Recently, we celebrated “Top 3 Readers on the Booster platform” at Valoris, an initiative through which we reward the top 3 colleagues who have read the most over the past 12 months.
Our winners are Teodora Tiron, Gabriel Stan, and Cezara Ciobotaru. We are extremely proud of them and the consistence they show in their personal development through reading.
At Valoris Center, we continuously encourage the professional and personal development of our team, and the Bookster benefit is a clear example of this commitment. We strongly believe that reading is an essential tool for intellectual and emotional growth, and by providing access to a wide range of books, all our colleagues have the opportunity to explore new ideas, get inspired, and improve their skills.
Now, let’s return to our top, as we invite you to get inspired by the most active readers at Valoris Center. We talked to them and found out their favorite books and genres, and at the end, we asked them for some recommendations.
Let’s start with Cezara:
What is your favorite book on the Bookster platform, and what captivated you about its story?
One of the hardest questions in the world. 😊 There are many books that I enjoyed immensely, each is special in its own way and takes you on a unique journey. A book I read recently and liked a lot is “The Light We Carry” by Michelle Obama. It is a book that challenges you to seek answers to the essential questions of life, to reflect on change and challenges, to identify your sources of joy, and to live with courage, as “In the light, we become bolder.” “When we can recognize the light within us, we become able to use it.”
What literary genre do you prefer to read most often, and what has drawn you to this genre over time?
I prefer to read mystery and psychology books most often and balance them constantly to keep my enthusiasm and have a well-rounded reading experience. Mystery books are like Netflix series; I can’t put the book down until I reach the conclusion, no matter how many “seasons” it has. 😊 Behavioral psychology, on the other hand, offers a deep understanding of people’s motivations, emotions, and actions. The human mind is fascinating and complex, and exploring it helps me discover how various experiences and environmental factors influence our behavior. These readings offer valuable perspectives on interpersonal relationships and how we can improve communication and mutual understanding.
What collection of books do you recommend to your colleagues at Valoris, and why do you think it would be an inspiring choice for them?
For Mystery:
– “Fjällbacka” series by Camilla Läckberg: This series of Scandinavian crime novels combines complex intrigues with the picturesque landscapes of Sweden, offering a captivating and suspenseful read.
– “Cormoran Strike” by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling): The adventures of detective Cormoran Strike are full of complicated mysteries and well-drawn characters, making these books hard to put down.
– “Millennium” by Stieg Larsson: This is a fascinating series that explores themes like corruption and abuse of power, while also offering an unforgettable story through its complex and well-developed characters.
For Psychology:
– Books by Malcolm Gladwell: Gladwell is known for his unique way of exploring and explaining social and psychological phenomena. Books like “Blink,” “Outliers,” and “The Tipping Point” are full of fascinating insights.
– Books by Irvin D. Yalom: Yalom is a renowned psychotherapist and author whose works, like “When Nietzsche Wept” and “The Gift of Therapy,” offer deep insights into human psychology and interpersonal relationships.
– Books by Gáspár György: If you prefer Romanian authors and a more familiar cultural approach, Gáspár György is an excellent choice. His works address themes of personal development and relationships, offering valuable and applicable perspectives in everyday life.
Let’s continue with Gabriel:
What is your favorite book on the Bookster platform, and what captivated you about its story?
My new favorite book that I recently finished is “Homo Deus” by Yuval Noah Harari. The book follows the development and advancement of new technologies and focuses mainly on the disappearance of classical problems like diseases, hunger, and war, which have been replaced by the loss of self-meaning, validity, and humanity, and the possibility of biological engineering, which could lead to the emergence of “gods,” people beyond our physical and mental capacities, who could replace us, just as Homo Sapiens led to the extinction of other Homo species.
What literary genre do you prefer to read most often, and what has drawn you to this genre over time?
My favorite literary genre is the scientific genre, but I also have a soft spot for fiction or classic stories/fables. My most recent two readings were “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, followed by “Fram, the Polar Bear” by Cezar Petrescu. It’s a duality that I greatly enjoy in reading, from works and specialized readings in very real fields to fantastical stories in distant worlds. The next two books I plan to read are “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” the third book in Yuval Noah’s trilogy, followed by the “Hunger Games” series, which I have already purchased.
What collection of books do you recommend to your colleagues at Valoris, and why do you think it would be an inspiring choice for them?
For those passionate about psychology, I recommend “The Wisdom of Psychopaths,” “The Good Psychopath’s Guide to Success,” and “Psycho” by Kevin Dutton. For those interested in science and sociology, I recommend the trilogy written by Yuval Noah Harari. For fans of manga, light novels, or anime, I wholeheartedly recommend series like “One Piece,” “Chainsaw Man,” and “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure,” both the written versions and the shows.
Our top concludes with Teodora:
What is your favorite book on the Bookster platform, and what captivated you about its story?
“All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr is a book I had wanted to read for a long time. It is a story about life, pain, war, and overcoming obstacles. The action takes place 90% during World War II and presents, in parallel, the life of Marie Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl, the life of Werner Pfenning, a German orphan passionate about technology and radios, and the story of a cursed diamond. The three stories unfold in parallel, against the backdrop of war, pain, but also hope, and intertwine on a fateful day in a small town in France on the ocean’s edge.
Marie Laure is my favorite character in the novel. I could never imagine what it must be like to lose one’s sight, but she seemed truly remarkable to me. Her strength from the beginning to the end of the novel is exceptional. Despite her handicap, she manages to see the world in such a beautiful way, which is truly impressive. The ending, regarding her, clearly shows that people are capable of anything when they set their minds to it.
What collection of books do you recommend to your colleagues at Valoris, and why do you think it would be an inspiring choice for them?
– “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse: The journey of a man who starts out being “perfect” and how he realizes that the absolute means something entirely different. I’m sure you’ll like it.
– “The Elementary Particles” by Michel Houellebecq: The way two brothers raised by different people end up having completely different lives yet similar problems. Very insightful for what parenting and raising a future adult mean. Bonus: at the end, there is a very cool described utopia.
Bookster is just one example of how Valoris Center invests in the development of the team. We encourage all colleagues to take advantage of this opportunity.
Reading is not just a pleasant activity but also a way to develop our creativity, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Every book read is a step forward in our journey of learning and self-improvement.