Feeling the desk fatigue lately? You’re not alone. Discover CSC and NLB’s refreshing antidote to daily burnout in our recommended reads for Public Service Festival 2026 and National Reading Movement! Scan the respective QR codes to get started on these refreshing reads.
Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum
If you ever felt guilty for not reading “smart” or fast enough, Hwang Bo-reum shows you it’s fine to step away from the capitalist pressure of reading only for productivity or self-improvement. Through the book, Hwang talks to you like a friend, encouraging book lovers to explore reading leisurely once again.
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant
Organisational psychologist Adam Grant argues that we spend way too much time obsessing over "naturals" and child prodigies. He outlines that where you start doesn't matter nearly as much as how far you travel. Anyone can unlock their hidden potential through actual character skills, like discomfort-seeking or turning imperfections into strengths, turning average people into achievers.
I Decided to Live as Me: How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others So You Can Learn to Love Yourself by Kim Suhyun
This bestseller in South Korea will hit right where it hurts: the exhausting habit of comparing your life to everyone else’s on social media. Kim Suhyun offers practical, empathetic advice on how to stop trying to please everyone and find peace in being ‘ordinary’.
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Fransesc Miralles
The authors, Hector Garcia and Fransesc Miralles travel to Okinawa, Japan (famous for its high number of centenarians) to discover the habits of its happiest residents. Beyond mapping out the concept of purpose, the authors share practical lifestyle tips from the locals, including light movement (like Radio Taiso), eating until you are 80% full (hara hachi bu), and staying deeply connected to a community (moai).
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Therapist Lori Gottlieb takes you behind the scenes of therapy; as both the practitioner and the patient. Gottlieb shares the deeply moving and humorous stories of four clients while simultaneously charting her own journey in therapy after a sudden breakup. It completely strips away the stigma of therapy and shows that we’re all just trying to fix our own stories.
The Menu of Happiness by Hisashi Kashiwai
In the third book of the bestselling Kamogawa Food Detectives series, follow Chef Nagare and his daughter, Koishi, at their hidden diner on Kyoto. As ‘food detectives’, the duo recreates incredibly specific meals of their clients’ pasts. From a particular yakisoba to regular dumplings, their clients unlock forgetten memories and find the happiness they need to move forward.
The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher
Written by a trial lawyer and viral communication expert, Jefferson Fisher delivers a toolkit for real-life confrontations. Instead of saying “just communicate better”, Fisher breaks down 20 high-frequency, stressful real-life scenarios and provides direct scripts and mental frameworks. Whether it’s a passive-aggressive coworker or a family member who loves starting arguments, The Next Conversation helps in shutting down the drama without losing your cool.
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
Part memoir and part self-help, this book documents Cait Flanders' 12-month experiment where she banned herself from buying anything except absolute essentials (groceries, gasoline, and basic toiletries). Once she stopped buying things to make herself feel better, she had to face the actual reasons why she was overspending, overdrinking, and hiding from her problems, forcing her to totally rebuild her life from scratch.
CSC is bringing wellness to life at the CSC Open House & Family Carnival. From activities at $5 per pax per activity to exclusive discounts on facilities, discover how public officers can relax with exclusive and affordable activities designed to help the workforce recharge, connect, and thrive. Find out more about CSC’s Open House & Carnivals here and make the most of your Public Service Festival with our exclusive merchant deals & offers.
Selected titles are provided with support from the National Reading Movement. For more reading materials, do check out the National Library Board's NLB Mobile app.
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