"Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn should be added to this list.
It's a groundbreaking statement of and against humanity as a whole, about our past, our downfall, and how we must change this instant to change out future. It's changed how I think about the nations, international interaction, and the human race as not the only nor the most important creatures on this planet.
Lois R
· 1 year ago
"The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand should be added to your list too.
The introduction of Objectivism detailed in this work was truly inspiring. It shows the strength of a Dominique Francon, female lead character and the complex relationship she holds with Howard Roarke, the protagonist. The strife of Roark, from his struggles in an early life through the peak of his profession painted a world pitted against him - though he never compromised his vision.
In this work Rand designed characters we love to hate, and personalities in we which we all are familiar such as the sensationalist media, the opportunist, and the manipulators.
There are decisions we make as individuals contribute to the whole of our society. We can be empowered to make decisions to improve our lives. After reading this book, it was truly life-changing. The Fountainhead is truly the source for change, as it is where the source of information begins.
wheelnut53
· 1 year ago
"manchild in the promise land" by Claude Brown this guy grew up in harlem briefly met Eleanor Roosevelt at a reform school, he went on to finish Law school. No matter how low your station in life you can rise above it all
wheelnut53
· 1 year ago
"Manchild in the promise land" by Claude Brown this guy grew up in harlem briefly met Eleanor Roosevelt at a reform school, he went on to finish Law school. No matter how low your station in life you can rise above it.
Allister
· 1 year ago
I agree with Cat's Cradle!
Michelle
· 1 year ago
"The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck. It was the first book taught by Mrs. Billone my freshman year of high school in Deerfield, IL. I didn't even like it very much. But it was the first time I realized that books offered much more than casual story -- that the tricks of a skillful writer's trade -- language, symbolism, purposeful structure -- could create a miraculous depth and richness.
My reaction wasn't wonder. It was to be intensely ticked off. Here I'd been reading my whole life and no one had ever told me this! My fourteen-year-old self wanted to go back and re-read every book I'd ever touched -- from "Hop On Pop" to "Caddie Woodlawn" -- and find out what I'd been missing.
Lanie
· 1 year ago
Where is the bible? :roll:
Mostafa
· 1 year ago
The little prince
i read this book a few days ago. I am 35 years old, but I think I could communicate with this book. the book described the differece between grown-ups and the children in a very simple and nice way. you can find the philosophy of life and a nice educational method in it.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
Really surprised Enders Game and Fahrenheit 451 are not on here. The way enders game made me feel when i first read it in 7th grade I honestly can not tell you how excited i was through the entire book. I could not put it down at all. Ender being such a small boy impacted the entire human race and for some reason this story has stuck with me through the years. I could not describe in words to you how i felt reading this book. It touched me on so many levels heart,soul and mind. 451 was the same way. But no book will ever compare to Enders Game. Ever
Derrick
· 1 year ago
Completely agree with Cat's Cradle (also Sirens of Titan), Ishmael, and especially the Little Prince (the claymation movie is fantastic)!
Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World" really opened my eyes to how I look at and analyze the world. This and his other works show how important science is not as a subject but as a lifestyle.
bob sauerbrey
· 1 year ago
I'd like to add Annie Dillard, "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek." Dillard connect me with the whole natural process involving all sentient beings and the whole cosmos. She is deeply loving without ignoring the often brutal realities of the whole rhythm of life living off life.
She is also writing some of the most beautiful prose in the contemporary corpus.
josh
· 1 year ago
Milton's Paradise Lost... because of the way the language (english) sounds when an epic lyric is well done. Non native-english speakers would do well to look at Milton. He's not as flashy as Shakespeare, but the poem is more accessible, ie: it uses less devices, but has such a powerful force of language when spoken aloud and digested. I reread parts sometimes without even consciously understanding them just for the joy of his diction. But be prepared for the dreaded 'classical references.' :)
River
· 1 year ago
So many books have impacted my life that I could not feasibly list them all. However, there are a few which I feel deserve recognition and should be mentioned on this list. From childhood I must add Tuck Everlasting. I was utterly enthralled, along with every child my fifth grade class, with this book.
From early adult/adulthood I would like to draw attention to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice which is so well written, entertaining, and thematically complex, that I would recommend it to just about anyone. I alos agree that Slaughterhouse 5 is one of the best books i have ever read. I loved it so much I passed it on to a friend who thanked me and says it was life changing for her as well.
Lastly, The Color Purple and The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker are to of thee most dearest books to me. I cannot even express the gratitude I have to Alice Walker for having written such beautiful, relevant and human works. I really hope that someone reading this makes the choice to read these two works, they really are worth your time.
Joe
· 11 months ago
Where's "Atlas Shrugged?"
Jon
· 11 months ago
This is a great list I'm looking forward to reading some of the books on here. The books that have impacted my life the most are Good to Great, although the book is about business it really motivated me to pursue greatness. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People really helped to give me control of every aspect of my life. The last book I have to recommend is The Total Money Makeover, this book has taught me how to take control of my money. If you want more detail on why I enjoyed this books you can go to Life changing books.
Anonymous
· 11 months ago
definately tuesdays with morrie
this book changed my outlook on life and helped me get through every little curveball life has thrown no matter how insignificant. It helped me to appreciate all i had and taught me to always count my blessings
KG Alton
· 10 months ago
I would have to agree with the addition of "Fahrenheit 451". One of the first books that really opened my eyes to the control that government can impose on a society and that societies' general complacence about being controlled (think about the liberties we've quietly given up over the anti-terrorism act and other legislation). "Catch 22" and "Confederacy of Dunces" also have a a special place in my heart for other reasons.
D. Schram
· 10 months ago
Atlas Shrugged formed the basis of my conservative thought many years ago. For that I am forever grateful. I truly feel like the world is imploding just like Ms. Rand foretold. Who is John Galt?...
Suzanne
· 9 months ago
Above, I saw many books that have changed my life. However, one was blatantly absent. Books typically have different aims depending on their category. For example theory tends to change the process and content of peoples thinking whereas fiction usually expands one’s emotional and cultural life humor makes us laugh, drama makes our hearts race etc. However, in truly great writing these aims are indistinguishable and dissolved into one another. Arundhati Roy’s “God of Small Things” affected my life profoundly, altering both my intellect and my empathetic capacities. I have read it several times and the beauty of her prose causes involuntarily giggle and tears each time. For this books life changing qualities, I place Roy among other favorite authors such as, Borges, Derrida, Marquez, Foucault, Vonnegut and the like. It is my hope that eventually her name will carry similar weight and power of association to these, more historically famous, names.
A nod
· 9 months ago
The lord of the flies is by far my favorite book. I have never read a book that is so well intertwined with themes and can still make me stay up until 2 a.m. because of the page-turning action. I've read it three times, and still have not gotten tired of it
Patrick
· 5 months ago
"American Psycho" by bret Easton Ellis
Maybe I'm alone with this pick, but it certainly redifined a few boundaries for me.
Dharma
· 4 months ago
Awesome list ! Sort of counter intuitive that on 'openculture', all the books had Amazon store links, none had free sources. Providing a quick link to a store leads one to buy it without spending the time to find it, correct?
MEDINA TADELE
· 3 months ago
I'm very glad to see "1984" top this list. It was definately the equivalent of taking the red pill pill in the Matrix and try as I may have in the last decade I have never been able fully climb out of the rabbit hole :)
Dr.Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" also changed my life. I believe that human strength lies in the mind and understanding of one's self first, then one's situation and others..
Lastly I'd like to offer up Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". I struggled with the way Kafka places the completely absurd, with almost syringe like precision, into an otherwise ordinary enviorment. But the result is such a beautiful look at the psychology of human behavior, and naked truth of what vunerability and fear are and do.
57Kevin
· 2 months ago
"Codependent No More" by Melodie Beattie
Dave
· 2 months ago
"The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins was the final nail in the coffin of my belief in a divine Creator.
I've heard it said of the theories of evolution and natural selection that "if you don't believe it, it's because you don't understand it" - well, this is the book that will make you really, properly, understand (or to paraphrase George Orwell: "bellyfeel") it.
JonG
· 2 months ago
The Possibility of an Island, by Michel Houellebecq
For the Time Being, by Annie Dillard
Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy
VioletT
· 2 months ago
No specific book really changed my life. Each contributed incrementally to my current literate state. When a child I would surf encyclopedias and dictionaries for hours. They did change my life. Later on, studying textbooks changed my life. I'll select a couple of books that made me realize years ago that there had been a few sane and brilliant people who lived more than two thousand years ago and who had written timeless and fascinating books: 'The Histories' by Herodotus; 'Lucius, The Ass' by Lucian.
J Davies
· 2 months ago
The Future of Life by E O Wilson
A real eye opener - describing how man is causing mass extinction of species.
All Comments
It's a groundbreaking statement of and against humanity as a whole, about our past, our downfall, and how we must change this instant to change out future. It's changed how I think about the nations, international interaction, and the human race as not the only nor the most important creatures on this planet.
The introduction of Objectivism detailed in this work was truly inspiring. It shows the strength of a Dominique Francon, female lead character and the complex relationship she holds with Howard Roarke, the protagonist. The strife of Roark, from his struggles in an early life through the peak of his profession painted a world pitted against him - though he never compromised his vision.
In this work Rand designed characters we love to hate, and personalities in we which we all are familiar such as the sensationalist media, the opportunist, and the manipulators.
There are decisions we make as individuals contribute to the whole of our society. We can be empowered to make decisions to improve our lives. After reading this book, it was truly life-changing. The Fountainhead is truly the source for change, as it is where the source of information begins.
this guy grew up in harlem briefly met Eleanor Roosevelt at a reform school, he went on to finish Law school. No matter how low your station in life you can rise above it all
this guy grew up in harlem briefly met Eleanor Roosevelt at a reform school, he went on to finish Law school. No matter how low your station in life you can rise above it.
My reaction wasn't wonder. It was to be intensely ticked off. Here I'd been reading my whole life and no one had ever told me this! My fourteen-year-old self wanted to go back and re-read every book I'd ever touched -- from "Hop On Pop" to "Caddie Woodlawn" -- and find out what I'd been missing.
i read this book a few days ago. I am 35 years old, but I think I could communicate with this book. the book described the differece between grown-ups and the children in a very simple and nice way. you can find the philosophy of life and a nice educational method in it.
Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World" really opened my eyes to how I look at and analyze the world. This and his other works show how important science is not as a subject but as a lifestyle.
She is also writing some of the most beautiful prose in the contemporary corpus.
From early adult/adulthood I would like to draw attention to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice which is so well written, entertaining, and thematically complex, that I would recommend it to just about anyone.
I alos agree that Slaughterhouse 5 is one of the best books i have ever read. I loved it so much I passed it on to a friend who thanked me and says it was life changing for her as well.
Lastly, The Color Purple and The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker are to of thee most dearest books to me. I cannot even express the gratitude I have to Alice Walker for having written such beautiful, relevant and human works. I really hope that someone reading this makes the choice to read these two works, they really are worth your time.
this book changed my outlook on life and helped me get through every little curveball life has thrown no matter how insignificant. It helped me to appreciate all i had and taught me to always count my blessings
Who is John Galt?...
However, in truly great writing these aims are indistinguishable and dissolved into one another. Arundhati Roy’s “God of Small Things” affected my life profoundly, altering both my intellect and my empathetic capacities. I have read it several times and the beauty of her prose causes involuntarily giggle and tears each time.
For this books life changing qualities, I place Roy among other favorite authors such as, Borges, Derrida, Marquez, Foucault, Vonnegut and the like. It is my hope that eventually her name will carry similar weight and power of association to these, more historically famous, names.
Maybe I'm alone with this pick, but it certainly redifined a few boundaries for me.
Dr.Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" also changed my life. I believe that human strength lies in the mind and understanding of one's self first, then one's situation and others..
Lastly I'd like to offer up Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". I struggled with the way Kafka places the completely absurd, with almost syringe like precision, into an otherwise ordinary enviorment. But the result is such a beautiful look at the psychology of human behavior, and naked truth of what vunerability and fear are and do.
I've heard it said of the theories of evolution and natural selection that "if you don't believe it, it's because you don't understand it" - well, this is the book that will make you really, properly, understand (or to paraphrase George Orwell: "bellyfeel") it.
For the Time Being, by Annie Dillard
Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy
When a child I would surf encyclopedias and dictionaries for hours. They did change my life. Later on, studying textbooks changed my life.
I'll select a couple of books that made me realize years ago that there had been a few sane and brilliant people who lived more than two thousand years ago and who had written timeless and fascinating books:
'The Histories' by Herodotus; 'Lucius, The Ass' by Lucian.
A real eye opener - describing how man is causing mass extinction of species.