What are some books that have changed your life?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the impact of various books on individuals' lives, exploring personal favorites that have significantly influenced participants. The scope includes a wide range of genres and subjects, reflecting on both fiction and non-fiction works.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest classic literature such as Dante's Divine Comedy, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment as essential reads that have profoundly impacted them.
  • Others mention modern works like 1984 and Be Here Now, emphasizing their relevance and personal significance.
  • Several participants express a fondness for encyclopedias and reference books, highlighting their role in shaping knowledge and curiosity.
  • Some contributions reflect skepticism about the transformative power of books, with one participant questioning the premise of reading for personal change.
  • Multiple participants share lists of influential books, indicating a diverse range of tastes and experiences, from philosophical texts to thrillers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which books are most impactful, with multiple competing views and personal preferences expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific editions or translations of works, indicating that personal experiences with texts may vary based on these factors. Additionally, there are mentions of the subjective nature of reading and its effects on individuals.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in literature, personal development, and the subjective impact of reading may find this discussion valuable.

  • #91


bleedblue1234 said:
Atlas Shrugged

(and its surprisingly relevant for our current time)
The Fountain Head is better written I believe, though I haven't read either one all the way through.
 
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  • #92


The one book that's changed me the most is Stephen Fry's autobiography "Moab is my Washpot". Not only is it very funny, it's incredibly honest, sinsible, clever, emotional... This book totally changed me. I definitely recommend it to anyone having a hard time with their life.
 
  • #93


ideasrule said:
You can also easily get it online: http://www.crusader.net/texts/mk/

It's a very good book for anybody who doesn't mind reading authors with different points of view.

I've considered reading it. Like Mav though I have heard that it is dense and not very good. For similar reasons I have yet to read Rand. I'm sure though that some day I will be fiending and find a copy of Mein Kampf or The Fountainhead lying around.
 
  • #94


I'd be interested to hear the answer to the second part of the original question that was asked. Not just hear a list of book recommendations, but how did they affect your life? And simply saying, "It changed my life" isn't sufficient. That wouldn't pass in Grade 2 English class. Remember how they always said, "What do you think? Explain your answer."

I'd truly like to hear how people were affected by the stuff they've read. And was it a lasting effect?
 
  • #95


GeorginaS said:
I'd truly like to hear how people were affected by the stuff they've read. And was it a lasting effect?

Most of what I have read has had more of a subtle effect than one I can really pinpoint.

Being an aspiring writer the greatest effect really has been inspiration and making me want to write though I still get the feeling often that I can not possibly write so well as my favourite authors.

Dumas helped affirm my romantic ideals and sense of loyalty.

Robert Anton Wilson affirmed a lot of my personal questioning of the way which we view our world, has led me to take myself less seriously, and has left me with a rather open mind.
 
  • #96


Hi;
Shopenhauer, Nietzsche & Heidegger Complete Works.
 
  • #97


Ivan Seeking said:
A lot of good books have already been mentioned, but one that I would have to add is the Bible.

Best line: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I'm with Ivan.

On the other hand, politically speaking, I read The 10,000 Day War cover to cover twice. I also spent a lot of time with World Book and always read the annual upon arrival. I also enjoy historical accounts - too many titles to recall.

I'm probably the only one here to have read SPIN Selling, the One Minute Manager, How To Win Friends and Influence People, (several books about franchising), Liar's Poker, Swimming With the Sharks, and Fleecing of the Lambs.
 
  • #98


Just read "A Small Place" by Jamaica Kincaid. It was stunning and full of a new perspective on how a nation saw another parent nation along with it's tourists.
 
  • #99


Touching the Void by Joe Simpson

An account of a true story of survival and pushing the physical limits, I found the book great.
 
  • #100


I read https://www.amazon.com/dp/0192862189/?tag=pfamazon01-20 by James Lovelock in the late 70's. This should be required reading for everyone.

Unless of course you already know everything and do not care to broaden your views.


After you finish the bible, wait this is short and well written so before you tackle the bible read
"[URL[/URL]
Herman Hesse's [u]Sidharatha[/u][/URL]
 
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  • #101


As a kid I loved:
Where the wild things are, probably started my love of reading since my mom has told me I rarely left it alone.

As a teen I liked:
Go ask Alice which is about a teen girls trials with drug abuse.
The Richest Man in Babylon, about the value of money and its proper use.
How to Think and Grow Rich, basically a biography of the titans of industry and what they had in common.

During my twenties I pretty much gave up reading until I happened to read A Time to Kill, which re awakened my love of reading.

In my thirties:
Patriots by A.J. Languth, has a few historical inaccuracies,imo, but is a very good story about the founding of the USA.
And then I discovered that I trusted words out of someones own mouth more than having someone tell me what another person said(meant). It makes it far easier to see a biased opinion, imo. You can count on an autobiography being biased as far as the author is concerned, with biographies or history books I have to always be on my gaurd. Which leads me to
Benjiman Franklins autobiography as well as all his writings from the library of america. He had a wonderful sense of humor, like a letter he wrote to the french people explaining how much they would save in a year if they only woke with the sun and went to bed shortly after sunset, instead of staying up all night by candle light then sleeping all day. It started out with him saying, I have made a wonderful discovery today when lifting the blinds it is not lifting the blinds that allow the darkness out but it let's the light in. Poor richards almanac was great I could barely put it down.
Thomas Jeffersons autobiography and writings also from the LOA. Philosophers are referenced often in his writings which got me curious about what they had to say leading me to read some.
Calvin Coolidge's autobiography, has a lot of political morals within. I wish the leaders of today would read and live them.
Nikola Tesla's autobiography, I loved his stories about how he came to the conclusion that he was meant to be an inventor.
Booker T. Washingtons autobiography, a look at the lifes of the newly freed slaves in america and the struggles in their education.
I really liked Thomas Paines writings from the Library of America, especially the Age of Reason.
The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazarath or better known as the Thomas Jefferson Bible, by TJ.
A New View of the Constitution by John Taylor of Caroline, kind of a misleading title because it shows what the founders meant in the first place. Written right after the notes of the constitutional convention became public.

When I got into philosophy:
The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant was a very good book about the history of western philosophy a good introduction to the subject of philosophy. I liked his writing so much I bought his The Story of Civilization but have yet to dive into them, they look like they might take me a year or two to get through(11 big volumes).
My favorite was probably Mediatations by Marcus Aurelius and also Epiceticus(?) which were in the same volume of the harvard classics I bought.
John Lockes' Two Treatise's but I liked the 2nd one the most and also his look at human understanding.
Voltaire's writings were great as was Nietzche, but I wondered if the later might have been better if I could read him in german, the translated version doesn't flow too well, imo.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Actually I can't think of a philosophy text that I've read that I didnt enjoy and get something out of.

A recent book, with a good look at a failed US special forces mission in afganistan, The Lone Survivor by Marcus Lattrell, I couldn't put it down.
 
  • #102


Not sure if this has already been recommended but Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison is a fantastic novel. Morrison (a nobel and pulitzer prize winning author) gives a detailed account about racism in the United States during the 1930-1970s among other things. Here's a review from amazon (it doesn't quite do the novel justice):
Raised among the sour hatreds of the richest black family in a Michigan town, Milkman learns not to love or make commitments, learns to turn away from his father's hard, tight greed, his mother's unloved passivity, his sisters' sterile virginity. He stands apart from his outcast aunt Pilate (a figure reminiscent of Sula, living beyond all reason), a "raggedy bootlegger" who keeps her name in a box threaded to one ear. And he stands above the wild untidy adoration of his cousin Hagar, above the atrocities against blacks in the 1950s, even while his friend organizes a black execution squad. However, when Milkman's father opens the door to a family past of murder and flight, Milkman - in order to steal what he believes is gold - begins the cleansing Odyssean journey.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/140003342X/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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  • #103


Ishmael
The Omnivore's Dilemma
The Bottomless Well
Animal Liberation
The Elegant Universe
 
  • #104


The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan
 
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  • #105


Williams' HematologyNow THAT's how you write a textbook.
 
  • #106


The book which made to read books and novels is "the silent honor" by Danielle steel
only after this i started having an interest towards books.
 
  • #107


WhoWee said:
I'm probably the only one here to have read SPIN Selling, the One Minute Manager, How To Win Friends and Influence People, (several books about franchising), Liar's Poker, Swimming With the Sharks, and Fleecing of the Lambs.


I would also recommend How to win Friends and Influence People. That book combined with Personality Plus by Florence Littauer were very good. They give you some interesting insight into people and their behaviors. I found them both very interesting and helpful.
 
  • #108


"A Confederacy of Dunces," by John Kennedy Toole. It didn't exactly change my life, but it certainly changed the way I think about comedy as a genre
 
  • #109


pzona said:
"A Confederacy of Dunces," by John Kennedy Toole. It didn't exactly change my life, but it certainly changed the way I think about comedy as a genre
GREAT read, and real tragedy that we'll only get that one from Toole.
 
  • #110


Some really good ones have been mentioned. For 'life changing' as in altered my viewpoint and way of interpreting the world: The https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553239619/?tag=pfamazon01-20

You have to do the work to find the truth in it. It doesn't do it for you, but worth it.
 
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  • #111


Some deep literature: Crime & Punishment(Dostoevsky), The Trial(Kafka).
I highly recommend the Trial.
 
  • #112


Another important book which changed my thinking is "the god father"
 
  • #113


If you're going to do the bible, one should also add the Bhagavad Gita, the I Ching, and the Lin Yu, which also have good stuff in them.
 
  • #114


Hello, anyone notice that these posts on religion are being deleted?
 
  • #115


mheslep said:
GREAT read, and real tragedy that we'll only get that one from Toole.

He did have The Neon Bible released later on (I think about 20 after he died), which he wrote when he was 16. It's nowhere near the level of Confederacy of Dunces, but it's a good read as well. If you ever have a few hours to spare, I think it's only around 150 pages
 
  • #116


mheslep said:
Hello, anyone notice that these posts on religion are being deleted?

Yes, and frankly, damn glad of it! :eek:
 
  • #117


pzona said:
He did have The Neon Bible released later on (I think about 20 after he died), which he wrote when he was 16. It's nowhere near the level of Confederacy of Dunces, but it's a good read as well. If you ever have a few hours to spare, I think it's only around 150 pages
Didn't know, thanks.
 
  • #118


Fragment said:
[...] As for my input, I believe every person should read:

Dante's Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise)
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment
(Marquis De Sade for a powerful message; very, very, very disturbing to most people.)
Philosophy: Plato (Obviously), Kant, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Hegel, Spinoza, Aristotle, Epictetus, [STRIKE]Nietzsche[/STRIKE], Sartre, Confucius.
Homer's Odyssey and Iliad (Alexander Pope's translation proved to be the best for me)
The Prince, [STRIKE]Niccolo Machiavelli[/STRIKE]

Many thanks for any input.:smile:
Going back and reflecting here. I'd take two off. Strikes above are mine. Nietzsche and Machiavelli get some credit for originality in their time. None the less both are sophisticated indulgences in nihilism, my take, which one can get on most college campuses freshman year without reading anything at all.
 
  • #119
Resurrecting this thread because I am looking for new books to read :biggrin:

Here is my list of books I can remember that gave me food for thought.

The Alchemist
The Devil and Miss Prym
Ishmael
Letting go of the person you used to be
You can Negotiate anything
This Perfect Day
The God Delusion
Hyperspace
A Short History of Progress
The Power of Now
Siddhartha
The Stranger
Be Here Now
A Small Place
A Private History of Awe
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry
The 48 Laws of Power
The Life You Can Save
Touching the Void
Life of Pi
The White Tiger
 
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  • #120
Be Here Now
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
DuneThere are many others, but most pale in comparison