the books that changed your life!

sanyuja said:

Why are you embarrassed? I have heard many people say that this book changed their lives. I am just curious why you are hesitating to admit it?

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Because it's in the pop self-help genre and I have a PhD in Philosophy. It's kind of like a chess master admitting that his favorite game is checkers.

Similar thread:
http://www.bookandreader.com/forums/f25/the-books-that-changed-your-life-15671.html

Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949)

Tip: After digesting Campbell's book, read Finnegans Wake by James Joyce. You'll get more out of it.

Also, Richard Adams' (there are many books as you may already know) Watership Down was especially written according Campbell's book (above).

AquaBlue said:

When I young and innocent I let the Bible change my life. Today I do not believe in that bullshit. I am now an agnostic (and proud of it too!).

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I am with you there my friend. I left all that behind when stopped going to sunday school at 13. And have been an atheist ever since. And I didn't need any books to help me think like that.

Books that changed my life

Doris Lessing's CHILDREN OF VIOLENCE series changed me and my life forever. :flowers:

The Elements of Successful Trading by Robert Rotella. I first read it in 1994 and it put me on the path to making money in the market. It clearly defined what trading/investing is, something that I had never done myself. I'd still be floundering around to this day if I had never read that book.

Wuthering Heights was the book that changed my life. This was my first Classic.. I love going back to it.. it made me feel various kinds of emotion at the same time.

There are no books that have changed my life. I would say maybe some enriched it or validated it, but not changed it.

However, I suppose if I ever wrote a book that became a best seller and made me rich, that would be a life changing book. :lol:

The Shining. Not because it was that good of a book, but because it was the first book I ever read for fun as a teenager. That's what put me on the road to reading as entertainment.

s4saurabh said:

Here are the books that helped me change my life:

1) The power of your subconscious mind
2) Who moved my cheese
3) The Present
4) The monk who sold his ferrari

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The Cheese book is one darn good book! I refused to read it for about four years because I thought it was just a schmaltsy self-help book. It is very good, once you ignore your preconceived notions.

Edward Albee Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Tennessee Williams Night of the Iguana

Truman Capote's Music for Cameleons

F Scott Fitzgerald Tender is the Night

I would say John Grisham's The Firm. It was recommended by my Junior High English teacher and since reading has become one of my favorite hobbies.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I just finished it yesterday and my mind has honestly not stopped thinking about it. It is helping me find the courage to be who I truly am. As a young reader I could not recommend this book more to the younger audience out there as I feel everyone can relate.

Butterflies by Susanne Gervay
‘Butterflies’ is a rite-of-passage young adult novel.

Published by HarperCollins Australia, ‘Butterflies’ has been recognized by IBBY (International Books for Youth under the auspices of the United Nations) as Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability and received critical acclaim from commercial/trade media as well as educational and academic journals. Susanne has had extensive interviews on radio, TV and in print in Australia on ‘Butterflies’. Print reviews include commercial to literary reviews. Samples are:-

Glossy high sale/trade women’s magazines:-
‘Curl up on the lounge, ignore the telephone and enjoy Butterflies.’
Cosmopolitan (COSMO)

‘Butterflies’ is ‘… a compelling read whatever your age.’
TV Week

Literary Journals:-
‘This is a credible and moving account of a young girl’s recovery.’
Australian Book Review

‘A compelling story’
Reading Time, literary review journal

The Teen and YA responses:-
‘Compelling? Moving? Inspirational? You’re not even close.’
Natasa Racic Year 10 Gold Creek School Canberra

‘This book is the most beautiful book in the world.’
Teen Review Auckland City Libraries