Books are often called the “windows to the world,” as they enable us to explore different ideas, cultures, and experiences.

I like what Rene Descartes once said, “The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.”

Reading great books has a profound and lasting effect on our lives.

Whether for personal, professional, or academic growth, reading great books can transform how we think and act.

The great thing about reading is that it doesn’t require any special skills or expensive materials — all you need is a book and to be willing to learn.

Reading great books is one of the best ways to foster personal growth.

As an avid reader, I can attest that reading great books is the smartest thing you can do for your growth.

It’s like having a personal mentor or coach beside you, offering you invaluable advice without the hefty price tag.

Sometimes I fee like I own a personal library of knowledge helping me design the life I want.

Reading books is a great way to learn new things, gain perspective, and gain valuable information that can be applied to everyday life.

Not only can reading help you become more intelligent, but it can also help you become wiser, more confident, and more successful.

Timeless books that have stood the test of time have made significant contributions to literature, philosophy, science, and other disciplines.

They are helping people develop a deeper understanding of human nature, society, culture, and history.

Life and career-changing books offer a wealth of knowledge, insights, and perspectives that can help us grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

Learn from smart minds anywhere at your own pace

“A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors,” says Charles Baudelaire.

By engaging with complex and sophisticated texts, we can develop the capacity for meaning, reasoning, empathy, creativity, and imagination.

Books like “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl or “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho can inspire you to find your purpose or pursue meaning in life.

Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse makes a good case for long-term thinking or playing long-term games in all areas of life.

In The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel explains how emotions and personal bias influence money decisions. Read The Almanack of Naval Ravikant to learn how to earn with your mind, not your time.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle shows you how to make the most of every minute of your life.

Reading books on science, philosophy, and history can expand your intellectual horizons and help you appreciate the complexity and diversity of human knowledge.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari can help you explore human history as you’ve never read before.

In The Story of Philosophy, Will Durant explores the lives of great philosophers like Plato, Socrates, and Nietzsche.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius will teach you reason, logic, stoic philosophy and how to make sense of human suffering.

You can easily explore the genius minds of Richard P. Feynman, Einstein and Jennifer Doudna in Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, Einstein: His Life and Universe, and The Code Breaker, respectively.

Books on human consciousness can help you deepen your understanding of faith, transcendence, and the meaning of life.

Start with Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction by Susan Blackmore. She answers questions like what creates our identity? Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion?

Some of the best books on writing, literature, or journalism, like On Writing by Stephen King and Writing Well by William Zinsser, can teach you how to use language effectively and persuasively.

“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger can help you understand and empathize with different perspectives and experiences.

Insightful books on human imagination by authors like J.K. Rowling or Stephen King can inspire you to create your own stories and worlds.

Today a reader, tomorrow a better human

Reading great books by brilliant minds is how you expose yourself to new ideas, challenge your existing beliefs, expand your knowledge base, and improve your critical thinking skills.

It can even help you better understand the world and gain insight into yourself. Or better still, develop the skills you need to thrive in our complex and uncertain world.

Reading can also be a form of escapism, allowing you to enter new worlds and explore different perspectives, which can be both inspiring and comforting.

It can reduce stress, improve concentration and focus, enhance cognitive abilities, and boost self-esteem.

If you’re looking for a way to grow and develop, reading great books is by far the smartest thing you can do.

However, it is essential to remember that reading alone is not enough. You must also reflect on what you read, apply it to your life, and integrate it into your worldview.

“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you,” Mortimer J. Adler said.

So, if you want to grow, read widely, reflect deeply, and act thoughtfully.

This article originally appeared in Medium.