Book club

Hello everyone,

For decades now, the imaginations of people from all over the globe have been captivated by Hollywood movies. Equally important, online streaming video sites such as YouTube, Youku and iQiyi have recently become prominent sources of information, knowledge, and entertainment. In an era where a limitless and ever-expanding library of attractive video content is available at our literal fingertips, the appeal of reading books seems to have been overshadowed. However, our media diet, much like our actual diet, will have an observable impact on our mental well-being. If we consume balanced meals rich in a variety of nutrients, our health will see long-term benefits. If we consume fast food, loaded with sugar and salt, we will satisfy our short-term craving to fill our stomachs, but that craving will return again quickly, and the long-term results of such a diet are obesity and diseases, which will undoubtedly lower our quality of life. For our minds, books are like a clean, home cooked meal, essential to ensuring positive development. Binging on online videos may be more like binging on a bag of greasy potato chips; it’s ok in limited quantities, but is no substitute for proper daily sustenance. In this age of quick and easy access to video, let’s not forget the crucial benefits of keeping up a reading habit. That being said, we are reminded of what Garrison Keillor said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again,” a statement I agree with wholeheartedly. In addition, I would also say that a good book is a memorable gift that stays in your mind for a long time, like a great song with a catchy tune. Obviously, reading is a vital skill that broadens our intellectual horizons and can also bring us a unique kind of pleasure, as we connect to the information in a deeper and more active way than we can through video. All in all, reading helps us discover new things, develops our mind and imagination, and has the power to educate on any subject imaginable.

Given the immeasurable benefits of reading, GPN urges you to become a life-long book lover and a long-term member of its international book club. Here’s how our club works: We will provide you with a list of books for reading and discussion at a certain time of the year, then each month we will announce which book is pinpointed from the list. So, throughout the year, we will curate a selection of quality volumes with content in a wide variety of fields such as management, politics, communication, journalism, economics, literature, history, psychology, theology, health, sport, environment, education, computer science, etc. We firmly believe that this diverse selection of reading materials will help broaden your intellectual spectrum and deepen your understanding of the fields you are personally interested in. In short - we’ll help you prolong your satiety through the nutritious mental meals you might need to be or to remain well-educated and well-rounded in life.

Our selection criteria require that all the books we recommend are best sellers. In other words, they must have been read and loved by millions of people, translated into multiple languages and have sold through many printings. Some of those books highlight the findings of recent research, while others contain timeless wisdom, memories, facts, principles and values as well as lessons passed from one generation to another.

12 books are picked annually to carry the label of “GPN Book Selection of the Year.” Now then, we have selected this year’s materials in the hope that they will not only gratify your intellectual appetite, but also stimulate your mind with the gifts of knowledge and pleasure that reading can provide while helping you reach new levels of success academically, professionally, and socially.

So, on behalf of GPN executives and staff members, I wholeheartedly welcome you to the club, and I hope you will enjoy the memorable gift of our selection, and that you will take this opportunity and get the most out of our service!

Thank you all!

Dr. Jules Harris DANARSON,                     

Managing Director of GPN (Global Polyglots Net.).