Meghan Markle's Top Pick: A Surprising Self-Help Classic
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has revealed her favourite book, and it is not the typical novel one might expect. The short self-help book Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, first published in 1998, tops her list. At fewer than 100 pages, the book uses a parable to help readers navigate change and uncertainty in their lives.
The cheese in the story represents what you want in life and aspire to be, while the maze symbolises where you are and what you must learn to navigate to reach your goals. Despite its humorous title, the book offers serious advice on thriving in an ever-changing environment.
Meghan's Personal Connection to the Book
In 2016, Meghan listed Who Moved My Cheese? as a must-read on her now-defunct blog, The Tig. She explained its origin: “A professor at Northwestern University had this book on our list of required reading for an Industrial Engineering class I took my junior year of college. It was a seemingly odd choice, but at the end of the day, the takeaway was a self-empowerment and motivational bent that I apply to decision-making in my life to this very day. It's an invaluable quick read.”
More recently, Meghan has been reading a poetry book about motherhood, The Bloom Because of You by Jessica Urlichs, which she received as a gift from a friend. Urlichs expressed her “shock” at the Duchess reading her work, according to the Daily Mail.
Other Favourites: Amy Poehler's Memoir
Meghan has also shared other books she enjoys, including Amy Poehler’s memoir Yes Please. On The Tig, she wrote: “When Amy Poehler revealed that she was writing a book, the world's collective response was, in fact, the title that the comedienne chose for her debut: Yes, Please.” She added: “And while there are hundreds of celebrity memoirs, Poehler's is one that stands out in the cookie-cutter crowd. Poehler, herself, explains her writing best: 'I know what I am doing. I am presenting a series of reasons as to why you should lower your expectations, so that you can be blown away by my sneaky insights about life and work.' And darling, she really will blow you away.”
Meghan's reading list reflects her interest in self-improvement and humour, blending practical advice with entertainment.
