What are the most influential books you've read?
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From: La Habra
Most of Ayn Rand's work (the Manifesto was too dry though).
Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, a timeless classic.
Scott Adams (Dilbert, my daily office guide) and Gary Larson (Far Side, whacks-on-the-head).
Shakespear's dramas (Mac Beth, King Lear, ...)
Greek tragedies, more modern epics, and the writings of Plato
Edgar Rice Burroughs (anything's possible) and Robert E. Howard (but don't kill yourself)
Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, a timeless classic.
Scott Adams (Dilbert, my daily office guide) and Gary Larson (Far Side, whacks-on-the-head).
Shakespear's dramas (Mac Beth, King Lear, ...)
Greek tragedies, more modern epics, and the writings of Plato
Edgar Rice Burroughs (anything's possible) and Robert E. Howard (but don't kill yourself)
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From: Poconos
Most of you got the point of my post. An influential book being one that after reading it, the ideas and/or ideals have had an impact on your life or you've incorporated them into your own opinions and outlook on life.
How about telling us why/how these books influenced you? Allow me to start...
Holy Bible (King James Version)
Being a man of faith this is an obvious one.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Excellent, Excellent book! If there's any book that you must read this is it! It explains human interaction/communication which you use in your personal and business life.
The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
I came across this book by accident. Having years of martial art training, Eastern philosophy has always been of interest. What this book really explained to me was Zen, and how I (and most people) actually practice it. It helped me organize my thoughts to make well informed decisions by seeing the complete picture of a problem or situation.
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
With religious overtones, this book lays the basic foundation and mentality for running a business, work, etc.
Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes by Bartlett
A story of an enigmatic man...Hollywood, aviation, business, casino industry and his OCD which consumed him into a life of seclusion.
Beyond Einstein: The cosmic quest of the theory of the universe - Kaku
I have an interest in physics and QED. This book goes into detail Einstein's mistakes, progress and discovery and a clear definition of the superstring theory which may lead to the grand unification theory.
Edgar Cayce Handbook for creating your Future
Metaphysics with religious overtones. The stories of this "sleeping prophet" are truly amazing.
The Millionaire Mind - Stanley
An excellent book which surveys the millionaires of the country, how they got there, and why they do the things they do. A lot can be learned from this.
The Science of God - Schroeder
For every door that science opens, its more proof that this is a "God." This book juxtaposes scientific theories with the bible and how they are actually in harmony and that science cannot disproof the existence of a higher being.
10 things you can't say in America - Elder
A recent book explaining: race, economic, and political commentaries by the author. A great deal of it makes sense.
The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by Sarno
This book opened my mind to how the body triggers a somatic response due to repressed emotions. The mind plays tricks on you, such as triggering a back pain instead of thinking of a painful memory to distract you. Excellent book
Hows that for a reflection?
How about telling us why/how these books influenced you? Allow me to start...
Holy Bible (King James Version)
Being a man of faith this is an obvious one.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Excellent, Excellent book! If there's any book that you must read this is it! It explains human interaction/communication which you use in your personal and business life.
The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
I came across this book by accident. Having years of martial art training, Eastern philosophy has always been of interest. What this book really explained to me was Zen, and how I (and most people) actually practice it. It helped me organize my thoughts to make well informed decisions by seeing the complete picture of a problem or situation.
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
With religious overtones, this book lays the basic foundation and mentality for running a business, work, etc.
Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes by Bartlett
A story of an enigmatic man...Hollywood, aviation, business, casino industry and his OCD which consumed him into a life of seclusion.
Beyond Einstein: The cosmic quest of the theory of the universe - Kaku
I have an interest in physics and QED. This book goes into detail Einstein's mistakes, progress and discovery and a clear definition of the superstring theory which may lead to the grand unification theory.
Edgar Cayce Handbook for creating your Future
Metaphysics with religious overtones. The stories of this "sleeping prophet" are truly amazing.
The Millionaire Mind - Stanley
An excellent book which surveys the millionaires of the country, how they got there, and why they do the things they do. A lot can be learned from this.
The Science of God - Schroeder
For every door that science opens, its more proof that this is a "God." This book juxtaposes scientific theories with the bible and how they are actually in harmony and that science cannot disproof the existence of a higher being.
10 things you can't say in America - Elder
A recent book explaining: race, economic, and political commentaries by the author. A great deal of it makes sense.
The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by Sarno
This book opened my mind to how the body triggers a somatic response due to repressed emotions. The mind plays tricks on you, such as triggering a back pain instead of thinking of a painful memory to distract you. Excellent book
Hows that for a reflection?
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From: Gunma(aka InitialD state)
CHAOS MAKING A NEW SCIENCE
help me to get a better grasp of fractals and chaos theory by explaing how the science started back in the 80's when i was just a wee little boy, and then allowing the reader to explore the science just like the founding fathers of it did, it also let made physics 123(fractals and chaos theory) an easier class to grasp
help me to get a better grasp of fractals and chaos theory by explaing how the science started back in the 80's when i was just a wee little boy, and then allowing the reader to explore the science just like the founding fathers of it did, it also let made physics 123(fractals and chaos theory) an easier class to grasp
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From: Charlotte
One person posted one of my favorites...
Hell... why list them all.... The ENTIRE body of work by Heinlein. He was more of a father figure to me than any family member... I sure learned more.
The entire body of work by W.E.B. Griffin (Another outstanding author)
Hell... why list them all.... The ENTIRE body of work by Heinlein. He was more of a father figure to me than any family member... I sure learned more.
The entire body of work by W.E.B. Griffin (Another outstanding author)
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From: Brecksville
Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon - The Idea that eternity is very brief and very very small.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - That Dharma will come to you if you can stop long enough for it to catch you.
Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda - The ideas of the Tonal and the Nagual. The Tonal is the sum total of mans understanding, everything that can be perceived, reality as we know it. The Nagual is the incomprehensible "limitless beyond" which is the vast infinity in which reality drifts.
The Holy Grail Translated by Pauline Maud Matarasso - That the 'quest' is the purpose of life and death is life's great accomplishment.
The Fourth Way by P. D. Ouspenski - That true consciousness is a chance and fleeting experience. The act of observing one self increases the odds that one may experience a moment of consciousness.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - That Dharma will come to you if you can stop long enough for it to catch you.
Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda - The ideas of the Tonal and the Nagual. The Tonal is the sum total of mans understanding, everything that can be perceived, reality as we know it. The Nagual is the incomprehensible "limitless beyond" which is the vast infinity in which reality drifts.
The Holy Grail Translated by Pauline Maud Matarasso - That the 'quest' is the purpose of life and death is life's great accomplishment.
The Fourth Way by P. D. Ouspenski - That true consciousness is a chance and fleeting experience. The act of observing one self increases the odds that one may experience a moment of consciousness.
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From: San Diego
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
XMen by Cris Claremont
Tonio Kroger by Thomas Mann
Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
Moon Palace by Paul Auster
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
If I expand the bounds of the question to include other types of literature...
poems by Wallace Stevens, WB Yeats, or John Keats
Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
etc...
XMen by Cris Claremont
Tonio Kroger by Thomas Mann
Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
Moon Palace by Paul Auster
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
If I expand the bounds of the question to include other types of literature...
poems by Wallace Stevens, WB Yeats, or John Keats
Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
etc...
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Posts: 6,592
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From: Yorba Linda, CA
Bible - The blessings I have been granted are uncountable
Atlas Shrugged - This is a fascinating presentation of Rand's philosophy--the virtue of selfishness. "A woman refuses to eat so that she can feed her children: this is not sacrifice. A woman who lets her children starve so that she can feed her neighbor's children: this is sacrifice."
Anything by PG Wodehouse - Not only is Wodehouse' humor brilliant ("Aunt Agatha, the one who eats broken glass and kills rats with her teeth"), but Bertie Wooster is the most unselfish literary character I've had the pleasure to meet. He gets himself into the most absurd situations precisely because he is constantly trying to help his friends.
Strong Magic - Darwin Ortiz changed my entire approach to the presentation of close-up magic with his observations. One minor change in what I say during a particular coin routine and what once was an amusing, entertaining, baffling piece of magic now has grown men drop to their knees (literally!) in amazement.
Atlas Shrugged - This is a fascinating presentation of Rand's philosophy--the virtue of selfishness. "A woman refuses to eat so that she can feed her children: this is not sacrifice. A woman who lets her children starve so that she can feed her neighbor's children: this is sacrifice."
Anything by PG Wodehouse - Not only is Wodehouse' humor brilliant ("Aunt Agatha, the one who eats broken glass and kills rats with her teeth"), but Bertie Wooster is the most unselfish literary character I've had the pleasure to meet. He gets himself into the most absurd situations precisely because he is constantly trying to help his friends.
Strong Magic - Darwin Ortiz changed my entire approach to the presentation of close-up magic with his observations. One minor change in what I say during a particular coin routine and what once was an amusing, entertaining, baffling piece of magic now has grown men drop to their knees (literally!) in amazement.
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