You Have A Story to Tell Hidden in Plane Sight

30 Mar 2026 #writing

Every book worm already has a story worth telling.

The books you read reflect who you are and the path you’ve taken. Your bookshelf hides plenty of stories, among them lies your own autobiography.

After a year or two of ebooks, I’m back to physical books. My new rule is: build a pile, go throught it, and build another.

My old pile already tells my recent story

When I was making a good salary at my last full time job, I picked Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Richest Man in Babylon, and Psychology of Money.

Then, I switched to How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and other personal development books. Most of them came from a not-mentor.

When burnout knocked at my door, I picked Unwinding Anxiety and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.

When I hit rock-bottom, I discovered James Altucher and his books, Choose Yourself, Choose Yourself Guide to Wealth, and Skip the Line.

After recovering from burnout, writing became my therapy. To improve my writing, I started with The Post Office and Jesus’ Son. And sitting on my bookshelf, I have Angel and Demons and The Old Man and The Sea.

Just by looking at my bookshelf, I have a story to tell and a book to write. What story is your bookshelf hiding? If you think you don’t have anything to share, look twice at the books you’ve read.