Bookmarks on My Soul: A Tale of Three Life-Changing Books

List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

There are books you read, and there are books that read you. Some pages don’t just flip; they flip you. If I had to line up the literary giants that left footprints on my heart, my top three would be: The Bible, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and Ego is the Enemy. Three wildly different genres, three wildly different voices, but all somehow whispering the same message: “Grow, but stay grounded.”

Let’s start with The Bible—arguably the OG of soul food. This isn’t just a religious book. It’s a 66-course meal for the human spirit, offering everything from poetry to prophecies, parables to parenting tips. It’s the only book that has made me cry without even trying, comforted me when Google had no answers, and given me mic-drop quotes like:
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
This one sentence has saved me from sending more regrettable WhatsApp messages than I care to admit.

Then came The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari—Robin Sharma’s fable that gave me a mental U-turn without charging for toll. This book told me it’s okay to be driven, but not to be driven insane. It reminded me that success without peace is just a high-end anxiety disorder. The idea of simplifying life hit me hard—like, “Why am I storing Tupperware lids without their boxes? Is this symbolic of my mind?”
As the book says: “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”
And suddenly, my to-do list shrunk. I traded “achieve everything” for “feel something.”

And then… Ego is the Enemy. Oh, Ryan Holiday, you brutally honest man! This book is like that friend who doesn’t sugarcoat but still brings you cake. It pulled me aside and whispered, “Your ego is not confidence, it’s just you in a fancy costume yelling, ‘Look at me!’”
It taught me that humility isn’t about being small—it’s about making space for growth.
“Impressing people is utterly different from being truly impressive.”
Ouch. That quote stung. But sometimes, truth should sting like Dettol.

Together, these books form my personal holy trinity of wisdom, each anchoring me when life tries to sweep me off my emotional feet.

I’ve laughed through their irony, cried over their truths, and even argued with them like they were roommates who left the milk out. But in the end, they’ve become bookmarks in the story of me.

And if you’re still reading this, here’s a final thought to tuck under your pillow:

“Your bookshelf is your biography in disguise. Choose your authors like you choose your friends.”

So the next time you wander into a bookstore, remember—you’re not just buying paper and ink. You might just be adopting a new voice for your soul.

Thought to Ponder:
Is your ego driving your Ferrari, or are you walking barefoot towards your purpose—one silent, soulful step at a time?