I have often heard my critics say, reading is dead, and many have written the obituary of the book, but I say, read widely, read anything that interests you – fiction, poetry, non-fiction. Every word that was ever written meant something to someone – and it could mean something to you too. I have tried to make the human story the center of my understanding of the world. Reading widely has taught me that we are all flawed, and that that is what makes us human. In fact, it is our faults that make us capable of ensuring goodness. We do not first need to be perfect before we can do what is right and just. After I started writing my column, I found readers in faraway places. In the byte-size world where social media has taken over our lives, I still found readers for essays that tickle the imagination, challenge conventional norms and allow us to think long term. Every time I wanted to stop my column, I was egged on by my editor who told me I had fans who waited to read my biweekly column. So, I continue to write, firstly for myself but then more importantly to be useful. So here is a bonus – Shelf Aware, a collection of 100 essays that has captured my ideas and thoughts through good times and bad, through highs and lows – but always trying to see the world through the lens of beauty and to lift people up!