To close out our week of inspirational New Year beginnings, I thought I would share a quote from a book I just finished reading:
“My dear children, I send you my best wishes for a happy New Year – that is to say, a year of good health, good humor and good work, a year in which you will have pleasure in living every day, without waiting for the days to be gone before finding charm in them, and without putting all hope of pleasure in the days to come. The older one gets the more one feels that the present must be enjoyed: it is a precious gift, comparable to a state of grace.”
The above was written in a letter from the renowned scientist Marie Curie to her daughter, Irene, and son-in-law, Frederic. I’ve been reading the biography of this amazing woman, written by her daughter, Eve Curie, and have been so inspired by her devotion to her work and her generous spirit. It has been incredibly enriching to enter the world of science through the pages of this engaging story. I’ve always loved reading biographies, but I am more compelled than ever to read those of people outside my usual sphere of involvement. For in so doing I am reminded that while we all operate in subcultures to some degree, there is a cohesiveness in the world as a whole that makes the life and legacy of each person relevant in myriad ways to all of us. Just see how Madame Curie’s above quote echos the same sentiment expressed thousands of years earlier by King Solomon:
“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.”
With these things in mind, I’ve been compiling a list of biography suggestions and would love to add any that you all would recommend. I’m looking for ones that are inspiring, engaging, and well-written. Anyone have any suggestions?
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