3 memoirs that made an everlasting impact on me
Hello friend,
There is something about a well-written memoir that is extremely powerful.
The words jump out of the page. It feels that the person is sitting in front of you and telling you their story.
And sometimes, when a few ideas from their personal lives resonate with you, it feels like you have undergone a small shift within you.
I have not read as many memoirs as I’d have wished.
But, I have stumbled across memoirs that have stayed with me over all these years.
So, in this short and sweet edition, I will share 3 memoirs I have enjoyed immensely over the past few years:
1. If Truth Be Told – A Monk’s Memoir by Om Swami
I have mentioned this a few times in this newsletter but this list would be incomplete without it. I think it was one of the first memoirs I had ever read when I was in college.
It is the memoir by Om Swami – a multimillionaire corporate professional who renounced the material world to become a monk. I visited his ashram earlier this year but could not meet him personally.
But, I keep revisiting his memoir from time to time when I feel the need to connect with him.
2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Often found under self-help bestseller lists, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl is a memoir of his experiences during the Holocaust in a Nazi concentration camp.
The writing is simple and conversational despite the horrors it conveys. But, it leaves you with a perspective on finding meaning in life in any situation.
If you have not read any of the three books here, this would be my top recommendation.
3. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Alright alright alright! (see what I did there? :D)
I know that it might sound weird to have Matthew McConaughey in the same league as Viktor Frankl or Om Swami but it is my list and I have read only a few memoirs. 😛
And trust me on this one when I say it is no less spiritual and meaningful than the other two. Sometimes I keep it near my bedside and turn on the Greenlights when I feel engulfed in the darkness.
Yes, he is a famous Hollywood actor but have you seen him talking in videos? I mean the guy can play Jesus Christ and I’ll believe him! Jokes apart, I think Greenlights is one of the most heartwarming memoirs I have ever read from a living celebrity.
And if you have not read memoirs because you think memoirs are boring, I dare you to pick this one!
That’s all from me this week, folks!
Until next time,
Love,
Vishal