Mumbaikars share inspirational books that helped changed their lives

If you are a reader you are familiar with the transformational power of words Be it stories from across the world lived experiences or knowledge from diverse expertisemdashthe books which find us every reader knows that it is them who find us not vice versa can inspire change within us and how we engage with society On World Book Day we asked Mumbaikars to share the titles that have inspired them in the deepest of ways We hope that these books shall point you to new directions and find new homes Remember every book here has been handpicked by a Mumbaikar who toils hard for their dreams and a better life Happy readingA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanPhoto courtesy Abhishek DadooldquoSome might see him as a grumpy old man ndash but to me Ove is an inspirationrdquo admits corporate lawyer and partner at Khaitan amp Co Abhishek Dadoo Elaborating on his fascination with the titular character Dadoo adds ldquoOve symbolises basic yet fading virtues like strength of character and enduring love His story is a blend of emotions wit and drama ndash and through the joy madness and misery that life ensures each one of us will face he comes out with his beliefs intact The aptly coined phrase lsquomen are what they are because of what they do not what they sayrsquo beautifully summarises an aspirational value system which is in quick decline in the modern world where often talk is more valued than actionrdquoThe 36yearold outlines how stories that are relatable and resonate with us have the capacity to transform ldquoNot to imply that Ove is perfect ndash he has several flaws and perhaps thatrsquos what makes this so relatable In his small universe Ove learns to love hate and love again ndash and itrsquos fascinating to observe how kindness a form of love ndash first by his wife Sonja and then his neighbour Parvaneh ndash transforms for the better Ove and everything around him In the end the life of lsquoA Man called Oversquo symbolises hope where one thinks all is lost because lsquoyou only need one ray of light to chase all the shadows awayrsquo Ove is now a good friend of mine I hope you get to meet him someday toordquoHealing Back Pain by Dr John E SarnoPhoto courtesy Mallika BajajIt sounds a bit dramatic to say This book changed my life but its true Its impact on my life is almost spiritualrdquo says actor and yoga teacher Mallika Bajaj She tells us that the book was recommended to her eight years ago when she was experiencing chronic pain and had been diagnosed with multiple problems in her spinal cord and sacroiliac joints ldquoI was recommended for surgery and was hungry for a cure I read the reviews studied Dr Sarnos body of work and voila I fixed myself via the guidance in a bookmdashnot via physiotherapists or chiropractors or pain medicationsmdashjust knowledge and implementationrdquo shares BajajThe book inspired her to help people with chronic pain She is currently working on a documentary highlighting significant mind body disorders and Dr Sarnos work The Bandra West resident concludes ldquoI have been lucky to have helped people and make headway in that direction I believe the world is currently going through an epidemic of mindbody disorders and this knowledge could help the masses If youre reading this and experiencing nagging neck or back pain I urge you to order the book Repressed emotions anxiety and perfectionism can lead to disorders like back pain primarily but also knee shoulder wrist neck ankle pain spasms tension headaches IBS etc For this to work for you one needs courage consistent study of the concept of TMS complete faith and Dr Sarnos books The results are miraculous This book has had a deep impact on my work and my understanding of the human mindrdquoThe 1Page Marketing PlanPhoto courtesy Nehha R KhilnanildquoEver since I can remember I have always felt this innate drive in me to build something of my own and add value to the relationships Irsquove created Maybe thatrsquos what being a Mumbaikar meansrdquo shares founder of Connekting Dots PR and Brand Communications Nehha R Khilnani As a young entrepreneur she believes in the importance of constantly improving her skills to stay ahead of time and tells us that reading a wide variety of material helps herThe Bandra West resident explains ldquoIrsquove found this book to be extremely insightful as it takes a very practical approach to my industry Its focused on maintaining and retaining the relationships we build with our leads who then become our target customers and eventually clients with whom we work for years We often get clouded by numerous issues that arise both externally and internally Reading helps me benefit from expert guidance and attain clarity for my own approach which I can then use to help those who need it at the time of crisis mostly It helps me stay focused and calm even when endless situations keep arising unexpectedlyrdquoAlso Read World Book DayHindi poet Anamika on why feminism has changed in India today