Short motivational video by Robin Sharma urging viewers to visit physical bookstores and read real (print) books. Sharma contrasts serendipitous discovery in brick-and-mortar stores with algorithm-driven online shopping, links reading to leadership, personal mastery, and professional capability, and recommends curiosity-driven exploration of diverse subjects.
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Hi, it's Robin Sharma, author of the 5am Club and the Everyday Hero Manifesto. I'm here in London and I wanted to record this relatively short, yet hopefully inspirational and valuable video for you on the sacredness and importance of going to bookstores. So I got up this morning, yes, at 5am and I took in the quietude of this world while the rest of the the universe was asleep, except for the early risers. I walked the streets. I went down to the Water and then I walked into Covent Garden, watched the sun come up, then walked through Soho, picked up some coffee, kept on walking. I then went to a park called Green park where I walked for a while and I looked at the crocuses coming out because it's early springtime. And then as I walked back to my hotel, the stores were opening up and I walked into a Waterstones, one of the popular bookstores here in the uk. My favorite one is in Covent Garden, which is a very magical bookstore. But this Waterstones just called to me and as I walked inside, I just came alive. I don't know about you, but I absolutely love books. I'm not talking about ebooks, I'm talking about real books. And as the sun continued to rise, I went to the new release section and then I walked into the history section. Then I went to the science section, then I went to the current event section. And that got me thinking. Nothing beats the old school bookstore because yes, it's easy to shop online, but when you shop online, the algorithm sends you other books related to the book you're buying. Here's the key point. When you just meander and wander into an old school bookstore. The colors bring you to life and you pick up a book. But then you can walk to the next aisle or the next table and find a completely unrelated book. So I bought this book this morning. All the Living and the Dead, an exploration of the people who make death their life's work. I wouldn't have found that if I was searching a business book or leadership book or productivity book. And then on the next table was another book that caught my fascination, which is Jellyfish Age. Nature's Secrets to Longevity. I wouldn't have found that if I wasn't just wandering and open and inside an old school bookstore versus a digital bookstore. Then I picked up this other book. Can't wait to read it. The Power of a Thoughtful Mind in an Overwhelming World. Then as I kept on walking, I found this other book that I can't wait to get into. How Big Things Get Done. The surprising factors behind every successful project, from home renovations to school space exploration. All I'm saying to you, if you followed my methodology and read my books, you know that leadership and success belongs to the learners. And you probably know my 2x3x mindset to double your income and impact what I call the two currencies. Triple your investment in two core areas, your personal mastery and your professional capability. And that happens when you read in a world gone totally digital. There's something so beautiful about reading in a world where we snack bite digital content. You develop the discipline and practice to sit down quietly and read and study and that builds a stronger and deeper approach in philosophy and way of thinking. But go into bookstore and explore. You'll find books that you never thought you'd find and you'll come to life through your curiosity and all the things that these great books that you invest in make of you. So I wish you an amazing day. Thank you for watching this video. Make sure you subscribe to my channel. Leave a comment below to tell me what you think of the power not only of reading but but of bookstores and all. Can't wait to read what you say. All the very best. Bye.
