Reading Beyond Specific Genres: Broadening Your Horizons and Changing Your Perspective

At a recent company meeting, I was asked about a book I'd recently read, so I'd like to share it here.
I regularly borrow and read books from various genres at the library.
This is because I feel that deliberately interspersing novels, essays, and history books with business books provides different kinds of stimulation to my brain.
Of the seven books I read during Golden Week, I'd like to introduce two that left a particularly strong impression on me.
 • "A Fast-Paced History of the World " by Haruaki Deguchi (Nikkei BP)
Looking back at history, we can see that powerful nations have repeatedly followed similar patterns in exerting their influence.
From this perspective, the current international tensions can be understood not merely as accidental occurrences, but as the result of a combination of factors.
I believe that being aware of this historical background helps us to calmly assess and respond appropriately to the rapidly changing global situation.
 • “Unsung Heroes of Old Japan”（The Selfless Japanese） by Michifumi Isoda (Bungei Shunju)
As I travel around the world, I feel that it is not just because it is the country where I grew up, but that I can truly feel at peace in my homeland, Japan.
The spirit of selflessness cultivated throughout Japanese history means living in harmony with others and society, without being bound by self-centered thoughts or preconceived notions.
This also became an opportunity for me to re-examine my own daily behavior.
In addition to these, I also read "Naruse Goes to Conquer the World" by Mina Miyajima (Shinchosha), "A History of Samurai in Japan" by Masaaki Takahashi (Iwanami Shinsho), "A History of Japan’s Great Transformation" by Haruaki Deguchi (PHP Institute), "The Timetable at the End of Summer" by Hiroki Nagaoka (Kodansha), "Problems in My Family" by Hideaki Okuda (Shueisha), and others.
When you're constantly exposed to the same tasks and information, your perspective inevitably narrows without you even realizing it.
Information gathering using the web and generative AI data is fast, but it tends to be biased towards existing information and information that reflects user preferences.
Therefore, I believe that reading a wide variety of books, without being limited to a specific genre, broadens one's knowledge and leads to personal growth.
When reading, try to expose yourself to diverse ideas and actively incorporate perspectives that differ from past standards and fixed ideas unconsciously formed from your own experiences.
Our group brings together colleagues with diverse expertise and experience, regardless of whether they are recent graduates or experienced professionals.
In order to make the most of such diversity, I believe it's crucial to first broaden our own perspectives and change our viewpoints.
Simply switching to a different position or viewpoint can significantly alter how we see the other person's position and the challenges they face.
This directly relates to the daily management of core staff and the proactive actions of each and every employee.
In our daily work, with the spirit of "Banji-nissei," let's not be bound by past concepts, but instead embrace change as an opportunity and boldly take on challenges!
※An English translation is available only for Unsung Heroes of Old Japan. For the other titles, no English editions have been confirmed at this time. Thank you for your understanding.