Books and action: my favourite things

Najiba Abdelloui tells us what's on her bookshelf - and why action is her new number one.

''The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli, in which she examines international trade through the life story of her six-dollar t-shirt.'' ''I'll make do with reads such as The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman, in which he describes the great changes taking place in our time.'' ''Not long ago I saw Tracy Chapman perform Talking About a Revolution live at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam.''

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine sent me an e-mail asking me for book suggestions. I knew she was asking me for novels she could read during her holiday in Morocco, but I couldn't resist adding a couple of books about the economic, social, political and environmental situation of the world.

Books, especially ones with a meaningful message, are definitely on the top of my list of favourite things, closely followed by music. It doesn't matter how short of money I am, I always buy books - to learn more, to shape my thoughts and opinions, and to be inspired. I also truly believe in this (self-fabricated) saying: 'Show me your bookcase and I'll show you who you are'.

In my opinion books are not only a way to be entertained and to pass time but also an easy way to broaden your views, to step into the mind of somebody else and to dig deeper than the surface. I'm always looking for the ultimate book. The book that holds everything; past, present and future; reality and fantasy; humour and graveness; and solutions for every world problem and human suffering. That is one of my personal quests.

Until I find this, I'll make do with reads such as The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman, in which he describes the great changes taking place in our time; An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore, about the cause, effect and consequences of the climate crises in the world; and The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli, in which she examines international trade through the life story of her six-dollar t-shirt.

These were the book titles I e-mailed my friend - you'll find them in my bookcase next to other more hardcore economic books (I studied International Business). You'll also find novels, poems, books on spirituality and a large pile of my favourite periodical - Ode magazine, an independent magazine about the people and ideas that are changing the world. This magazine focuses on positive solutions and developments and the people that make them happen.

These books and magazines don't only reflect my political and ethical views but also shape them. However, I do not only read books written by people that I agree with. I also try to read books that express views that couldn't be further from my own. Hence the hardcore neo-liberal economic books in my bookcase.

But, at the end of the day, the books I enjoy most are the ones that make me think about how I could contribute to a positive change. Not long ago I saw Tracy Chapman perform Talking About a Revolution live at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. That too made me think - when do we stop reading, thinking and talking about a revolution and really start acting? Although my quest for the ultimate book develops my opinions and keeps me busy, it will not change nor develop the world in a more positive way.

I think I have just degraded books from the top of my list of favourite things. The new number one is action - based on my knowledge, which I get from books!