Is There Any Book Out There That Changed Your Life?

[Moses25]

Hi there.

J'mappelle Moses. I've been searching for some books that I know have an impact on ordinary folks...like The Celestine Prophecies and what-not. I was just wondering if there is any book(s) out there that have changed your life or at least made you go "hmmmm."

All responses will be met with obstinate defiance and stubborness. On the bright side tho, if you provide an address, I'll send you a mug.

hehe...

Cheers.

 

[slacker2114]

I discovered a book that I have read a couple of times. After reading this book, it gave me a new outlook on life and gave me hope. It made me feel as if there are truly greater things awaiting us, that all we had to do was open our eyes and see.

I'm speaking, of course, of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

 

[Cy/MiG]

Changed my life? No, not really.

Gave me hope for originality, plot structure, epic and downright glorious story telling? Yes (The Hobbit)

Made me reassess who I am? Yes (The Bible, random Buddhist readings, Nietzsche)

Blew my mind? Yes (Wiseguy)

Made me laugh or realize I'm not the lone loon in the world? Yes (Sex, Drugs and Coco Puffs)

I'm sure they affected my psyche or something of the sort, but I wouldn't say the 'changed my life' (except the religious/philosophical books, perhaps).

 

[Swizzle Stick!]

Does the manual to my tivo count?

 

[Wildtime]

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret - by Judy Blume...just kidding

Top Secret/Majic by Stanton T. Friedman

When I was younger, UFOs, the paranormal and cryptozoology fascinated the hell out of me without question. However, when I read this book, I noticed that the author, who is also a nuclear physicist, wanted to believe in a UFO conspiracy, but ended up debunking the science presented by the claimants. Friedman still believes in UFOs, I began to look at pseudo-science with a more critical eye.

This book moved me in a way unintentioned by the author...by shaping my skeptical philosophy. I won't claim to be critical of all aspects in my life, but if there's a toss-up between reason and emotion, I'll always be on the side of reason.

 

[NukeLaloosh]

1) Crime and Punishment

2) Catcher in the Rye

 

[BostonTickling]

"Wheres Waldo" Once I finally found that bastard, my life was changed in oh so man ways.

 

[PainTrain]

The Qu'ran

 

[Moses25]

It's Qur'an, actually.

Cheers.

 

[Deleted member 66627]

a Child Called It.

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

'The Science of Getting Rich'

Old book, written over 100 years ago.


I'm not saying book changed my life, but it's a very interesting read

 

[Dave2112]

The one book that I can say truly changed my life...or at least laid the groundwork for the formulation of my personal philosophy was Ayn Rand's Anthem. Followed closely, of course, by The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by the same author.

Also, while there was not one particular novel I can isolate as having a specific impact, the works of Kurt Vonnegut left thier respective indelible marks upon my psyche.

 

[venray]

The Five People You Meet in Heaven By Mitch Albom...

Read it....then see the movie.....good stuff...🙂

 

[slap'n'ticklee]

I don't think reading this book changed my life but it certainly made me enthused about reading again and getting stuck into a good juicy story. I went to the library many years ago, in my teens, and picked up a book by Graham Masterton and as soon as I started reading it, I was hooked and since then I have many books and I believe it was reading this book that fired me up to read more.

 

[TMF Jeff]

The book that most changed my life was The Art of Happiness. It's a collection of essays written by a western psychologist based on his interviews with the Dalai Lama. Basically the doctor asked about problems and issues that face people living in America, like loneliness and materialism (not that loneliness is unique to America, but they addressed it in the context of our specific culture.) The answers were incredibly deep, cutting right to the heart of every issue in ways that I had never seen before. It changed the way I see myself and other people forever.

 

[Moses25]

I think your picture just changed my life...lol.

Cheers.

 

[taptoematt]

" The disappearance of the Universe "
A really crazy book, written in a crazy way about the secrets of life and reality.
It was written in Augusta Maine, spanning fom the early 90's to 2001 at the same time I was living there.
I didn't discover it until much later. It was like the book was meant to be read by me or something

 

[Artoo]

On Liberty by John Stuart Mill.

 

[ZenTickling]

Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives

 

[Capnmad]

I suppose the "Tao Te Ching" was significant for me.

 

[Saeria]

As always i couldn't pick just one, so here's a few that have completely turned my life a different direction upon reading it...

Redwall by Brian Jacques... i read this book when i was 8 years old and it was the first time i became so immersed in a story that i cried when it was over, even as an adult i will on occasion pick up this book and read it, it's such an innocent story.


I'm with slacker upon naming Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, this was my first absurdist appreciation and the one book that made me realize just how strange fiction could be. I can near recite the book verbatim these days.

Striking Thoughts Bruce Lee... A friend gave me this book and i made the mistake of reading it from cover to cover. Much like the bible, however, this is one of those works you have to read and analyze bit by bit. There is so much wisdom within those pages that i implement almost daily.

Sacrement by Clive Barker. Just a plain beautiful story that oozed gestalt theory. From the moment i finished this book i wanted to be "part of a nilotic" so to speak.

... and then maybe because i'm an egotist.. the book i wrote when i was in jr. high-high school made the biggest impact on me. For 4 years created this alternate reality with rich detailed characters and flamboyant storylines... in a sense i lived this story. I never had it published and only two people outside myself have ever read it (and prolly ever will read it). it was simply too personal to share.

 

[chicago]