MY DESERT ISLAND BOOK
If I were stranded on a desert island, my first thought wouldn’t be about books—it would probably be how long before I start talking to a coconut? But if I could only take one book with me, it would be Journey of the Mind by Koi. At first glance, it might not seem like your typical desert island read. No dramatic survival tips, no plot twists, no thrilling adventure—at least, not in the usual sense. But for me, this book is about a different kind of survival: the journey inward.
Journey of the Mind explores something that I’ve been learning (and unlearning) for years—that my biggest struggles aren’t with the outside world, but within my own mind. The book breaks down how we get caught up in our thoughts, emotions, and attachments, and how we can begin to free ourselves from them. And let’s be honest, if I were stuck on an island with nothing but my thoughts for company, I’d need that wisdom more than ever.
One of the ideas that has always stayed with me is the importance of recognising the difference between the mind and the brain. As Koi observed in the book: ‘Attempts are made to alleviate external pain through distractions like shopping, drinking and eating but these solutions are only temporary.’ Our mind is constantly shifting—one moment, we’re calm; the next, we’re overthinking why someone didn’t text back. But beneath all that noise, there’s something deeper, something still. Learning to separate the two is a practice, and let’s just say…I’m still practicing.
And the big advantage of being stuck on the island, of course, would be time to practice. It’s almost tempting the more I think about it now: the sand, the waves, the sunshine. My unreasonable craving for chocolate gets in the way though, so I’ll keep this fantasy on hold for the time being.
So while others might take a survival manual or a book to escape reality, I’d take Journey of the Mind. Because if I’m going to be alone with my thoughts, I might as well learn how to make peace with them. And if that fails, well…there’s always talking to coconuts.
Other Moments of Pause