Written words have the power to inspire and change our lives. It’s no surprise, why actor Hrithik Roshan who was hooked to smoking has been able to get rid of the habit, courtesy a book he chanced upon. Allen Carr’s book, The Easy Way to Quit Smoking has helped Hrithik beat the habit and he’s now helping others kick the butt too! According to reports, Hrithik ordered the book and finished it in a day. Seven days later, he turned into a non-smoker, according to a source close to the 37-year-old. The actor has now bought 40 copies of the book to distribute amongst family and friends.
Celebs talk about that one book, which changed the course of their lives.
Actor Chandon Roy Sanyal shares, “The Outsider by Albert Camus has influenced me a lot. I was in that phase of my life, where I started to question who I am? I had started doing theatre around the same time. I chanced upon this book and after reading it read more books by the same author. Camus is my favourite author and he has been instrumental in shaping my life today.”
For designer Madhu Jain, reading the Sounds Of Silence: A Bridge Across Two Worlds by Nan Umrigar has been a life-altering experience. She says, “Strange, uncanny things started to happen before I read the book. I started meeting people who knew Nan’s son Karl who died in an accident. I shared it with my friend Rhea Pillai who then gave me Nan aunty’s number. When I heard about Meher Baba, I felt a connection with him. Life has changed after I read the book and now I try and help people whichever way I can. It can’t be a mere co-incidence meeting people who were connected to Karl and later Nan aunty and I connected. This book has changed the way I look at life.”
Sometimes, our friends and well-wishers guide us to the book meant for us. Something similar happened with artist Alka Raghuvanshi, who was cajoled by her friends to pick up Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond.
“There was a point in my life where I took up a job which was mainly sedentary and as a result I put on weight. My friends recommended this book and I lost 22 kgs. It’s a simple book and I have been recommending it ever since. Another book which impacted my life is The Power of your Sub-Conscious Mind by Dr Joseph Murphy. It’s another amazing book which has changed my life for the better.”
Meanwhile, photographer Atul Kasbekar defines Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged as the “one”. “This book gave me a whole new perspective on self respect and the power of self belief in one’s conviction.”