'Sitting by an open window, listening to the pitter-patter of rain, a warm cuppa and an exciting book to keep you company'. If that's your idea of a perfect day, you will want to keep reading this post till the end.

Books are the haven one can escape to at all points in life. They have the power to change your life in more ways than one. They are man's best friends and will stand by through thick and thin. Anyone who cherishes a good read would have found themselves with a book(s) that was hard to put down or stayed with them long after the final page.

Here are the top five books that we loved with all our hearts and would recommend earnestly.

A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Ove is a grumpy, sad man, disapproving of every tiny imperfection around him. As the layers peel off to reveal the reason behind Ove's sadness, we begin to root for him in this heartwarming story of human nature and inherent goodness.

Emotions are difficult to fathom and messier to address. However, just as Ove learns in the book, we realize along with him, we have to open up to and allow people to help us. Being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness but can shape our destiny and give us strength in a strange way.

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When Breath Became Air by Paul Kalanithi

A talented and successful neurosurgeon faces a terminal illness at age 36 at the cusp of a glorious career. And, just like that, life turns the tables, forcing him to become a patient staring at death from being the one who trained to save innumerable lives.

Paul Kalanithi is a gifted writer, apart from being a brilliant surgeon. As he embarks upon the quest to find answers to his questions about his illness, imminent death, and the meaning of life itself, he chooses to gift his readers with the rare wisdom and philosophy of a person who deals with life's worst curveball and manages to leave behind a legacy of grit and composure.

Given the premise, one might think the book is full of sadness or preaches philosophy. However, as you travel along Paul's life with its turns, even if it may leave you with moist eyes, you smile, nod your head, enjoy the penmanship, and finally appreciate the profoundness of what life offers us.

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The Vedas and Upanishads for Children by Roopa Pai

Don't let the words 'for children' dismiss this as a book only for kids. The subject matter is as vast and mystic as it can get. Our scriptures are predominantly in Sanskrit, and while plenty of discourses dissect, analyze, and offer them to us in byte sizes, having the gist in such a simple and concise manner is a treat.

Roopa Pai does a fantastic job of breaking it down for the readers-young and not-so-young alike. She keeps the analogies relevant and the explanation crisp.

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The Difficulty of Being Good by Gurcharan Das

What is Dharma? Why should one do the right thing? How does one decide what is right? We battle such pertinent questions in our daily lives, within relationships- as individuals and as a society. The quintessential moral dilemma of right and wrong is magnificently analyzed and presented as a series of essays using the Mahabharata as the basis to draw analogies and lessons.

Don't we associate closely with the characters in Mahabharata as we meander through life, making choices and weighing the pros and cons of our decisions? As a parent, don't we feel we must remain impartial, unlike Dridharashtra, blinded by the love for his son? And yet, is life as simple as black or white?

Mahabharata is a fascinating reference point because the epic was fraught with decisions that changed the lives of an entire generation. The characters with several shades of grey make the epic extremely relatable.

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Light on Pranayama by B.K.S. Iyengar

With the world adopting Yoga as their go-to fitness program, several self-taught Yoga gurus have mushroomed in our neighbourhood, especially over the Internet, dishing out half-baked tips and tricks. It is vital that we learn this ancient technique of bringing our mind, body, and soul in balance from experienced and certified teachers.

As we know, B.K.S. Iyengar is the ultimate authority on everything Yoga. The book is the holy grail for anyone who wishes to understand the intricacies of pranayama. Breathing, when done in the right way, course corrects disorders like asthma, anxiety, and depressive moods. The book discusses the different techniques, correct postures and technical terms.

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We hope you enjoy these recommendations and add them to your reading list.