My book recommendations for 2024

By Trevor Ncube

It is Harry S. Truman who said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

I discovered the gift of reading in my 30s and l now l can’t imagine life without books.

Evidence points to the fact that there is a global decline in reading, particularly among the young. Apparently, the young believe reading is only necessary for passing exams and that books are for old people.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The confident ignorance on social media arguments points to the need for all sorts of serious reading, particularly by the young generation. WhatsApp forwards are no substitutes for reading news in this fake news age. And audio books are not books at all.

Reading is fundamentally important for informed voters and the health of democracy.

Writing in The Week, author and politician, Shashi Tharoor @shashiTharoor endorses Margaret Atwood’s warning that “If there are no young readers and writers there will shortly be no older ones. Literacy will be dead, and democracy will be dead as well.”

In this age of instant gratification, likes, X posts, reposts and information overload, we are perhaps the most ignorant generation since creation began.

I am dyslexic and so reading and writing require some effort. I read for many reasons including continuously improving myself, growing my vocabulary and sharpening my writing skills.

In 1989 when I was employed as the Financial Gazette assistant editor, one of my lecturers was convinced I would fail because I could not “write a paragraph to save my life. I am sure he would be proud of what reading and forcing myself to write has done over the past 30 years.

Reading has changed me. It has challenged and grown me. Reading has expanded my world and opened vistas I never knew existed. I am generally a curious person and being able to feed this part of me through reading has been a pleasurable journey.

The @TrevorBookClub recommendations have been an important source of the books l read. I am also delighted that the book section is a favourite part of the In Conversation with Trevor (ICWT) for many people.

Below are my book recommendations for 2024 if you have not yet read them.

I read the Bible about twice a day and make an effort to read it from Genesis to Revelation once a year.

1. Bible
2. The Four Agreements – by Don Miguel Ruiz
3. Born in Blackness – by Howard French
4. Team of Rivals – by Doris Goodwin
5. What we owe each other – by Manouche Shafik
6. How Democracies Die – by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
7. 12 Rules for Life – by Jordan Peterson
8. Elon Musk – by Walter Isaacson
9. ZERO to ONE – by Peter Thiel
10. Life after Google – byGeorge Gilder
11. The Art of Possibility – by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander
12. Think Again – by Adam Grant
13. The Narrow Corridor – by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson
14. Difficult Conversations – by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen
15. Disorder (Hard Times in the 21st Century) – by Helen Thompson

I hope you make reading part of your life from 2024. I tend to read a lot over the holidays and when travelling. Books make an important part of my shopping list.

I would love to hear what books you are reading to add onto my list.

Please drop me an email marked TrevorBookClub to [email protected]

Thank you for your support in 2023.

We are taking a long break so that we are back in 2024 recharged and revitalised.

In Conversation with Shakemore Timburwa

Shakemore Timburwa, is a young Zimbabwean entrepreneur who was listed among the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 class of 2021. His profile has opened doors for him in high places. He says Zimbabwean President , Emmerson Mnangagwa is his godfather. He shares his entrepreneurial journey and what role political connections have played in his business journey. Watch her episode here..

Audience Responses

From the Shakemore Timburwa episode, our community had this to say:

@theclassics7513:

undoubtedly Trevor is the best presenter we have in the country. So calm, collective and mature. we now need him to interview Chamisa, Biti and ED.

@blessedchimbgha1622:

The calm excellence in Trevor is unmatched. Your versatility to flow in the same tide with your guest during the conversations is world class.

@tereraiafrica:

I work in the office of a wealthy private equity manager who has huge interests in zim. He told me there isnt success without political affiliation, even Strive Masiyiwa has his brilliant lawyer Tawanda Nyambirai cutting deals for him. Good work to feed your family but only God knows how much you benefit from the system. No hate, just facts from a fellow diaspora entrepreneur

@robertlazarus6398:

All I see is,people are born grabbing their talents,nomatter how hard you fight to be like someone else,you will only get to your level..also a lesson taught is,the strongest and most effective combination is the combination of education and knowing God especially from an early stage,truly you have a bright and unlimited future,.very much inspired with such a young boy possessing huge.Blessed are the humble.God bless you

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