The Bibliophile

03/01/2024

📌

02/01/2024

Dear Bibliophile,
Prioritize personal development this year

01/01/2024

01/01/2024

"It is a fantastic skill to develop, how to design your own future. A life best lived is a life by design. Not by accident, and not by just walking through the day careening from wall to wall and managing to survive. That’s okay. But if you can start giving your life dimensions and design and color and objectives and purpose, the results can be absolutely staggering." ~ Jim Rohn

31/12/2023

2023 IN BOOKS

Total 133

STATISTICS BY AUTHOR;
Karen Kingsbury
1. Angels Walking
2.Chasing Sunsets
3.Brush of Wings
4.Redemption
5.Remember
6.Return
7.Rejoice
8.Reunion
9.Fame
10.Forgiven
11.Found
12.Family
13.Forever
14.Sunrise
15.Summer
16.Someday
17.Sunset
18.Take one
19.Take two
20.Take Three
21.Take Four
22.Leaving
23.Learning
24.Longing
25.Loving
26.Coming Home
27.A Thousand Tomorrows
28.Just Beyond the Clouds
29.This Side of Heaven
30.Even Now
31.Ever After
32.Fifteen Minutes
33.The Baxter Family Christmas
34.The Chance
35.Once Upon a Campus
TED DEKKER
36.Blessed Child
37.A Man Called Blessed
38.Blink of an Eye
39.Chosen
40.Infidel
41.Renegade
42.Chaos
43.Lunatic
44 Elyon
FRANCINE RIVERS
45.The Atonement Child
46.And the Shofar Blew
47.Bridge to Haven
48.A Voice in the Wind
49.An Echo in the Darkness
50.As Sure as the Dawn
51.Her Mother’s Hope
52.Her Daughter’s Dream
Lynette Eason
53.Oath of Honor
54.Called to Protect
55.Code of Valor
56.Vow of Justice
57.Code of Ethics
58.Protecting Tanner Hollow
MARK NOLAN
59.Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie
60.Killer Lawyer
61.Vigilante Assassin
62.San Diego Dead
63.Deadly Weapon
64.Key West Dead
STEVE CAVANAGH
65.The Defence
66.The Plea
67.Thirteen
68.The Accomplice
69.The Devil’s Advocate
70.Fifty-Fifty
LARRY A. WINTERS
71.Burnout
72.Informant
73.Deadly Evidence
74.Fatal Defence
75.False Justice
SUSAN SLEEMAN
76.Tough as Steele
77.Nerves of Steele
78.Forged in Steele
79.Made of Steele
80.Solid as Steele
JODI PICOULT
81.Nineteen Minutes
82.Keeping Faith (READ TWICE)
83.A Spark of Light
84.Her Sister’s Keeper
BRIAN TRACY
85.Eat That Frog: 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and 86.Get More Done in Less Time
87.Eat That Frog! For Students: 22 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Excel in School
88.Just Shut Up and Do it
89.Goals
DAVID ARCHER
90.The Way of the Wolf
91.Code Name Camelot- A Noah Wolf Thriller
92.Lone Wolf
BRIAN ANDREWS & JEFFREY WILSON
93.Dark Intercept
94.Dark Angel
95.Dark Fall
KARIN SLAUGHTER
96.Unseen
RANDY SINGER
97.The Judge
WILLIAM SIRLS
98.The Sinners’ Garden
GLENN MEAD
99.Resurrection Day (READ TWICE)
DAN BROWN
100.The Lost Symbol
LISA JEWELL
101.I Found You
LONGRIN WETTIN
102.Lie to Me Dan
RICHARD NORTH PATTERSON
103.In the Name of Honor
TREVOR NOAH
104.Born A Crime
JAMES PATTERSON
105.2nd Chance
LEE CHILD
106.Bad Luck and Trouble
CHRIS FABRY
107.The Song
MUYIWA JOSEPH
108.Sometime in September
MYLES MUNROE
109.In Pursuit of Purpose
RICK WARREN
110.The Purpose Driven Life
THRASHER TRAVIS
111.God’s Not Dead
SPENCER JOHNSON
112.Who Moved My Cheese?
PATRICK ROBINSON
113.Diamondhead
IRIS JOHANSEN
114.Eight Days to Live
ANDREW GROSS
115.The Dark Tide
JAMES TWINING
116.The Double Eagle
NABEEL QURESHI
117.Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus
BEN CARSON M.D.
118.Gifted Hands
DARREN HARDY
119.The Compound Effect
MICHAEL AFENFIA
120.The Mechanics of Yenagoa
JOHN GRISHAM
121.The Firm
CHIGOZIE OBIOMA
122.The Fishermen
CATHERINE PRICE
123.How to Break Up with Your Phone
PAULO COELHO
124.The Alchemist
TRUTH ESUMARETON EGBE
125.Becoming Intentional
ROBIN S. SHARMA
126.The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
ELNATHAN JOHN
127.Becoming Nigerian
TONGJAL WUNGAKHA NUNGBULLA
128.The University Library
BOB GASS
129.Starting Over
AUSTIN KLEON
130.Steal Like an Artist
JOHN C. MAXWELL
131.The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
LENGDUNG TUNGCHAMA
132.Baby Steps to Reading: The Guide to Help You Become a Reader
Diann Mills
133.The Chase

30/12/2023

Christopher Asei Ebikebena

The Serial Volunteer

When I got my admission, Facebook started recommending groups in Jos, that I’d like to be part of. Jenta Reads Community Library was one such recommendation.

In October 2022, I chatted with Chris about wanting to be part of the Jenta Reads Book Club.

We officially became friends at the Reading of “The University Library” by Sir. Tongjal N. Wungakha. I met more book lovers in that meeting than I have in my entire life.

One lovely thing about Chris is that he is a serial volunteer. He makes volunteering fun, simple, and exhilarating. He got me into volunteering and informed me of opportunities.
He once said to me at a meeting while I was in 100 level. He said;

“Amos, you guys are lucky. You have more opportunities available to you than we had when we got to UJ. Make the most of it.”

That day, he told me about LinkedIn Local Jos. I almost missed volunteering because I thought I needed to settle down first before engaging in extracurricular activities.

Luckily for me, after settling down, the opportunity was still open and I had fun.

I’m happy that you are a graduate but sad to have you leave when I’m just starting. Thank you for being awesome. God bless and keep you. I know I’ll still be learning one or two from you, but I’ll be forever grateful to you for being a great friend and confidant’

Thank you, and God bless you.

Merry Christmas!!!

29/12/2023

We're saved to serve,
not to sit around
and wait for heaven.
~Rick Warren

29/12/2023

Kyenpiya Dajem

The Bookseller
The reason I prefer reading e-books to reading hardcopies is due to my limited access to books growing up and how expensive the ones I wanted to read were. So, when I got my phone, having learned about e-books a year earlier, e-books became my favourites. I literally got any book I wanted.

But no matter what, every Bibliophile needs a dealer. I’m talking about a BOOK DEALER. A BOOKSELLER.

Ms. Faith is the first bookseller I met online. Not only was she posting about reading and giving value, but whenever I come across her posts, most of them are about buying books and why you should buy them.

She was so consistent that I kind of broke a rule of not buying any book I’ve read. The first books I bought from her I’ve read them already. But then, I never know when I may need them, considering that I’m working on reading more physical books.

On that note, she’s leading an initiative aimed at helping you stay committed to building your personal library. This is for those who want to take life seriously.

Here is the good news, THESE BOOKS WILL BE GIVEN AT DISCOUNTED PRICES but EXCLUSIVELY FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED.

She has this amazing "Dear Youth" series where she gives advice and lessons to youths. So far she has written over thirty letters.

Thank you ma, for going on a venture of making books available to us. That is valuable.

God bless you.

Merry Christmas.

28/12/2023

Tongjal N. Wungakha
The Letterman

Every Bibliophile needs an author in his life. I met him at the reading of his book. Three things I love about him; He reads, writes, and listens to Jamie Grace. That’s absolutely amazing for me.

Thank you, sir, for your writing. You inspire me to become a better writer.

You need someone who believes in you in your corner.

You need a Letterman.

The time he spends in the library is also amazing.

When I was to launch my page The Bibliophile, his questions kept me on my toes about what I really wanted to do And his words of advice guided me.
Thank you so much.

I guess the saying is through that the road you want to pass through, someone has already gone that way. Connect with them to avoid the pitfalls you're definitely going to face.

He is the phenomenal mind behind Random Despatches, “ a collection of his engagements with literature..” Trust me, you do need him in your corner.

Thank you, sir. God bless you.

Merry Christmas!

P. S

His book has earned him a nomination for The Plateau Awards 2023, in the Author of the Year Category.

Please help vote with the link below

https://coamedia.com.ng/9th-pmya/

27/12/2023

Wordsmith J. Nansel
The Wordsmith

The saying by Paulo Coelho is true:

When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.

One good thing about connecting with quality friends is that they link you up with more quality friends. Sir. Nansel is one of the people I met through Sir. Lengdung.

I remember one of his posts I first came across was a quote that said;
“It’s not the book you get through that matters, but the books that get through you.”

He always hampered learning from a book rather than just reading it. Because of him, I made sure to learn and apply something from the books I read. Especially non-fiction.

It was like he was standing over me and chanting consistently; “Apply! Apply! Apply!”

I've also leaned to apply at least one thing learn, because trying to apply everything will leave me confused and end up not even doing it.

It hasn’t been easy but it’s been worth it. Thank you so much, sir.

If one of your goals is on personal development come 2024, he is someone you need. His posts constantly remind me to read and apply.

Thank you for all you do. You are indeed a rare gem.

Keep being awesome. I look forward to learning more from you.

Merry Christmas.

27/12/2023

💓

26/12/2023

Lengdung Tungchamma

Bibliophile Snr.

For someone who’s out to make the world a more bookish place, he’s doing a fantastic job.

I met him three years ago, (not physically) while I was waiting for admission. It has been an amazing journey with him. Gaining insights on education, life, personal developments, and more.

He influenced me to start reading nonfiction this year. Anytime I see any of his reviews, I’m motivated to read.

There are days when I’m reluctant to see a post from him because I know he’ll be telling me the truth or an action I need to take if I really want to change my life.
He once wrote; “Not reading is not bad, same as not eating or not drinking.”

Growing up, I kind of felt awkward for loving to read so much. After I met him online, he made me realize how awesome it is to be a reader. When you read, you are saying that you want to be enlightened, there’s something that you need to change about yourself. Reading lets you know that whatever you are going through, you are not alone.

Thank you so much for dishing out value. I look forward to learning from you. Keep being awesome.

God bless you.

Merry Christmas.

26/12/2023

Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is tragedy. Ignorance is devastation. Ignorance creates lack. Ignorance creates disease. Ignorance will shorten your life. Ignorance will empty your life and leave you with the husks, nothing to account for. No, ignorance is not bliss.
~Jim Rohn

25/12/2023

Jim Rohn was right when he said; “The things that change your life are… the People you meet…”

When I was to apply to the university, I wanted to go somewhere new. Meet new people and try new things. Not only did my geographical location change, my online activities changed due to the new people I was meeting, and the new places I was going.

Earlier this year I made a conscious decision to make the most of social media. Rather than following a thousand and one people who wouldn’t be giving me value, I chose to follow a hundred profiles, pages, and groups who will contribute to my personal growth and development through their content.

I took charge of my news feed, ensuring that it gave me what I wanted it to give me. I choose to have more value rather than mindless posts.

Anytime I come online, I make sure I get one or two things. Inspiration. Motivation. A quote or two. Book reviews. An advice. A recommendation and more.

For the next five days, I’ll be celebrating Bibliophiles who I’ve come to know and met for the last three years since I started my university journey and who have given me value online and offline.

The unique thing is that we connected because of BOOKS.

Yes, BOOKS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

They are celebrities to me, I’m proud to have met and interacted with them one way or the other.

These people are my recommendations to you for the year 2024. As long as you are on Facebook, they are the people whose content you will love to have come across your news feed. Connect with them, and get VALUE FOR FREE

24/12/2023

Compliments of the season

It might have been a tough year, or not.
Nevertheless, thank God.

Know this, the celebrant to this great celebration is so great that literally nothing is impossible with him.

Remember him in your celebration.

Merry Christmas 🎅 🎁🎄

24/12/2023

Those who dream, who set goals and act on them, are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They will have finished well and possess a sense of pride and accomplishment, not only for themselves but also for their families. That feeling is priceless! ~ Jim Rohn

23/12/2023

"The things that change your life are the Books you read, the people you meet, and the classes you take" ~ Jim Rohn

This year I started reading nonfiction. 🥂🥂🥂
I mean really, it has been an eye-opening journey.

Personal development is tough but fun if you know what you want and set your mind on getting it.

Anyways, one constant name I came across in almost all these books is the name: Jim Rohn

Full name James Emmanuel Rohn.

I was like, who the heck is this guy?

I was intrigued and still am by the life of this man.

One of my goals come 2024 is to study the life of this man.

Who died years ago but is still alive in the lives of great and successful individuals today.

I'm soliciting your help in getting any book relating to the life of this man.

Your recommendations will be gladly appreciated.

23/12/2023

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL STORIES

Episode Three:

All you may want is: ONE MORE: DAY. HOUR MINUTE.

"He let out a long sigh and relaxed in Rizpah’s arms, his brown eyes still open and fixed on Atretes.

“He’s gone,” Rizpah whispered, fear coursing through her.

“Bring him back!” Atretes commanded. “Bring him back the way he brought you back!”

“I can’t.” Her hand shook as she gently closed his eyes.“Why not?” he said desperately. “Try.”

He put his hands against Theophilus’ chest, covering the wounds. “Try!”

“Do you think we can command the God to give us what we want!” She cried out. “He’s gone.”

(As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers)

Dear reader,

Only two authors have made me shed a tear or two. Just as you might cry over the death of a character in a movie, so have I over the death of a fictional character. From Erin and Elizabeth in the Baxter series by Karen Kingsbury to Theophilus in the abstract above, there’s nothing more heart breaking than having a character you love die.

Most times at the death of a character, a family member lives in regret, having been too busy to call, or text or even check on the deceased. They are usually busy until a character is to die, then they rush home to have ONE MORE MOMENT with them before they die.

But reality is unlike fiction. In fiction, about a good number of the times, the author allows them to have that ONE MOMENT. It doesn’t work that way in reality.

There’s no private plane to fly us to their death bed, and hardly is there a good Samaritan to help out.

We’re usually LATE.

We could pray and plead with God to give us ONE MORE moment, but as Karen Kingsbury once wrote;

“Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers. Sometimes we don’t understand why.”

The last best time to do something was yesterday, the next best time is now.

Yesterday's tomorrow is today and no matter how you look at it, tomorrow will become today.

DO IT NOW!!

MAKE THAT CALL NOW!!

WRITE THAT LETTER NOW!!

CHECK ON YOUR FRIEND NOW!!

You didn't have time yesterday,
You may not have the time tomorrow,
But you have today. Make use if it.

Yours truly,

The Bibliophile

22/12/2023

When I became a born-again Christian in 1986, I wanted to share my faith with others. However, I didn’t want to offend anyone and risk “losing” old friends and family members who didn’t share my belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. I found myself hesitating and keeping silent. Ashamed of my cowardice and frustrated by it, I went on a quest, seeking the faith of a martyr. A Voice in the Wind was the result.
While writing Hadassah’s story, I learned that courage is not something we can manufacture by our own efforts. But when we surrender wholeheartedly to God, he gives us the courage to face whatever comes. He gives us the words to speak when we are called to stand and voice our faith.
~ Francine Rivers

21/12/2023

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself" ~Rumi

20/12/2023

"He’s never learned to count his blessings. If you are to rise above your circumstances, you must learn that, Liebling.”
~Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

19/12/2023

God won't ask you for what you don't have.
But He'll ask you for something you'd like to keep.
~ Bob Gass

19/12/2023

You don't bring Glory to God by trying to be someone he never intended you to be.
~Rick Warren

18/12/2023

Success is not what you have done compared to what others have done.
It's what you have done compared to what you are purposed to do.
~ Dr. Myles Munroe

18/12/2023

The question is not
Whether or not to read.
The question is
How can you not?
I mean seriously, how can you not?

18/12/2023

What's the use of reading if you don't apply? Apply what you've read. That is when it can actually change your life.

18/12/2023

✨

18/12/2023

Reading is knowledge. The thoughts of all the great thinkers of the world are found within the pages of books.

18/12/2023

Quotes from my daily reading of Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

~ Living on purpose is the only way to really live. Everyone else is just existing.

~ Once you know what God wants you to do, the blessings come in actually doing it.

~ When God is at the center of your life, you worship. When he's not, you worry.

~ Before most unbelievers accept the Bible as credible, they want to know that we're credible.

~ The future is as bright as the promises of God. ~ William Carey

17/12/2023

Quotes from my daily reading of Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

~ You will be either a world-class Christian or a Worldly Christian.

~ Prayer is your most important tool for your mission in the world. People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they're defenseless against our prayers.

~ Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips. ~ Dawson Trotman.

~Record not only pleasant things. Write your doubts, fears, and struggles with God.

~ You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God has helped you fulfill his purpose on earth.

16/12/2023

God designed you to make a difference with your life.
~ Rick Warren

16/12/2023

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL STORIES

Episode Two:

" I'll do anything," The student pleaded, knees on the floor, before the professor. "Just tell me what you want me to do. I promise to do it. Anything."

"Anything?" The Professor asked, his voice quiet but firm.

"Anything," she replied vigorously. Still kneeling.

"Are you sure you are willing to do anything to pass my course?" he asked again.

"On my life," she swore, touching her index finger to the tip of her tongue and pointing it to the sky, "I'll do anything it takes."

He studied her for a minute. As if pondering what to say next. His silence extended to another minute. So long that it was deafening and uncomfortable.

What he said next caught her off-guard. It wasn't a word she expected him to say. One word. Four letters.

"Read" He smiled at her as he said it, knowing that like many others, no matter what she said, she wasn't really willing to do it.

Astounded, she walked out of his office.

Dear Bibliophile,

Like the lady in the anecdote, many of us claim to be willing to do anything to succeed, but yet don't want to do that one thing that can not only change us but our future, drastically. We're willing to do anything except that which is contrary to what we think we need to do, to succeed. We won't even consider it.

In one of his YouTube videos with Will Smith, Jay Shetty said, "A lot of what we're trying to figure out in today's world has already been suffered for long enough in an internal way that when you dive into these books of wisdom, there's so much there to unearth. Because people have been through the same challenges for decades and decades."

Many have gone on the path you want to take, have become what you want to become, have learned what you want to learn, and are doing what you want to do. You don't have to start from scratch. Learn from them.

Jim Rohn puts it well when he asks rhetorically,
" Do you know most successful people wrote their stories and how they achieved their success in books, but many people don't read them? How do you explain that?

Whatever you want to become, do, or learn, there are thousands of books on how to achieve that. All you need to do is READ.

Yours truly,

The Bibliophile

15/12/2023

The problems of people's past impact them in one of two ways;
They experience a breakdown or a breakthrough.
~John Maxwell

15/12/2023

Become a winner.💓

15/12/2023

Five Quotes from my daily reading of Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

~ Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to others.

~ While it's wise to learn from experience, it's wiser to learn from the experiences of others. There isn't enough time to learn everything from trial and error.

~ God gives us different passions so that everything he wants done in the world will get done.

~ The Good News is that when we trust God's grace to save us through what Jesus did, our sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we are promised a future home in Heaven.

~ The eternal salvation of a single soul is more important than anything else you will eve achieve in life.

14/12/2023

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty never lasts. A man with sense knows that. You have strong character. You are kind. You are honest. You work hard and learn quickly. You left home to better yourself. You may not have formal schooling, but you’ve read the best books in my library. These are qualities a wise man will value.”
~ Her Mother's Hope by Francine Riverss