What book has made a dramatic impact on your thinking or views?

Question

why?

Answer 1

Two books come to mind:

1. The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. Although I don't by into all of her ideas now, when I read it when I was 20 it changed the way I viewed alot of things. The problem with it though, was at the time, i could'nt square the Rands ideas with political and human realities I saw all around me.

2. The second book, a bit of a cliche I know, was 1984, By George Orwell. Not the best book I have ever read, not even close actually, but I have great respect for it because it did make me question things like I I really thought about freedom, and our relationship to government and thoes around us.

I am sure you did'nt need that much detail, thanks for letting me blather though!

Answer 2

I think every good book I read has an impact because it expands my understanding of what it means to be human.

However, here are a couple that come to mind:

Corporate Crime & Violence Russel Mokhiber
It's a crime that this essential book is out of print. Plane crashes, mercury poisoning, Bhopal - they're all here in cogent, angry articles. For more info: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0871567237/qid=1153327105/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5514164-4359816?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

African Music: A People's Art - Francis Bebey
Besides a wonderfully concise, well-researched & written education in African music, this book taught me that you can learn about anything you want without the structure of school. It was the first book I bought after I graduated high school.
For more info: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556521286/qid=1153327298/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-5514164-4359816?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Crash - J.G. Ballard
This astounding novel reinforced my feeling that there are no limits to the human imagination and that nothing is taboo in art. Besides, it's a mesmerizing read!
For more info: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312420331/qid=1153327552/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-5514164-4359816?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Just a few - keep on reading!

Answer 3

"The Stranger" by Albert Camus. This gave me a clear understanding of how absurd the world can be. Sarah Nickles put together books containing excerpts of novels and short stories from numerous authors about different subjects. Her work motivated me to start reading again.

List of books are:
S.O.S Adventures on the High Seas
Lying, Cheating, and Stealing
Drinking, Smoking, and Screwing
Wine Memories
Mexican Anthologies

Answer 4

I can think of a few.
1984 by Orwell-what would it be like to live in that society and how long would it take to become that type of society.

Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck-just such a sad ending.

Thanks to My Mother by Schoschana Rabinovici (a book about a girl that was saved from the Holocaust by her mother)-the power of a mother has an incredible impact, how many people could manage this?

Answer 5

Wow, that's a good question, the Good religious Christian answer would of course be, The Bible and The Book of Mormon, and of course that's true, because as a person it has shaped and it governs for the most part the way I look at life. The secular answer would be "Slander, Liberal lies about the conservative Right" by the often controversial Ann Coulter. If you are a conservative, you are going to laugh your head off and love it. If you are a liberal, you will still laugh, but you would be sorely offended.

Answer 6

Ishmael - Daniel Quinn
The Story of B - Daniel Quinn
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

What do these books have in common (despite having very striking opposing views)?

They present a view of the world very different than the one we live in. Where most books simpy attempt to clarify your view of the world AS IT IS (for example, the Bible), these books challenge you to think more drastically differently than you ever have.

Answer 7

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Powerful, cogent message there.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Also 1984 (George Orwell) and Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury).

But mostly Atlas Shrugged.

Answer 8

Howard Zinn's People's History of The United States. Probably the best and most eye-opening book I've ever read.

Answer 9

I first read the Shell Seekers when my oldest child was a baby and have re-read it many times since then. It's fiction and I guess it's even a romance novel but the main character has been an inspiration to me. She was strong despite the events that happened in her life, she loved her children, saw their strong points and weaknesses and encouraged them to be themselves. In one part she says something to the effect that children are not property, they are people which is something I try to keep in mind with my kids. She enjoyed being alone yet she enjoyed people and learning what makes them tick. Basically she just enjoyed living her life. I know it sounds corny but that book is a source of comfort to me when things in my life aren't going so well or my kids are making me crazy.

Answer 10

There are two:

The first is 'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk because it saved me from materialism, and showed me that we have accept ourselves for what we are before we can take joy in anything else.

The second is 'Absalom! Absalom!' by William Faulkner because it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt my theory that Faulkner knew absolutely everything! Haha, but seriously, this book taught me so much about human nature. It's an absolute masterpiece. Plus, I love tragedies.