I was blessed to have had elementary school teachers who taught me the joy and love of reading. I also owe my love for reading and books to my childhood superheroes: Mr. Rogers and Steve from Blue’s Clues. An honorable mention would be Barney because unlike most kids at the time, I actually enjoyed that show, for some weird reason.

As I got older, I would realize that not everyone shared that same affinity, despite going through the same school curriculum. Strange how that happens, doesn’t it? And now I suppose, many millennials are trying to read more. I see quite a few people on Youtube earnestly trying to read more books and where do they usually start?

Self-help and personal development.

I get it. The idea of unlocking secrets that could potentially make you a better person and make you more money or whatever, is enticing. But an old co-worker of mine once told me, “I don’t know why I was reading books on succeeding, from people who haven’t really succeeded.” And perhaps he meant, that some self-help authors have only reached success upon publication of their book.

This may or may not be true, but I saw where he was getting at. He was aiming high. And though I call myself an avid reader, and I certainly have read my extremely fair share of personal development books, the ones I keep coming back to may surprise you.

I learn from reading biographies of people who fascinate me. I learn about their upbringing, the principles they valued, their morning routine, and the way they lived. One person that has continuously captivated me throughout the years, is Jacqueline Kennedy.

Peruse through the internet and you will find that even to this day, she is highly regarded as one of the most timeless, elegant, and chic woman in history. Though I also enjoy Audrey Hepburn and her work, I find her values to be too sweet. Jackie was robust. What she did and how she acted could be considered rude or even cocky. But that’s the beauty of her attitude. That’s what made her real, strong, and admirable. She wasn’t trying hard to be sweet or kind. She didn’t take shit from anyone. She knew her value. She was discreet about it, and always made it a priority to maintain her privacy.

Jackie was known for being a good listener. She was a notoriously charming woman, and she achieved this not by talking about herself and flaunting her assets. She looked at people like they were the only ones in the room. She knew the art of being a good conversationalist. People underestimated how smart she was. And damn, the woman fluently spoke multiple languages!

She also knew the fine art of gift giving, invested much in her beauty and self care, made it a note to remain active, and never gave herself away too quickly, which is how she has maintained such mystique so many years later.

Before reading about self-help, I read about the life of Jackie Kennedy and became inspired. And to this day, I learn more from reading about her than any other self-help book.

So give the biography strategy a try. You’ll be surprised about what you could learn.

Below is a personal favorite of mine a la Jacqueline Kennedy.

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