Once in a lifetime books: What are your most life changing reads?

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Posted by saturnR
April 1, 2013 10:20 am
#1

Everyone has a book or two or five that are really life changing. They don't happen a lot but they are around. Mine were "Stop Thinking, Start Living" Richard Carlson; "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes; "Why Asians Are Less Creative Than Westerners" by Ng Aik Kwang; and "The Love of Life" = Simple Buddhist text/compilation for lay people (not one of the Sutras/bibles).

What are/were your most life changing books? By life changing, I mean that they caused a permanent shift in your view point on one or more important aspect of your life.

 
Posted by SusiGo
April 1, 2013 5:31 pm
#2

Good question but hard to answer. There are novels that showed me what literature can do and made me wonder if I could become a writer, too. That made me wish I had written them or at least something that was as strong or moving or exciting. 
As for non-fiction:
"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson which ended my life-long reserve towards science and inspired me to write a novel
"Buddhism Without Beliefs" by Stephen Batchelor
"Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung" by Ajahn Brahm. The title is silly, I read the German translation which is called "Die Kuh, die weinte" (The cow that cried). Wonderful book. 


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"To fake the death of one sibling may be regarded as a misfortune; to fake the death of both looks like carelessness." Oscar Wilde about Mycroft Holmes

"It is what it is says love." (Erich Fried)

“Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame. I’m also a great believer in treating others as you would like to be treated.” (Benedict Cumberbatch)



 
 
Posted by veecee
April 1, 2013 7:08 pm
#3

Just off the top of my head -- Gulliver's Travels. I like the idea of not lying. I'm sure more will come to minde.

Susi - love just about anything from Bill Bryson. Wonderful to hear he got you started.

 
Posted by SusiGo
April 1, 2013 8:30 pm
#4

Veecee: the wonderful thing about the book is that he takes you by the hand and leads you through the history of science by starting in the same place as yourself - knowing very little to nothing. 


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"To fake the death of one sibling may be regarded as a misfortune; to fake the death of both looks like carelessness." Oscar Wilde about Mycroft Holmes

"It is what it is says love." (Erich Fried)

“Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame. I’m also a great believer in treating others as you would like to be treated.” (Benedict Cumberbatch)



 
 
Posted by tobeornot221b
April 1, 2013 9:03 pm
#5

Most life-changing reads? Honestly, this has to be my first reader at primary school. I still remember the first page: "Lili - Lilo - Ali: Lalala. Lili: Lalala, Lilo: Lalala, Ali: Lololo. lila - Lilo - lila."
Doesn't make a lot of sense, but was the beginning of my transformation from a mere (picture) "seeing" into an "observing" (reading) human being.


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John: "Have you spoken to Mycroft, Molly, uh, anyone?"
Mrs Hudson: "They don’t matter. You do."


I BELIEVE IN SERIES 5!




                                                                                                                  
 
Posted by sherlockskitty
April 2, 2013 4:39 am
#6

I'm a bit embarrased,  but life changing for me  when I was a tot,  were the Dr. Suess books!!   One fish, two fish,.......first one I read.   As I grew older,   The Raggedy Ann/Andy books  took my fancy. 

Oh,  and who can forget those Dick and Jane books in primary school? 

Last edited by sherlockskitty (April 2, 2013 4:40 am)


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SHERLOCK!!!!!!
 
Posted by SusiGo
April 2, 2013 6:47 am
#7

It's not embarrassing at all. Now that you and Tobe mention it - of course the first books are most important because they set the foundation for everything. 


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"To fake the death of one sibling may be regarded as a misfortune; to fake the death of both looks like carelessness." Oscar Wilde about Mycroft Holmes

"It is what it is says love." (Erich Fried)

“Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame. I’m also a great believer in treating others as you would like to be treated.” (Benedict Cumberbatch)



 
 
Posted by Schmiezi
April 2, 2013 8:23 am
#8

This thread made me think about many books I've read, so thank you for starting it! I realised that there are many books that reflected my point of view at a particular time, such as "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. But those didn't change my life, they underlined the direction my life was taking.

One book that really changed something was "The Children of Hamlin", which is a Start Trek novel. It was the first Trek book I bought. I was twelve or thirteen, and have just started watching The Next Generation. I remember the book seller asking me if I really wanted to buy this one, because it was not a book for girls...
That did not only made me aware of how I never wanted to be a girly girl, it also made me a Star Trek fan, what in the end led me to meeting some of the important people in life, such as my husband and my best friend, who is also the father of my Goddaughter.

The other life-changing book was a non-fiction book on plastic. I can't remember the title, but I've learnt about how much plastic there is in our blood and on the beaches and so on. I stopped buying drinks in PET bottles instantly and became more aware of ways to use less plastic in eveny day's life.


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I still believe that love conquers all!

     

"Quick, man, if you love me."
 
Posted by Davina
April 2, 2013 3:34 pm
#9

Treasure Island (an abridged version) was the first 'proper' book I read (bit of a precocious reader me) and has stayed with me.


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Don't make people into heroes John. Heroes don't exist and if they did I wouldn't be one of them.
 
Posted by crazybbcamerican
April 2, 2013 6:13 pm
#10

Hmmm...that's a tough one. I can think of three, right off the top of my head, but they are probably a little bit of everything:
The Secret Garden
The Stand
American Gods


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I haven't disappeared completely, I've just been busy writing
 
Posted by Michele
April 3, 2013 4:35 am
#11

Persuasion - Jane Austen
The Book Theif - Markus Zusak
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne
The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

OK I'll stop. Absolutely loved these books. I'm sure there's a ton more but these are definately great reads. Can you tell I love the classics? I have a ton more books on my shelf to read.


This sums me up perfectly!


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Posted by veecee
April 3, 2013 7:11 pm
#12

SusiGo wrote:

Veecee: the wonderful thing about the book is that he takes you by the hand and leads you through the history of science by starting in the same place as yourself - knowing very little to nothing. 

 
Right. I love his mixture of hard fact and humor.
Have you read any of his other books? I've enjoyed several.

 
Posted by veecee
April 3, 2013 7:13 pm
#13

crazybbcamerican wrote:

Hmmm...that's a tough one. I can think of three, right off the top of my head, but they are probably a little bit of everything:
The Secret Garden
The Stand
American Gods

 
I've never gotten into Stephen Kind, except for The Stand, which I've read twice. What amazes me is that he doesn't particularly consider it his best or favorite book himself.

 
Posted by Arthur Doyle
April 13, 2013 8:52 pm
#14

Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The ending 's really great, it can actually change the way you look at religion.

 
Posted by veecee
April 15, 2013 1:14 am
#15

That is an excellent book, AD. Did you see the movie?

 
Posted by QuiteExtraordinary
April 15, 2013 7:02 pm
#16

For me it's Watership Down by Richard Adams. I loved the animated film when I was a child (I still do, actually), and I've read the book many times. I don't know what it is about the story that touches me so much. There is just so much simple truth in it.


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He’s got a dog. We go to the pub on weekends. I’ve met his mum and dad …

… and his friends and all his family and I’ve no idea why I’m telling you this.
 
Posted by The Doctor
April 22, 2013 5:56 am
#17

And then there are, of course, that influenced Benedict and Martin.. just found this gorgeous quote in 'The Hobbit Making of' book:

Last edited by The Doctor (April 22, 2013 5:57 am)

 
Posted by Russell
April 22, 2013 5:40 pm
#18

The Doctor wrote:

And then there are, of course, that influenced Benedict and Martin.. just found this gorgeous quote in 'The Hobbit Making of' book:

 
Ok, I am just utterly melting at that.....  how sweet!


I remember often hearing people say 'this book changed my life' and wistfully wondering about that.  Not sure I could say the same... or maybe it just influences me in more subtle ways with something I do or the way I see something, and not changing my whole life.  How did that happen, that one book would affect all their views and habits (or perhaps just propelled them to something they wouldn't have before?)?  Sometimes it's just a really strong message/deep story lodging it's place in one's memory, thinking of every so often.  Such as "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne re-emphasizing the thought of the power of the thoughts we project.  Or just a fictional story that deeply moved and stayed with for their ideas, like The Time Traveler's Wife, The Night Circus, Raptor Red, Elegance of the Hedgehog, and various stories growing up reading/learning about Egyptian/Asian/Greek mythology.  Ha... I feel like I should break away from my usual sometimes and try more of those deep non-fiction life-changers written by famous motivational speakers!  ;D


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We solve crimes, I blog about it, and he forgets his pants.  I wouldn't hold out too much hope!

Just this morning you were all tiny and small and made of clay!

I'm working my way up the greasy pole.  It's… very greasy.  And…  pole-shaped.
 
Posted by SusiGo
April 22, 2013 5:46 pm
#19

You like Raptor Red? That's great, I did the German translation.  And "The Time Traveller's Wife" is wonderful, so innovative. 


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"To fake the death of one sibling may be regarded as a misfortune; to fake the death of both looks like carelessness." Oscar Wilde about Mycroft Holmes

"It is what it is says love." (Erich Fried)

“Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame. I’m also a great believer in treating others as you would like to be treated.” (Benedict Cumberbatch)



 
 
Posted by Michele
April 23, 2013 3:01 am
#20

The Doctor wrote:

And then there are, of course, that influenced Benedict and Martin.. just found this gorgeous quote in 'The Hobbit Making of' book:

This is lovely. I came to 'The Hobbit' a bit later in life (about 14 I guess) and have always been a bit envious of people that say that were read the book as a child. Although I have read it a couple of times since then I wish it was one of those childhood memories people have.


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