We're back to Africa!
Last month we kicked off a little Kenyan series on 3 Books and today I’m thrilled to share another chapter recorded in the heart of pulsing downtown Nairobi in the country's top bookstore.
I landed after an overnight flight and immediately filled my belly with fresh samosas, pakoras, curried goat tripe, and fresh tamarind juice ... for breakfast! ... and then, after seeing the city I hopped into a car with Perlexy, who works with our guest in Chapter 104 and current Kenyan Presidential nominee Boniface Mwangi, and drove downtown...
We parked the car and met up with Boniface and his son before walking up together to the second floor of a busy plaza. Tucked inside was a 1000-square-foot bookshop that happens to be one of the most influential literary hubs in the country: Nuria Bookstore.
That’s where I met Bulle (pronounced "Boo-lay") who is of Somalian descent and born 700km north of Nairobi where he was largely raised by his wise camel-herding grandmother (who is 101 today!). Bulle took a business path early in life but as we'll hear his plans changed and now he runs what many consider the most successful bookstore in Kenya and is a huge champion and evangelist for African authors and African literature.
Let’s hang out upstairs in the Nairobi bookshop and talk about amplifying African voices, growing up among camels, the winding path of purpose, Bulle’s 3 most formative books, and so much more …
Let’s flip the page to Chapter 155 now …
Chapter 155: Bulle the Bookseller broadens borders and births bibliophiles
View full transcript here
CONNECT with Bulle
Bulle’s 3 Books
First book (19:06)
Second book (39:44)
WORDCLOUD OF THE CHAPTER
‘Afda Ballon’ (a closed mouth is gold)
Quotes
“When you travel to a foreign country, may the people of that place be your brothers and sisters.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“You can visualize something that you think over and over again about something... And then now leave it with your subconscious brain now to make it happen.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“We are a powerhouse but are unable to tap into that subconscious mind.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“Once you visualize something you have to do something about it.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“Failure and trying is the key to success.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“If you are a nobody and you have written a book, you don’t have a place to take your book. So I began housing such books.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“I will not reject any author.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“When you go to school you read to pass an exam. You don’t read for leisure and you don’t read to better your life.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“For you to be a better person, you must start reading.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“I think books play a vital key in shaping humanity.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“Books tend to convey the pains and the aspirations of society. Bookstores play a key role in advancing societies.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
“School books shape you to become a worker and non-academic books shape you to become a better human being, a better person.” — Bulle the Bookseller | 3 Books Podcast
Show Notes
‘Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action’ by Simon Sinek
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear
‘The Fight for Order’ by Justin Muturi
