Dr Mariam Chaalan is a GP, clinical researcher, and avid reader. We asked her to recommend three books that have inspired her on her journey into becoming such an influential doctor

"These three books are all beautifully written and have common themes. Self-discovery, regeneration, but also a reminder to slow down, take stock, and take meaning from the simplest of encounters in our lives. In a struggle to find or create any coherent meaning, these books lead with protagonists on a journey of how to live a meaningful and wise life."

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

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The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

The Little Prince is a novella by French aristocrat, writer, and military aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

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When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity - the brain - and finally into a patient and a new father.