Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, was famous across the world for his contribution towards science and technology. His contributions to the missile development are unforgettable in the country which made him confer the title of ”Missile Man of India.” From a boy who sold newspapers to becoming the President of India, Abdul Kalam’s life is a true inspiration for every student. The Bharat Ratna recipient, who witnessed numerous ups and downs in life, has penned books that address all the burning issues in the country.
“I heard all the time that people are reading less and less these days Perhaps there are more distractions, more gadgets, our lives are too busy to find a quiet corner and savour a book. Yet, this is a habit what we need to keep alive in ourselves and inculcate in future generations. Reading is to the mind what a good meal is to the body. It sustains, it nourishes, it helps us think, it helps us grow.” – APJ Abdul Kalam.
Here are 12 classic books that are loved and recommended by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
1.Light from Many Lamps: A Treasury of Inspiration by Lillian Eichler Watson
‘Light from many Lamps’ is a classic book of motivation including hundreds of passages and quotations, selected from the knowledge of the ages. The book offers an invaluable idea and guidance on the tests of day-to-day life. The book not only contains the world’s most inspiring views and ideas but also the various stories behind them. These stories include answers to questions like how they came to be written and what their influence has been on others. A book full of inspired and inspiring clarification, it is a collection of brief, inspiring biographies as well.
The book is a collection of inspiring stories, essays and anecdotes from people around the world including John Burroughs, Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D Roosevelt, William Cullen Bryant, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Shakespeare, Hippocrates, and Confucius.
2. The Tirukkural by Thiruvalluvar
Dr Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, then a village located in Southeast Tamil Nadu. As a result, he felt deeply connected with Tamil literature and philosophy, and often quoted the beloved classic Tirukkural.
The Tirukkuṟaḷ, or shortly the Kural, is a classic Tamil language text consisting of 1,330 short couplets, or kurals, of seven words each. The text is divided into three books with aphoristic teachings on virtue, wealth and love, respectively.
3. Man the Unknown, Alexis Carrel
Man, The Unknown is a best-selling book by Alexis Carrel where he endeavors to outline a comprehensive account what is known and more importantly unknown of the human body and human life. The book elucidates problems of the modern world, and possible routes to a better life for human beings.
In most of Dr Kalam speeches, he had emphasized the importance of having a healthy mind, which thrives in a healthy body. To justify this, he uses several quotes from this book.
4. Code Name God, Mani Bhaumik
Dr Kalam was a man who loved science and space. A major portion of his book collection included those related to science.
The author explains his journey from a small town in Bengal to Bel Air during the turbulent periods, when famine had struck Bengal and amidst the chaos of the freedom struggle. The book comes with the interesting techniques of the LASIK technology.
5. Secret The Power, Rhonda Byrne
Secret the Power by Rhonda Byrne is one of the book recommended by Dr. Kalam. The book includes the topics such as power, courage, self confidence.
The book emphasizes on the fact that if a person has faith in himself and approaches life with a positive attitude, he or she can achieve success to the maximum limit. The Power to Believe can lead a person to achieve healthy relationships, monetary success and fine health. In short, a person can achieve whatever is desired by him or her just by having faith and belief in oneself. Good emotions and feelings can be attained by welcoming and appreciating the environment around us.
6. Everyday Greatness by Stephen R Covey, David K Hatch
The three key decisions that readers of this book are urged to make each day are where to focus your efforts, where you want to go, and what your guiding values are. The book includes biographies of some of the most well-known authors and personalities, including Maya Angelou, Jack Benny, and Henry David Thoreau.
7. Gitanjali, Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore explores a variety of topics, from the pastoral to the divine. The verses are considered songs of devotion. The book was translated by W B Yeats in 1912.
8. Empires of the Mind: Lessons to Lead and Succeed In a Knowledge-Based World by Denis Waitley
This book explains why standard management practices, job descriptions and career tracks are obsolete. In order to succeed, individuals, at every level, must re-invent themselves as their companies and institutions restructure the way they function. This book has the answers to men and women interested in “re-engineering” themselves as well as their corporations. The author focuses on the qualities essential to each of us in every profession.
9. The Prophet, Khalil Gibran
Dr Kalam has mentioned several times about his interest in reading religious texts and novels.
The Prophet is full of religious inspirations. The book took more than eleven years to be formulated. The Prophet has been translated into forty languages throughout the world and is considered the most widely read book of 20th century.
10. The Seat Of The Soul, Gary Zukav
When it came to recommendations, motivational books has been Dr Kalam’s favourite. This iconic book encourages you to become the authority in your own life. It will change the way you see the world, interact with other people, and understand your own actions and motivations.
11. Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita refers to one of the central characters of the narrative, Lord Krishna. The tale takes place at the Battle of Kurukshetra, fought between Arjuna’s family and allies (the Pandavas) and those of the prince Duryodhana and his family (the Kauravas).
The Bhagavad Gita encourages us to live life with purity, strength, discipline, honesty, kindness and integrity in order to find our purpose and to live it fully.
12. Wings of fire: Autobiography of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari
The ‘Wings of Fire’ is an autobiography by visionary scientist Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who from very humble beginnings rose to be the President of India. The book is full of insights, personal moments and life experiences of Dr. Kalam. It gives us an understanding on his journey of success. Dr. Kalam by narrating his life journey evokes the reader to identify with one’s inner fire and potential, for he was of the firm belief that each one of us was born with the strength and potential to make a tangible change in the world. How he inspired himself to achieve dreams and how he went about accomplishing so much is what the book captures nicely.