When we launched Ampersand last year, in our first issue we highlighted eight powerful quotes from success books written by women. This year 2025, we want to start on the same empowering note with a new set of books to take inspiration from. These powerful success books were written to inspire people not just from diverse backgrounds but all ambitious individuals determined to take on their future with positivity and purpose.
AMPERSAND E-TABLOID ISSUE #011
- The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness (Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga)
“The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you have gained that courage, your interpersonal relationships will all at once change into things of lightness.”
We only have twenty-four hours in a day. So you have a choice to walk with wise people and stack up more wisdom. Or you can become a companion of fools and your life will unravel.”
- Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage (Laura Huang)
“But seriously, isn’t it enough to have just one, maybe two superpowers, and then just be okay with being okay at everything else?”
“Lucky implies I didn’t do anything. Lucky implies something was given to me. Lucky implies that I was handed something I did not earn, that I did not work hard for. Gentle reader, may you never be lucky. I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart, I am talented, I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass.”
- Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success (Steve Harvey)
“Don’t ever be afraid to put yourself in a lesser position so that you can learn something from someone who knows more.”
- Flying High: My Story: From AirAsia to QPR (Tony Fernandes)
“Having no barriers means that I will stop and chat to people – unless they just want to abuse me. I’ve never seen the point of retreating behind a wall because part of the reason I have been successful is that I’ve gone out of my way to meet and talk to people regardless of who they are. Life is much richer if you do that.”
“It’s why I say that curiosity is the mind’s superpower, and when you stay curious, you become less swayed by a person’s reactions.”
“Should you ever think that what you’re doing on your self-made journey is selfish—and you may well hear that—here is what I want you to hold tight and be very clear about within yourself: This journey is not just about you.”
CONCLUSION
Now that we’ve rounded up eight success books to inspire you to write yours this year, we want to know what you think. Give us your feedback on what you want us to write more about in our next issues. Ampersand is and will continue to be for the benefit of the niche nonfiction author and so we want to hear your questions and concerns to help you succeed.
Again, Ampersand is a free monthly digital tabloid founded by Caret editors, which aims to provide useful dispatches for the further development and diversification of niche non-fiction. If you have any suggested topics you would like us to tackle, do not hesitate to email us at [email protected].