Most infuential book(s) you have read

book reader · 2008-04-10T15:07:20-04:00

This isn't necessarily the same as what is your favorite book(s). These are books that changed how you act, think, or perceive the world. What are they? Why were they the most influential? Let's hear them.

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17 years ago 07/26/2008 8:38pm EDT

re: Ticktock

Often, the more influential books I've read are catalysts for epiphanies I have, and often aren't in the direction the authors "want" me to go. But a good book presents ideas, and the evaluation of those ideas can do a lot.

Age 18: Grendel by John Gardner (2nd read)

Age 21: Foundation by Isaac Asimov and The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon (in conjunction)

Age 23: The Lore of Running by Tim Noakes

Age 24: The Idiot by Dostoevsky

There are plenty of books that I've read and really, really liked (e.g. Once a Runner, Brothers Karamazov) that just reinforced the way I already thought, but the books listed above changed me.

17 years ago 07/27/2008 2:47pm EDT

re: Sub6

The bridge at Andau by James Michener.

Erased all my communist sympathies.

17 years ago 07/27/2008 3:58pm EDT

re: gopher

The Chosen - Chaim Potok

Steppenwolf - Herman Hesse

Sidhartha - Herman Hesse

17 years ago 07/27/2008 4:35pm EDT

re: Sprite

I don't understand Hesse fans. I don't think his stuff's very good or has much to it. But you know...to each his/her own.

17 years ago 07/27/2008 5:05pm EDT

re: Yanqui

17 years ago 07/27/2008 5:31pm EDT

re: Aym Randy

Deep Hot Biosphere by Thomas Gold.

17 years ago 07/27/2008 5:40pm EDT

re: book reader

Profile of a Prophet by Hugh Brown

17 years ago 07/27/2008 6:57pm EDT

re: not in utah

Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration

Quotations from Mao Tse Tung

Introduction of VLSI Systems Design

Thomas' Calculus

17 years ago 07/27/2008 8:10pm EDT

re: allez

allez wrote:
4) Why I Am Not a Muslim, Ibn Warraq -- irrational islamic fundamentalism laid bare. The secret mission of islam is to END WESTERN CIVILIZATION. don't be fooled by politically correct garbage to the contrary, mouthed by your "milk toast" politicians, fundamentalism holds all the power in islam(notice the deafening silence when you expect moral rebuke by moderate muslims whenever terrorist acts are perpetrated), and they will not stop until you're dead or in their control(forcefully converted into a muslim slave).
the secret they (all islam: moderate and extremist) don't
talk about to americans and europeans is that they want an islamic state, no -- an islamic world state: no division of church and state, no tolerance of other religious practice,
no 21st century human rights -- just complete and utter control and domination of the political, civic, economic, and personal life of all mankind by koranic law(their dark ages interpretation, of course).
i know some of you may think what i'm saying is ghastly, outrageous hyperbole -- please, just read the book; delve into this subject; read other works alarming westerners to this monumental, insideous threat.
The 21st century will decide if civilization lives or dies.

And this is any different than extremest Christians???? The only real difference is that extremest Christians have been more successful than Islamic fundamentalism as of this point in history.

Every culture wants to make theirs the dominant culture...you make it sound like this is a new concept...sorry to break it to you buddy but these types of struggles have been going on since Caveman time.

14 years ago 08/01/2011 4:17pm EDT

re: Swofford11

Roughly in chronological order, these are the books that actually influenced my thinking and actions:

The Bible

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Mark Twain)

Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)

The Plague (Albert Camus)

The Jim Ryun Story (Cordner Nelson)

Long Slow Distance: The Humane Way to Train (Joe Henderson)

The Discovery of Freedom (Rose Wilder Lane)

Atheism: The Case Against God (George H. Smith)

So You Want To Be a Sprinter (Bud Winter)

Speed Trap (Charlie Francis)

[Also in there somewhere, though not strictly speaking books: Paradise Lost (John Milton) and The Myth of Sisyphus (Albert Camus)]

Probably forgetting a few, but these certainly count as books that have influenced me.

PS For those recommending Three Cups of Tea--which I can see as being highly influential--you need to understand that a great deal of it, including some of the most important parts, were made up.

14 years ago 08/01/2011 4:52pm EDT

re: dktu

Life of Pi

Cache 22

The works of Kurt Vonnegut

Kite Runner

Just to name a few

Oh and ironically " The 100: A ranking of the most influential people in history"

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:06pm EDT

re: Shorter Fan

Shorter Fan wrote:
The Bible

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:08pm EDT

re: asfdasfdsafd

once a runner is the ONLY ANSWER

END OF THREAD

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:32pm EDT

re: book reader

Uh....ever heard of Playboy?

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:39pm EDT

re: OAR

Notes from underground by Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky was a genius well ahead of his time. This book is short and entertaining but also opens the opens the door to existential thinking. It truly shifted my day to day perception of humanity and led me to the realm of existentialism.

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:43pm EDT

re: Najbehsjsls

Lord of the Rings series and The Chronicles of Narnia.

This may sound lame, but I am a PhD in lit working in medieval literature. Now it makes sense.

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:46pm EDT

re: book reader

14 years ago 08/01/2011 5:51pm EDT

re: book reader

14 years ago 08/01/2011 6:00pm EDT

re: Brian Herb, Ft. Collins

I second whoever said the Riverside Chaucer.

Also the novels of George Eliot.

And, yes, the Bible. sorry.

14 years ago 08/01/2011 6:17pm EDT

re: lahdeedah

I dont believe any of you who say Chaucer, 1984, Walden, Bible etc.... BS, those books are so outdated and inconsequential now. You all are full of pretentiousness. Try-

The Road

The Places in Between

Fear and Loathing

The Sheltering Sky

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