your Ikigai

2. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Flow is about being "in the zone". You are so deeply concentrated that you lose track of time. A lot of athletes tend to get in this zone when they can't miss a shot in basketball or they feel like everything is slowing down. To be in this zone, you have to find a challenge or task that's not too hard or too easy has to be in the middle.

This book impacted me because a lot of times I try to find that zone either trying to play basketball or a task I am trying to do. I realized that it's not that easy to get into it as I have tried many times. I have only been able to get into it when I am not trying too hard and just letting the "Flow" come to me.

3. Sapiens by  Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens is a book that traces back about 2.5 millions years ago in East Africa where first humans started to how we became 'Homo Sapiens' developed in present day. This book hits on concepts such as:

• Cognitive Revolution

• Evolution Success

• Scientific Revolution

• Money

• Industrial Revolution

• Global Culture

• Markets

• Present Modern Era

This book impacted me because of how we as Homo Sapiens "Wise Man" were able to survive and evolve over the other 6 homo species. We were able to survive over the others due to Homo Sapiens interbreeding with Homo Neanderthalensis. Additionally, we survived due to our brain power, using sharp tools to make fire and enabling us to digest food and communicate through language. As the book goes on, it talks about how the concept of 3 different revolutions and how money was created that evolved to today's global market.

Obviously, times and environment has changed but I thought it was interesting that back in the days pre-historical times as hunters and gatherers we were on the look out of fight or flight just to survive with other mammals. However, today we have fight or flight due to social media, job, money and status.