5 Books to Kick-Start your Week with Motivation, Laughter and Deep Vibes

 

By Olumide Labulo 

The start of the week often comes with mixed feelings — that cocktail of determination, reluctance, and the urge to scroll endlessly instead of showing up. But what if you could ease into the week with the help of a good book? Whether you're gunning for productivity, craving a soulful escape, or just need something light to lift your mood, the right read can transform your Monday from meh to meaningful.

This list features a blend of genres and voices from powerful self-help to whimsical fiction, hilarious memoirs, and steamy drama. These aren’t just random recommendations; they’re mood-setters and mind-shifters. Here are five books to kickoff your week, and why they deserve a spot in your reading routine.

1. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear 

Published in 2018, this book combines behavioral science with practical application. James Clear doesn’t just tell you to “fix your life”,  he shows you how, one tiny step at a time. "Atomic Habits" is a masterclass in building better routines through the power of small changes. Clear’s writing style is conversational yet research-backed, giving you both theory and tools. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to rearrange your desk, drink water, and become that version of yourself you keep tweeting about. Starting your week with this book is like sharpening your tools before the hustle.

Once you’ve got your life in order (or at least feel like you do), it’s time for a witty, sometimes outrageous, yet piercingly honest look at modern womanhood in Lagos, courtesy of Damilare Kuku.

2. "Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad" 

This collection of short stories is equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and brutally honest. Kuku examines the everyday chaos of dating, relationships, and navigating womanhood in Lagos — a city that feels like its own character. But beneath the juicy gist and laugh-out-loud moments are weighty philosophical reflections about love, loneliness, gender power dynamics, and emotional survival. Each story reads like a personal confession from your favorite cousin who has "seen things". The prose is unapologetic and bold, making it the perfect pick when you want to start your week with sharp wit and cultural truth.

And speaking of voices that blend humour and insight effortlessly, Trevor Noah’s memoir is the next natural stop — showing us how laughter can still be a tool for resistance and reflection.

3. "Born a Crime"  

"Born a Crime" is equal parts stand-up comedy and social studies. Trevor’s storytelling is vibrant and razor-sharp as he recounts life as a mixed-race child in apartheid South Africa — literally born a crime. The chapters read like mini episodes: sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, often both. His mother, a fierce and faithful figure in the book, becomes a standout character of her own. Starting your week with this memoir will make you laugh out loud, rethink privilege, and maybe even call your parents just to say thanks.

After a dose of truth told with humour, it's refreshing to dive into something speculative and surreal which is exactly what "The Midnight Library" offers next.

4. "The Midnight Library"

Imagine a library where every book is a different version of your life: the one where you became a musician, the one where you married your college sweetheart, the one where you never left home. That’s the concept behind "The Midnight Library", and it’s as dreamy and emotionally resonant as it sounds. Haig writes with tenderness and empathy, exploring regret, mental health, and the choices that shape us. It’s not just fiction, it’s therapy in novel form. If you're starting your week in a bit of a funk, this book offers comfort and perspective.

Then, when you’re ready to feel again — deeply, dramatically, and maybe a little scandalously — Ayobami Adebayo's "A Spell of Good Things" delivers all the emotional juice you need.

5. "A Spell of Good Things"

A Spell of Good Things is a sweeping story of two families living on opposite ends of Nigerian society — one wealthy and politically connected, the other scraping by with dreams and quiet dignity. Adébáyọ̀ explores themes of inequality, youth disenfranchisement, political violence, and hope, through deeply human characters and elegant prose. The book poses big questions: What does it mean to be deserving of good things? How do systems fail those who try the hardest? It’s not a light read, but it’s the kind of book that leaves you sitting still afterward, processing. A great way to begin the week when you're in the mood for thought, not noise.

Your Monday deserves more than just caffeine and calendar alerts — it deserves intention. These five books are more than just reads; they’re companions to different states of mind. From the structure and success path in "Atomic Habits" to the hard truths wrapped in laughter in "Born a Crime", from the Lagos tales that reflect your own dating trauma in "Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad" to the deeply introspective journeys in "The Midnight Library" and the provoking thought of who is deserving of good things, each book brings a mood, a mirror, and a moment of escape. Choose one based on your energy or mix them up during the week. Either way, you’re bound to start strong and stay grounded. Cheers!