1)Zen and the art of motorcycle maitenance by Robert Pirsig
A life manual/holiday diary/philisophical thing that changed my outlook, period! Read it, you can't not enjoy this book.
2)The celestine prophecy (can't remember the author)
Spiritual fiction novel about discovering enlightenment. Im not really a spiritual type but this had me really thinking about life and the universe. 🙂
Originally posted by marinakatombProps on the ZAMM. So:
1)Zen and the art of motorcycle maitenance by Robert Pirsig
A life manual/holiday diary/philisophical thing that changed my outlook, period! Read it, you can't not enjoy this book.
2)The celestine prophecy (can't remember the a ...[text shortened]... pe but this had me really thinking about life and the universe. 🙂
1. Both of Robert Pirsig's books
2. ''Goedel, Escher, Bach'', Richard Hofstadter
3. ''The Fountainhead'', Ayn Rand
I bet RBHILL's favorite book is the Necronomicon 😉.
The ragged trousered philanthropists - Robert Tressel
A novel written in 1905 about painters and house builders. It really depicts the conditions they worked in and the reasons why they had to work in those conditions. Amazingly the parallels to our time can bring tears to your eyes.
The cider house rules - John Irving
About a boy who doesn't want to perform abortions, but who ends up seeing what happens if you don't. Beautifully portraid, funny and heartbreakingly moving.
The quiet American - Graham Greene
A novel set in Vietnam when the French were in control, just before the US got involved. A British reporter and an American importer of plastics are in love with the same Vietnamese girl.
I think every American should read it. Long live the third way, shall I say! (that's sarcasm).
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Another war story, very funny and nasty in its sarcasm. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is looped and keeps returning to your delight and to the charachter's frustration. The nude scene is even funnier than the nude scene in the movie M*A*S*H* (for people who want a parallel).
Why I'm not a Christian / The conquest of happiness - Bertrand Russel
These are the only non-fiction books I've included. These two books helped me form my basic outlook on life when I read them when I was 14.
"Why I'm not a Christian" is cleverly funny and really rips religion apart and "The conquest of happiness" explains why you should enjoy trying to achieve things more than actually achieving them.
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Obviously there are many more books that really affected my life. Like Lord of the Rings...I'm into role-playing, warhammer, fantasy and all that, probably due to this book. But, like so many books, I presume the majority know it and have read it.
These books I've described have had serious impact on my life.
Tressel's book forced me to switch from the British Labour party (or new tory party, shall I suggest?) to join the international socialists. It changed my political out-look.
Greene's book opened my eyes to the way nations are constantly trying to influence situations which really have nothing to do with them. NOt that that's bad in itself, but it often seems that it's the mothers and children who end up with limbs blown off. That's just not fair.
The cider house rules formed my opions on humanity. It's one of the reasons I can't handle the pro-life lobby too well. I certainly hope Ivanhoe ends up reading it. Not to change his mind, but to let him glimpse why someone could be pro-abortion.
Heller rocks. It's my favourite book of all time. Catch 22 is, to me, the funniest matter ever created (besides Bill Hick's stand-up comedy then) and it has so many things happening (its set in WW2) that just keep on happening today it's scary!
Originally posted by zucchiniCribs is one of the Anarchists I mentioned that is trying to pervert Rand and hijack her ideas.
sent to me by Cribs
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
The Stand, by Stephen King
1984, by George Orwell
I think. We have only exchanged a single post on this... and I think both got edited. Or I am too drunk to find them.
Whatever.
The reason I recommend her is most definitely because she knows that the "Individual" trumps the mob. Every time.
As requested:
''ZAMM'' and ''Lila'' are on there for three reasons:
1. I related strongly to the character of Phaedrus when I read them, though I'm probably not as encompassing a mind as he. (Should you wish to talk to me online, my AOL screenname is 'phaedrus1729'😉.
2. While I'm not sure I think that the 'Metaphysics of Quality' is a complete or accurate description of how the world is, I think it is tremendously well-defended and it is fun to watch it develop over two books/30 years.
3. I have an incoherent feeling of 'liking' the way these books are written.
''GEB'' is on there because it is beautiful.
''The Fountainhead'' is on there because it is written the way Howard Roark's buildings would look if he were not fictional.
Originally posted by elvendreamgirlPride and Predjudice. I love the beauty of the language in Jane Austen's novels.She had a gift for seeing the ironies in customs and manners of the day, and pointing out the humor, as well as the hypocrisy of early 19th century Britain.
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne
Last of the Mohicans,
Last of the Mohicans:
Originally posted by elvendreamgirllast of the Mohicans: I love the relationship between the brothers and their father, as well as the relationship between the Native Americans and the colonists. It presents the world as it should be. There is great love and great beauty in this novel.
Pride and Predjudice. I love the beauty of the language in Jane Austen's novels.She had a gift for seeing the ironies in customs and manners of the day, and pointing out the humor, as well as the hypocrisy of early 19th century Britain.
Last of the Mohicans:
Winnie the Pooh: I base my entire belief system on this book 🙂
Originally posted by zucchiniAargh, how can you say that! How can you preclude fiction from a list of valuable and influential books! All the most influential books I have read have been fiction.
This seems like a well-read community, so I hope you can help me and each other ...
I am looking for people to list the two or three most influential books they have read as adults. These books should teach something valuable. I assume that, in general, this precludes fiction.
Please list the book title and author, and a brief description of why it y ...[text shortened]... please make sure that it is either described on Amazon.com or easily found by google.
Thanks
They're not original choices, but if you really want to learn about life you could do worse than starting with Catcher in the Rye and a Hundred Years of Solitude.
Rich.
Originally posted by richhoeyEasily. I find I don't have time for fiction with my current interests. My reading tends to be science, politics, government, social issues, biographies, business, etc. I find that there is a lot I need to know to better participate in my community, and to better understand this world. I think fiction can help with me this too, just, withmy interests, not as quickly as non-fiction.
Aargh, how can you say that! How can you preclude fiction from a list of valuable and influential books!
My expectations for replies was different than it has turned out to be, but still interesting to me, and hopefully to those participating.