The Power of Literature: Books That Make You Happy and Proud

Different people find happiness in different books and authors as everyone has their own unique tastes and preferences. However, here are a few books and authors that are often associated with bringing joy and happiness to readers. Whether you prefer lighthearted tales, heartwarming stories, or uplifting messages, there is sure to be a book or an author that can make you feel happy and bring a smile to your face.

Books That Bring Joy

These are just a few examples of the many books and authors that have the power to bring happiness to readers. From classic literature to self-help books, there are numerous titles that can lift your spirits and provide a sense of comfort and happiness. Consider the following:

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Proud to be British: 'British Greats - A Celebration of All Things British'

One book that always makes me feel good when I read it and that makes me feel patriotic and proud to be British is British Greats - A Celebration of All Things British. This 264-page softback book, published by Marks and Spencer in January 2003 by Annabel Merullo and Neil Wenborn, is a wonderful compilation of essays celebrating British culture, sports, and comedy. The front cover is shown below:

The format of the book is a series of short, illustrated essays covering various topics that make Britain great. There are 38 essays in the main section, divided into 17 essays on sporting greats and 16 essays on comedy greats. The following is a list of the essays and their authors:

John Charlton (Soccer Star) Nicky Banks (Rugby Star) Sebastian Faulks (Author) Tom Kerridge (Chef) Steve Bell (Comedian) Alexei Sayle (Comedian) Stephen Fry (Actor, Comedian, Writer) Stephanie Cole (Comedian) Christopher Biggins (Actor) Bruce Taylor (Actor) Iain Baynham (Author) Harold Pinter (Playwright) John Cleese (Actor, Comedian, Writer) Tim Brooks (Comedian) Les Dawson (Comedian) Arthur Lindley (Comedian) Simon Day (Comedian) Michael Palin (Actor, Director, Writer) Geraldine Patel (Film Critic) Lydia Rose Pankhurst (Activist) Mark Daltrey (Singer) John Elton (Characters Analyst)

Reading Experiences and National Pride

The format of this book makes it a book that you can just dip in and out of. Often, I will read just one or maybe two of the essays before going to bed at night, and they always leave me feeling a lot better than I did before reading them. As I mentioned, the book was published in 2003, just a few months before another British or rather English sporting great: England beating Australia in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup Final.

The match was played on 22nd November 2003 at Telstra Stadium in Sydney, in front of a crowd of 82,957. England won 20–17 to win the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time, also becoming the first European side to win the cup. The scores were tied 14–14 at full time and at 17–17 near the end of extra time when the match was won for England in the final minute of extra time when Jonny Wilkinson kicked a drop goal on what was arguably one of England’s greatest sporting moments, apart from our football team winning the 1966 World Cup, of course.

However, in 2003, there was an occasion when far from feeling proud to be British, I felt quite ashamed. You can read about this in the answer I have posted to the question: What is the worst musical performance you have ever witnessed?.

Getting Started with Self-Publishing

Getting started with self-publishing can be a bit difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. After publishing 200 books on Amazon and running 120 million Amazon ads, I discovered the secret to getting books self-published easily and selling. The key is to break down the steps into easy-to-follow bite-sized chunks, as I lay out in my free self-publishing secrets checklist.

Exploring the power of literature and self-publishing can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you want to read books that bring you joy or publish your own work, there are countless resources and opportunities available. Keep exploring and enjoy the journey of discovering the books that will make you happy!