1 Decade, 10 Books

In 10 years, I'll be around the age my parents were when they got married. 

In 10 years, I'd have hopefully made my way up the steepest but most rewarding hill in my life: medical school.

In 10 years, I'd hopefully be in the best shape of my life, jacked beyond jacked, ready to crush problems and protein shakes. 

In 10 years, I'll have to complete the hardest task of them all: read 10 books before the clock hits zero. 

 

Year 1: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

One of the most important things in college is learning to interact with other individuals who will most likely have differing opinions/beliefs. "Pride and Prejudice," a book about overcoming biases for a relationship, will serve as a good lesson/base for a curious freshman student entering into a university. 

Year 2: "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy

This book focuses on the impact of war and change. During this period, hopefully as a sophomore student, I will be going through difficult times adjusting to/surviving in college. Reading a book about inevitable change due to conflict and struggle, will help me during this time, as I learn to get used to a different life away from the comforts of home.

Year 3: "Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel  

As this book focuses on the personal decisions/motives revolving around financial gain, I think it will be an interesting read for a student preparing to spend more money on schooling and other resources. It's almost like exploring the drive behind monetary gain and I think that it would serve me well to read it, well before I start making any money. Additionally, psychology is an interesting field for a STEM student. 

Year 4: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

This year will either be the year I study for the MCAT or the year I graduate. Nevertheless, I will be nearing my graduation from my undergraduate studies at this point in my life.  This book will teach me how to succeed when interacting with others, something I will have to undoubtedly do as I get older, not only to establish connections for jobs/business opportunities, but also for everlasting personal connections. 

Year 5: "What Color is Your Parachute" by Richard Nelson Bolles

It's a book that will help me decide my future career paths. This will be a transformative year for me. It is a year where I will have realized my dreams or decide to pivot my career/life. By reading a book that helps me guide my potential career choices, I will be able to establish some clear direction if I am lost, and refine any existing paths. 

Year 6: "Limitless" by Jim Kwik

It's a book that will teach me to read efficiently, helping me with school work. Just in case, if I haven't learned how to read the textbooks at this point in my life, this book will help me with an even more complex schooling process/curriculum. 

Year 7: "Make Your Bed" by Admiral William H. McRaven

At this point in my life, I really don't know where I'll be at, both mentally and physically. But a bit of encouragement and motivation won't hurt. This book encourages readers to start the day off with a win, building good habits and maintaining success. This will probably be crucial to a medical student (hopefully) who has most likely gotten crushed by schooling and testing for the last several years. 

Year 8: "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan

This is a book that serves as an allegory to represent the spiritual journey of man through trials and tribulations. For me personally, I believe it can serve me well both spiritually, in my Christian faith, and also remind me of my journey thus far academically. The book has the potential to resonate deeply within me, reminding me that the work I have put in thus far, all of the failures and knockdowns, were all for a greater purpose. 

Year 9: "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales" by Oliver Sacks

This is the year that I will hopefully graduate medical school by. It will again be a transitional year for me, as I begin to leave behind my schooling years and hopefully inch closer and closer to my occupation. This book is crucial for me to read as it helps portray experiences from the patient's mindset, helping doctors further understand the purpose of their occupation and the cases that they encounter. 

Year 10: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

The final year, the final book. Almost a decade of flipping pages all comes down to this one read. A book about a Holocaust survivor, it explores finding meaning in the most bleak of reality and life. I think it's an important read for all humans, allowing for us to find a greater appreciation in the life and opportunities that we all are blessed to have.