What non-religious book has made the most profound effect on you?

Question

Title and author please.

Note to all: There are no best answers for this question.
You all have the best answer. I now have a new reading list.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience.

Answer 1

Strange as it might seem considering all the books I've read over the years, Dr. Suess' "The Sneetches" has had the most profound effect on me.


"until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew
whether this one was that one or that one was this one
or which one was what one... or what one was who."

Answer 2

Rose Madder by Stephen King.
Although we always seem to attribute Horror to King he has written some powerful tales about relationships and of course he has weaved some supernatural into the plots. Lisay's Story most recently is an example of this. One of my favorite tales from King is "Rose Madder".

"In the present tense prologue, which takes place in 1985, Rose Daniels's husband, Norman, beats her while she is four months pregnant, causing her to suffer a miscarriage. Rose briefly considers leaving Norman but dismisses the idea: Norman is a policeman, and is excellent at finding people. Norman also has a violent temper and was recently accused of assaulting an African-American woman named Wendy Yarrow. The subsequent lawsuit and Internal Affairs investigation has made him even more volatile.

The story then jumps ahead to a morning nine years later, when Rose is making the bed. She notices a drop of blood on the sheet that had probably leaked from her nose the night before — Norman had punched her in the face for spilling some iced tea on him. Rose realizes that she has passively suffered through Norman's abuse for fourteen years and that if she continues to put up with this treatment, she might be killed. But then Rose wonders: what if Norman doesn't kill her? What will she be like after fourteen more years of Norman "talking to her right up close", as he puts it?"

You have to read this book. Its a wonderful tale of heroism and spiritualism.

Answer 3

"The Richest Man in Babylon."


I can't remember the author and don't feel like going to my book shelve and searching for it...

However it';s a book on financial success. I'm a auto wholesaler and being a upper manager in the auto industry I know many millonaires. Everyone of them reffered this book to me, and I was not dissapointed. It literally changed my thinking on money and saving, investing ect ect.

It's a short book and written in story form so it's not repetitive like most self help books. I would deffinately read this book if I was EVERYONE in the world.

Answer 4

I'm barely a third through it, but:

"Impulse" by Ellen Hopkins

It looks into the lives of three teenagers living in a psychiatric hospital after they all attempted suicide. They become friends and the book follows them through every day as they realize more about themselves and their reasons.

I've only just started it, but so far the characters and their ideas have me hooked on them and I feel like I can understand them more and more with every chapter I read.

Answer 5

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Answer 6

The Secret! Byrne, Rhonda
It has truly changed my life & i was quite skeptical for months after hearing about it. My friend made me watch it & now I'm reading the book for the 3rd time so it will sink in deeper.

Answer 7

Without a doubt, absolutely, positively ......

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

"Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world." -Ishmael

Answer 8

Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Answer 9

"Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780385477055&itm=1

Answer 10

'The Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand.