Bookworm Friday: 5 Books Recommendations from Dominika Leśniak

I'm a part of Krakow Operations Team, you might know me from Reception Desk, wellbeing initiatives and usually it's me chasing you for book recommendations. But this time I was nominated by Krzysztof Kubas and decided to take up the challenge and share my list. Enjoy reading!

1. Alexandra David-Neel, My Journey to Lhasa:The Classic Story of the Only Western Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the Forbidden City

No-can-do?

Have you ever resisted doing something that was important to you because you believed you can’t do it?

Alexandra David-Neel is a pioneer with the courage to break barriers.

In 1923 she set out on an expedition to Tibet and she was the first European woman who entered the forbidden city, Lhasa. The book is a personal recounting of her journey.

It's a fascinating story about how to survive in danger and achieve dream goals. Great lesson from the person who knows how to live – she lived to 100 years old!

2. Thich Nhat Hanh, Silence

We live in a very busy world, always in rush, with billions of things to do.

In this simple but profound book, the Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee teach us how to discover the power of silence.

So how to pause "radio non-stop-thinking" in our head and find the cure for the busy world? We can go to the Plum Village and meet the Zen master himself, or absorb his knowledge from his books. I read “Silence” in one go, lying on the grass, surrounded by sounds of the forest, I felt like I was in Plum Village. This book is a life-changing reminder of the law of nature and human needs.

3. Matthew Walker, Why we sleep

We all do sleep. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. In this book, a great neuroscientist shows how a good night's sleep makes us cleverer, more attractive and happier! Why 5 hours of sleeping are enough for giraffes but not enough for humans. How do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? This book works as a great medicine, protects from insomnia, nightmares, recurrent bad dreams, fear, and premonitions. Highly recommended for all sleep-lovers!

4.Ölziitögs Luvsandorj, Aquarium 

Mongolian short surrealistic novel.

Imagine, you move to the aquarium and watch everything from the fish perspective. The aquarium is being put on your desk at your home, so let's say you are still in your normal life, but you are mute and almost invisible. 

During the unusual time of COVID, this transparent glass may be a good comparison to quarantine, lockdown, separation. But what exactly can happen to the mute fish watching her previous life?

5. Alain de Botton,  The Art of Travel

Travel is a state of mind. In this wise book full of anecdotes and curiosities we travel through time and stories. We discover many aspects of travel, follow the various personalities – from world explorers Alexander von Humboldt to Xavier de Maistre who traveled around his room.

Botton- the master of essay shows the value of details and the pleasure of anticipation f. eg. in E.Hopper art. Pithy and quintessential.