What's the most inspiring book you have ever read?

Question

.........and who was the author?

Answer 1

It was "The story about a real man" by Boris Polevoi. It is about a Russian Fighter Pilot, who is grounded by the enemy fighters, falls in a jungle, far behind the enemy lines, with both feet fractured...he creeps, rolls for around 40 days feeding on whatever he gets..grass, leaves ...

While in Hospital, both his feet are ampulated(cut)...He exercises his feet...trains himself with the artificial limb (feet). Comes out of the Hospital, learns to dance...! goes back to flying school, and flys a fighter yet again...becomes a successful fighter pilot, is awarded the highest of bravery award.

...Sounds unbeleivable...This is a true story. And the most inspiring parts are those while the person is creeping with broken limbs for around 40 days.

Answer 2

Aside from the Bible (author: God), the most inspiring book I have ever read is "2001: A Space Odyssey", by Arthur Clark.

The reason it was the most inspiring to me is because it started my life long love of science fiction which has in turn inspired me to learn.

Answer 3

John Steinbeck. Of Mice and Men

This is the most brilliant short Novel I have ever read. It tells you all you need to know about love loneliness and isolation. To me it out Russias all the great Russian Novels yet superficially is a Western. Apart from Animal Farm it is the only book I have read in one sitting.
Non Fiction- The successful Self by Dorothy Rowe.
I urge anyone reading this to read the book The Meaning of Things by A C Grayling

Answer 4

For me it is 'Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Fowlett. A truly amazing piece of writing and the research that has gone into this novel is awesome. isbn 0330-312273-1

It sounds really naff but the book is about overcoming enormous odds to build a Cathedral in medieval times.Fighting tyranny and betrayal, famine, life and death.

Has it all this book and I just wax lyrical about it to everyone.

be warned though it is a book that you need to read at least twice, because there is much detail that it is impossible to take it all in at once.

Another book that has perhaps not inspired me 'Is Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoevsky. psychological novel.
isbn 0-19283383-9


'Never let me Go' kazuo Ishiguro - Booker prize winner 2005
isbn 0-571-22413-x

You have to detach your self from this book otherwise it will play on the mind. Strange but compelling reading

Answer 5

The most inspiring book I have read is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It talks about pursuing one's personal legend and how the Universe conspires to make your dreams come true--although not always in the direct way you might originally have thought. It also teaches you that obstacles along the way can sometimes be veiled catalysts that facilitate the manifestation of those aspirations.

It taught me that dreaming is not enough and that pursuing is the other half of that battle. I try to reads bit and pieces of this book every day, just to remind myself of the bigger picture.

Answer 6

Oh Brendan, thank you for such a thoughtful question. Many books have inspired me in many different ways, but I will choose one for you. When I was a little girl (I am in my 20's now) I loved the book Madeline. It was about these girls who lived together in a big house in Paris. They would walk like little ducks in a line and the wild one of the bunch was Madeline. That was me. I was the odd girl who was always taking risks. I share this answer because I want to illustrate how deep the roots of your question can go. We are not just inspired as adults, but also as children. At all ages and levels of our growth. Madeline taught me who I was and inspired me to be different.

Answer 7

Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, Frank Herbert's Dune and Barbara Marciniak's Bringers of the Dawn

Answer 8

Animal Farm
George Orwell

Answer 9

I read a book called ps. I love you by Celia Ahern and it was amazing. It taught me a lot about how people cope when they lose a loved one and also helped me to realise what I can do to help these people. I have never had a work of fiction make me cry so much in all my life, it is truly beautiful.

Answer 10

For me it was the book written by Simon Weston the young lad who was scarred for life when his ship was destroyed in the Falklands.
The way he tells you about what happened it sends shivers down your spine and for someone so young to have to go through so much is tragic,however there is some humour within the pages.
Great read,