What was the most thought-provoking book you've ever read? (of any genre)?

Question

What was it, and why was it so thought-provoking? And what (roughly) is it about, or what genre does it fall into? Thanks!

You know, when I asked for thought-provoking, I was thinking books a bit more mature then Harry Potter... they were cute, though.

Answer 1

"Human Behavior." ~ Hutchinson.

It enlightened me with the understanding of social development and culture impacts upon individual lives.
Gave me personal psychological information about my own behavior patterns and explained levels of personal inner truths that I didn't understand fully.
That synapse should basically sum up the genre.
Was repetitive in many ways, and also uninteresting, and boring at times, but overall well informing.


EDIT: HARRY POTTER!

Answer 2

People will laugh, but one of the most though-provoking for me has been "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" by L. Frank Baum. The title really gives you an idea what the book is about, the life of Claus. The thing that really makes it so thought provoking for me is the last part of the book. While folks would say it's a children's book, Baum really seemed to have had adults in mind when he wrote that part of the book. In the second part of the book he attributes the creation of toys to Claus and has him and his assistants as the makers of all the toys in the world. So if that were to be true, then how come toys can be found in a toy store? Why do parents put toys under the tree and claim there from Santa? Baum seemed to think of ways to answer questions like these and others that kids might ask and it's really intresting to think of them in the modern world.

Answer 3

Michael Critchon's Jurassic Park especially the parts about chaos theory which can open the mind to other areas of science and philosophy.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton which is about life in South Africa and provides some insight on the cultures involved and to apartheid.
The Jane Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is about a police detective who discovers a whole new world in books.
A Ring of Endless Light by Madeline L'Engle deals with a teens exploration of the mysteries of life, death and our connection to other living things
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie a classic whodunnit that is so masterfully crafted you'll go back looking for the clues a second time.

Answer 4

I know it sounds childish, but I would have to say "The Giver". Most every child has read it, and I read it when I was in the first grade. I wouldn't say that if I read it again today it would be the most thought provoking, but it was certainly the time I FELT the most when I read a book, you know? Maybe it was because I was so young, but it opened my eyes to a lot of things and I have never quite been able to duplicate the feeling and experience since then.

Answer 5

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. It is fiction, but very difficult to describe what it's about. Basically, it is the story of the Compson family told through 4 different voices. Faulkner's unique style of writing make the book both thought provoking and a bit confusing, but once you figure it out, it is fascinating. Plus, I love that the title comes from Shakespeare's Macbeth.
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing." ~ Macbeth, Act V, Scene V.

Answer 6

I really enjoyed "Do andriods dream of electric sheep?" By Phillip K. Dick. It brings to light many issues of humanity and what it means to be human. It was made into a film called Blade Runner with Harrison Ford. A man has a job to kill Androids but finds it raises all sorts of moral questions when he realises that some Androids have acheived sentience.

Another book that pervokes similar feelings is "The diary of Anne Frank" by Anne Frank which the true story of a little Dutch Jew during World War II. It is particularly harrowing as it is a true story and you know what happened to Anne and all the characters (bar one) that she mentions in the book.

Answer 7

Definitely 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.' It really makes you think about life and death, friendship, and love.

I won't say what it's about because a lot of people haven't read it, but I will say that it was my favorite book in the series!

I think the 'Harry Potter' books fall into the fantasy genre...

Answer 8

The Outsiders. There is too much to say to explain myself. It is such a good book and has a great theme and it never gets boring. It is one of the few books I can read over and over again and fall in love with the characters and cry when other characters die every time. It is an awesome book. Highly reccomended.

Answer 9

Joseph Campbell's power of myth
really opened my eyes. His words give meaning to the myths we create and follow in this structured society we live in today.

a close second - James George Frazier's the golden bough. Once again opened my eyes by describing religions/religious beliefs without all of the usual rhetoric

both are thought provoking and deserve a place on your bookshelf.

Answer 10

"Of Human Bondage" by W. Somerset Maugham

I loved the book, literally couldn't put it down.

I guess it's thought provoking to me because ever since I read it I've been wondering WHY it has that title.

Even now.