Celebrating National Library "Shelfie" Day
Mez Joseph
Happy National Library “Shelfie” Day! This day is celebrated annually on the fourth Wednesday in January to promote reading and libraries by encouraging people to take photos of their bookshelves and share them. Initiated in 2014 by the New York Public Library, the day encourages sharing unique personal, school, or library book collections. In addition to sharing “shelfies” today, we thought we’d ask our studio to share some of their favorite books and why they love them. Here are a few of their favorite picks:
The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak
Why I love this book: The story is beautifully told with such rich context as it demonstrates how architecture can be a metaphor for life.
Favorite Passage: “It was after this incident that Jahan understood his master’s secret resided not in his toughness, for he was not tough, nor in his indestructibility, for he was not indestructible, but in his ability to adapt to change and calamity, and to rebuild himself, again and again, out of the ruins. While Jahan was made of wood, and Davud of metal, and Nikola of stone, and Yusuf of glass, Sinan was made of flowing water. When anything blocked his course, he would flow under, around, above it, however he could; he found his way through the cracks, and kept flowing forward.”
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Why I love this book: I first read Flowers for Algernon in my 8th grade English class, and it's been my go-to book ever since. When I need to read something meaningful, it helps me think outside of my own head.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Why I love this book: It’s an intense, uncompromising defense of individualism, integrity, and creative independence. For me personally, it was life-changing, empowering, and deeply thought-provoking.
Favorite Passage: "Your work, the material the earth offers you, and what you make of it, is the meaning of life."
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Why I love this book: It’s a collection of poetic essays in which a wise prophet shares profound insights on love, passion, work, reason, death, freedom, and more, offering timeless wisdom on the human condition.
Favorite Passage: "I do not recognize anyone’s right to one minute of my life. Nor to any part of my energy. Nor to any achievement of mine... I don't intend to build in order to have clients. I intend to have clients in order to build."
Happy reading to all, and remember, reading is fundamental!