NoContract:
I hate to admit I am not a fan of BBN, and I have no personal grouse with anyone who do. However, for Nairalanders who seek something more mind stimulating that would probably have a positive and lasting impact in their lives, I recommend from my bookshelf, 10 books I bet would totally change your mindset, outlook and understanding as a person, and as a Nigerian. All within the three months it will take for BIG BROTHER NAIJA to run.

Without further ado, here are 10 books you can read during this BBN Season to better your lives.

1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe [FICTION]

Every Nigerian should read this book. That's all I can say. There is a reason it is included in the 12 greatest books ever list by Encyclopedia Britannica.
Chinua Achebe's first novel Things Fall Apart, often considered his masterpiece, is the most widely read book in modern African literature. [b]First published in 1958. Its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century

If you have already read this book, check out these other titles: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or The Color Purple by Alice Walker

2. Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoğlu & James A Robinson [NON FICTION]

This book will open your brain to the reality of Nigeria. Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations (like America and European countries) rich and others (African countries) poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine?

3. How to Win Every Argument: The Use and Abuse of Logic by Madsen Pirie [NON FICTION]

This is the book your friends will wish you hadn't read, a witty and infectious guide to arguing successfully. Each entry deals with one fallacy, explaining what the fallacy is, giving and analysing an example, outlining when/where/why the particular fallacy tends to occur and finally showing how you can perpetrate the fallacy on other people in order to win an argument.

If you have already read this book, check out these other titles: A Rulebook for Arguments by Anthony Weston

4. The Biafra Story: The Making of An African Legend by Frederick Forsyth [NON FICTION]

There is a reason why History is being removed in the Nigerian Educational Curriculum. It is so, so as to hide the truth from the average unsuspecting Nigerian. This is a book ANY Nigerian ought to read twice. This book which marked Frederick Forsyth's transition from journalist to author is a record of one of the most brutal conflicts the Third World has ever suffered, it has become a classic of modern war reporting. But it is more than that. It voices one man's outrage not only at the extremes of human violence, but also at the duplicity and self-interest of the Western Governments - most notably, the British, who tacitly accepted or actively aided that violence. It is not for the one who is afraid of the truth.

If you have already read this book, check out these other titles: There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra by Chinua Achebe, Why We Struck: The Story Of The First Nigerian Coup by Adewale Ademoyega or The Tragedy of Victory: On-the-spot Account of the Nigeria-Biafra War in the Atlantic Theatre by Godwin Alabi-Isama

5. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear [NON FICTION]

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie [NON FICTION]

Since its release in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold more than 15 million copies. Dale Carnegie's first book is a timeless bestseller, packed with rock-solid advice that has carried thousands of now famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. As relevant as ever before, Dale Carnegie's principles endure, and will help you achieve your maximum potential in the complex and competitive modern age. Learn the six ways to make people like you, the twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking, and the nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.

7. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl [NON FICTION]

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the stories of his patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. At the heart of his theory, known as logotherapy, is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. Man's Search for Meaning has become one of the most influential books in America; it continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living.

8. Parasite Rex: Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures by Carl Zimmer [NON FICTION]

For centuries, parasites have lived in nightmares, horror stories, and in the darkest shadows of science. Now award-winning writer Carl Zimmer takes us on a fantastic voyage into the secret parasite universe we actually live in but haven't recognized. He reveals not only that parasites are the most successful life-forms on Earth, but that they triggered the development of sex, shape ecosystems, and have driven the engine of evolution.

9. The Fortunes of Africa: A 5,000-Year History of Wealth, Greed, and Endeavor by Martin Meredith [NON FICTION]

A sweeping history the fortune seekers, adventurers, despots, and thieves who have ruthlessly endeavored to extract gold, diamonds, and other treasures from Africa and its people. In this vast and vivid panorama of history, Martin Meredith follows the fortunes of Africa over a period of 5,000 years. With compelling narrative, he traces the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms and empires; the spread of Christianity and Islam; the enduring quest for gold and other riches; the exploits of explorers and missionaries; and the impact of European colonization. He examines, too, the fate of modern African states and concludes with a glimpse of their future.

10. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero [NON FICTION]

The #1 New York Times Bestseller You Are A Badass is the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don't want to get busted doing it. By the end of You Are a Badass, you'll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can't change, how to change what you don't love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.

I shall be uploading download links when I have 20 comments. Thank you