I need recommendations (new reader)

[Saad]

Hi,

I'm a new reader. I started reading few years ago and it's one of my favorite moments to sit and have in my hands a cup of coffee to drink and a book to read.

Unfortunately, I didn't read a lot of books during all these years. The first book I started with was Sapiens for Yuval Noah Harari. I enjoyed it very much. I then read some of the very well known books like Alchemist and Tuesdays with Morrie, and for some reason I didn't enjoy reading them as much as a lot of people did.

I then read another very well known self development book (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). Although I appreciate the advices in it but the language was not the easiest to read or the most relating-to or entertaining one. It was too long and boring sometimes, but again some advices were helpful while others, for me, were not worthy to spend time reading +350 pages book.

After it, I read (The Richest Man in Babylon) and it was great! A financial treasure which has some really valuable advices on the ancient methods of dealing with and gaining money which are still valid till this day.

I would very much like to read in the following fields, so any recommendations would be highly appreciated:

1. History of the World - humankind's history including all the history's famous characters, wars, revolutions, scientific progress, religions, etc.. I would assume that it would be hard (no?) requesting a book which summarizes in a descending manner all history's main events and characters from oldest to newest in all fields (scientists, religious leaders, political leaders, war leaders, history's empires, etc..)

2. Short novels - I would really love to read some entertaining stories with valuable morals or thrilling mysteries which hold your breath so you can't wait to sit the next time and complete to see what happens next. I know some books are very famous like Pride & Prejudice and Harry Potter but they are too long and not what I'm looking for.

3. Meaning of Life - And the search for meaning and purpose.

4. Self Development - I read, as stated before, the 7 habits, and it was not what I was hoping fore. I don't want books that instructs me with do's and do not's and sketching some diagrams. I'm looking for a language I can relate to supported by the everyday life situations we all do face.

That's it in a nutshell, would appreciate and welcome all suggestions.

Thanks.

[Christine]

[Tracy]

The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick.

[Kimberly]

The Test by Sylvain Neuvel is 112 pages, very thought provoking.