Bliss of Books

 

The image above has a very interesting story behind it. A few years ago, Sidra, Markhor’s CEO and co-founder, asked members of our community to name books they wanted to get their hands on, that were unavailable in Pakistan at the time. She then brought the said books for our Markhor family from the States when she visited her hometown later that year. 

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Books are quite magical, aren’t they? The feel of the textured paper between your fingers as you turn the page to unveil what the next chapter holds. The sound of the turning page ringing through your ears, making them tingle with delight. The smell of the new book you’d been wanting to read for a while. They’re worlds within worlds waiting to be discovered and all you have to do is open the first page. 

 

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” 

– Albert Einstein

 

Being absorbed in a good book is one of life’s little pleasures. It offers you solace in this fast-paced world, a time of peace when you can transfigure into anyone and teleport anywhere. Here are some of Markhor Team’s favourite books that we hope can inspire your reading and keep you company when you need it the most.  

 

  

21 Lessons for the 21st Century.

Written by Yuval Noah Harari.

Published in 2018.

In a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power. Censorship works not by blocking the flow of information, but rather by flooding people with disinformation and distractions. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century cuts through these muddy waters and confronts some of the most urgent questions on today’s global agenda.

“Being a designer, reading about design and design history is one thing. I have always been interested in how rapidly advancing technology is changing the way of designing and design itself. The thing I love about this book is that it really takes you into the future, and makes you rethink the ideas of how relevant your work would be in the near future and beyond.”

 — Noor, Creative Lead

 

Humans of New York.

Written by Brandon Stanton. 

Published in 2013.

Humans of New York  began in the summer of 2010, when photographer Brandon Stanton set out to create a photographic census of New York City. Armed with his camera, he began crisscrossing the city, covering thousands of miles on foot, all in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories. The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called "Humans of New York," in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes.

“I had been following Brandon’s photolog (on Facebook) for some time when I came across Humans of New York. It was incredible to see how he travelled through all of New York – on foot, not to mention – with his camera and captured the stories of people who lived there. In 2015, when he announced that he would be coming to Pakistan, I was ecstatic! He took a very brave step to help in changing the misconceptions and stereotypes people have about Pakistan, and for that, I salute him!”

 — Tufail, Sales & Operations Manager

 

Inkheart (Inkworld Series, book 1).

Written by Cornelia Funke.

Published in 2011.

Meggie lives a quiet life alone with her father, a bookbinder. But her father has a deep secret – he possesses an extraordinary magical power. One day a mysterious stranger arrives who seems linked to her father's past. Who is this sinister character and what does he want? Suddenly Meggie is involved in a breathless game of escape and intrigue as her father's life is put in danger. Will she be able to save him in time? 

“My brother gifted me the Inkworld Series on my 12th birthday, and it was the first book series I ever owned. After reading this trilogy, my imagination blew to the moon and I began to view life from a new perspective. The mere idea of books being alive and the written word whispering to you made me wonder, what if we could actually travel into different books with no limits of time and space? Imagine being able to go to Hogwarts or to travel through Rivendell… Oh what a joy that would be!”

— Mehek, Community Manager

 

A Song of Ice and Fire.

Written by George R. R. Martin.

Published in 2000.

Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords, soldiers, sorcerers, and assassins who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavours to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

“All the books I’ve read have left a mark on me. However, this book changed my perception completely. I liked how George portrayed the "gray" in humans. I liked how I could relate to each and every character without judgment and the kind of empathy I felt for them even if they were the villains. I learned that nobody is purely white or black but we all lie in shades of gray and that made me less judgemental when I came across people every day.” 

— Markhor team member