Books that inspired you

[MissInformation]

Okay, you started, now I get to play! I honestly have to say I don't think I would have survived my childhood without books. Most inspiring? Biggest impact? Here are a few off of the top of my head:

The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer. Eric Hoffer was a stevedore on the San Francisco docks in the 1940s who wrote philosophical treatises in his spare time while living in the railroad yards. True Believer is a study of fanaticism and what personal failings lead people to willingly offer up their lives and the lives of others for a cause. An English teacher gave me this book when I was 15 after reading an essay I had written about the differences between my father’s and my views on patriotism. Right time, right mind frame, I don’t know, but no other book has ever hit me so hard.

A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. I read this when I was 12 because my much-adored older sister read it and loved it. I read every book she did and most of them were full of concepts that went over my head. Not this one. It’s about a man who’s ready to leave America because he’s disgusted by his country, when a friend of his suggests he gets to know his country before making that decision. So he decided to walk his way to its heart. Acceptance, and freedom and beauty in the ordinary.

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. After reading this one I swore I would never, ever forget how magical the simpler things in life are.

To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. I’m having a really hard time describing why this book was so important to me… is it odd to have learned your morals from books? My family is a bit racist (not violent or anything, but it’s there) and I’ve always wondered why I was different, why I hated that side of them… reading books like this, and The Bluest Eye and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, as a young teen ingrained something in me that says it is completely wrong to judge by race, by gender, etc. It gave me insight into cultures that seemed so different, but when it came down to it, weren’t.

A Slipping Down Life by Anne Tyler. This book was my introduction to Anne Tyler’s writing and while it’s a really good book its true impact is that her books don’t have neat and tidy endings and this was a first for me when I read it in 1986. It frustrated me, her books would hook me, string me a long and leave me hanging at the end… I almost always threw her books against the wall when I finished reading them because of this, but eventually, I accepted it. And in accepting it, I accepted that life isn’t going to be wrapped up all neat and tidy and topped with a bow.

The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood. I read this book a year after I rather dramatically ended a relationship that was leading towards wedded blight. I have never identified with a character as much as I did with the main character of this book and I don’t think I ever will again (I also have to add that I am glad I am no longer this character). The guys I have convinced to read this book don’t find it funny, but this book will always make me laugh (oh my, the under the bed scene). Besides being funny, it also has a very powerful message about calling yourself back to you.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I was 13 when I read this and decided censorship was bad, very bad and that nothing would ever stop me from reading what I wanted to read…

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. “Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they're yours.” Do I have to say anything else about it? Well, there’s also “Everything on this list may be wrong.” which helped form my philosophy that every thing I believe in may be wrong, I chose to believe it because I feel its right for me, but I can’t prove that it’s right for you.

I am currently reading Atlas Shrugged and I’ve read other books people have mentioned: the bible (read it at age 13), Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance (27), Tao of Pooh (29), Jane Eyre, Tale of Two Cities, Shakespeare (all in high school), The Autobiography of Malcolm X (32), and while they were all good, I haven’t yet noticed their influence on my life. Some books I read that I resented having to read at the time but that I should go back and re-read are Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn and The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an age of Anxiety by Alan W. Watts.

Heidi

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"Nonconformists travel as a rule in bunches. You rarely find a nonconformist who goes it alone. And woe to him inside a nonconformist clique who does not conform with nonconformity." -Eric Hoffer

[George1902]

John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces --
My ultimate, all-time, favorite, most influential book of forever and beyond. Spending time with Ignatius J. Reilly, the protagonist, and his outrageous "worldview" would help anyone to define their own.

Douglas Hofstadter's Godel, Escher, and Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid --
Anyone who wishes to dabble in math, science, computers, art, music, or philosophy will be able to find something here. A true feast for a logical mind. From the author:

In a word, GEB is a very personal attempt to say how it is that animate beings can come out of inanimate matter. What is self and how can a self come out of stuff that is as selfless as a stone or a puddle? What is an "I", and why are such things found (at least so far) only in association with... certain kinds of gooey lumps encased in hard shells mounted atop mobile pedistals that roam around the world on pairs of slightly fuzzy, jointed stilts?

Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker "trilogy" --
The utter absurdity of these books helped to shape my deliciously twisted sense of humor.

Ayn Rand's Anthem --
Similar in philosophy to Altas Shrugged and Fountainhead, but much easier to digest. Heavily influenced my political views. (Did you know that Ayn Rand was a founding member of the Libertarian party?)

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit --
The first fantasy book I ever read. Without this book, I would have missed out on such enriching tales as Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, the Harry Potter series, the works of Terry Pratchett, and Frank Herbert's Dune series.

[Adam Y.]

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I was 13 when I read this and decided censorship was bad, very bad and that nothing would ever stop me from reading what I wanted to read…

One of the best books I have ever read.
The Existential Pleasures of Engineering: I found this book in the bookstore. Rather quite creepy reading about philosophy and engineering in the same book. At some points the book actually reads like some of Dean Kamen's speeches.
The Twilight Zone: A bunch of the greatest sci-fi short stories ever created. Almost every single one is ironic in it's own special way and it uses human nature as a steeping stone for some of them.

[Beth Sweet]

East of Eden - When Oprah started her book club over again, I started reading again. This book was incredible, I'd totally suggest it.

Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now - Maya Angelou, she absolutely rocks this world. This woman's wisdom absolutely amazes me. She shares her lifes experiences in this book.

Bridges of Madison County - I just finished this one and it was awesome! Probably more of a "chick book" but still...

Anyways, those are my favorites at least.

-Im a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. All his books to me are inspiring. Like Message in a Bottle, The Notebook (greattt movie...chick flick though lol), Awalk to Remember, The Guardian, etc. I think all those books are inspiring in many different ways even if there is the littlest inspirational idea in the book.

-Another inpirational book that is really good is A Child Called IT. thats a really good one that inspires me to hold my head high and stuff.
Rocky is another one. Its not a book but its a movie...but its verry inspiring to me.

-I also like To Kill A Moking Bird.
-One great one is The Magic of Thinking Big. It makes you be a better person and to have like inner strengh and to always think positive.
-Another one that is kinda good is Oryx and Crake which is about science and is focused on how future society has too much emphasis on technology and not on arts.
There alot of other inspiring books. The list goes on.

[Madison]

I don't read. I mean, I know how -- I do it all the time, really. For enjoyment, though, I very rarely read and so it's very difficult for me to imagine that a book or books have had much influence upon me.

Of all that I have read, 1984 probably had the most significant impact upon me. Privacy is something I've needed and valued for much of my life and it was the thing that I was most denied while growing up, so reading this book, coupled with those experiences, meant that it resonated with me in a way that it may not with others. I have since become very defensive of others' rights to privacy and am always trying to prevent the first step down the slippery slope to Big Brother.

In other ways, some non-fiction work that I have has inspired me to learn new skills and improve existing skills. In that category, I'd place things like, Designing Disney's Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance and Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real, both of which show how a simple idea can be translated into a creative and technological wonder that enriches and entertains millions.

[Mike Ciance]

The Giver - Lois Lowrey

this is such an imaginative and well-written book. it's amazing. nearly every part is really interesting. this is the kind of stuff i dream of someday writing

[Tytus Gerrish]

deffenetly Dune series By Frank Herbert

how dune has influnced me...

Building a working thopter
Using the "fear is the mindkiller" poem every time i drive a match
building a Gigantic armored vehicle that slithers like a worm for locomotion
a fasination with crysknives
A better apreication of watter

[Bharat Nain]

If I really had to write a list of the books that inspired me, there's a LOT, yes, I read a lot. So here is a few self-help categorized books, people called me a fool for reading them, but its worth it:

1. The Power of Focus - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Les Hewitt: Losing focus? Don't know how to get things done? very unorganized? Yeah, this is the book to read.
2. The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peale: A book which tells you how to include God in your daily life, mantain a positive outlook, its a must-read.
3. Bringing out the best in people - Alan Loy McGinnis: The title is self-explanatory, but theres much more. I suggest all team mentors read it.
4. The leader in you - Dale Carnegie: Another book for the mentors and coaches
5. How to win friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie: This book is a MUST READ FOR EVERYBODY. If 50% of FIRST could read this book, it is the solution to many things.
6. Think and grow rich - Napoleon Hill: Yeah, think and grow rich
7. Who are you when no one's looking - Bill Hybels: A real core book, it talks about developing your true character
8. The master key to riches - Napoleon Hill: Richie rich
9. The power of having DESIRE - Bruce Garrabrandt: Desire is not a negative thing, this book definately makes its point, a great inspiration to have the right desires.
10. Who stole the American dream - Burke Hedges: A very shocking book, talks about the American Dream.
11. Are you living your dream - John Fuhrman: Inspiration to live your dream
12. The Go-Getter - Henry Holt: A nice story which tells you how to put those thoughts into actions
13. Who are you really and what do you want? - Shad Helmstetter: Shad Helmstetters books are always to the core, very detailed, it has definately helped me a lot.
14. 7 Laws of highest prosperity - Cecil O. Kemp Jr. : A must read-book for all team mentors, and students too...
15. The ultimate gift - Jim Stovall: One of the most beautiful books written in the history of man-kind. Jim Stovall is the kind of writer that values life and the things around him, I'd say everyone SHOULD read this.
16. The magic is in the extra mile - Larry DiAngi: The books title says it all, but the books has a LOT more detail.
17. Eat that frog - Brian Tracy: I'll keep some suspense for this one, read it
18. Attitudes and Altitudes - Pat Mesiti: Another core book, teaches you the right ethics, right attitude, the right things to do, a very good book, another must-read for team mentors.
19. The Big picture - Ben Carson with Gregg Lewis: If you have ever wondered how small things started off and turned into something big, its because of the vision, this is a great book.
20. Suck it up and step out - Dr. Scot Knight: Another book talking about taking action rather than just keeping them in thoughts.
21. If it's to be, its upto me - Thomas B. Smith: You can do it, its upto you, you can be John-V Neun
22. Rhinocerous success - Scott Alexander: Feeling down? depressed? feels like there is no life in your life? This is the book to read, it tells you how to be like a rhinocerous and succeed.
23. A setback is a setup for a comeback - Willie Jolley: Some of the very untold secrets lie in this book, indeed, a very unique book.
24. Road signs for success - Jim Whitt: The name says it all...
25. Whale done - Ken Blanchard: A little book, good past-time, has some good meaning.
26. The Lamp - Jim Stovall: Another beautiful book, focusses on the good things of life, definately a must-read for all.
27. It only takes a minute to change your life - Willie Jolley: A VERY inspirational book, and yes, it takes just one minute to change your life. This book will definately change your life.
28. The Success Journey - John C. Maxwell: Maxwell is one of my favorite writers and leaders. There is some meaning in every word he writes, this book is a must-read for all.
29. Unstoppable confidence - Kent Sayre: Shy? stuck in that shell? Don't like talking to people? Can't stand up in front of the class and talk? This book will definately raise your confidence level. Kent Sayre did an AWESOME job on this.
30. Becoming Influencial - Tony Zeiss: Lastly, the 30th book, This book is a MUST READ for all team mentors.

So I'll leave with the 30 best books I've read. I never read them in a day, I've started reading these about 2 years ago. They have changed my whole outlook of life, my attitude, just about EVERYTHING! If you really wanna be inspired, read all of them one by one, step by step. Start reading books from writers like Jim Stovall and Scott Alexander, and then go onto others, you will feel better, if you have a terrible life

[J Flex 188]

The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay

hehe, seeing all those powers at the top of teknobrahma's post reminded me of that title, which i had been trying to remember all day.

"Set in a world torn apart, where man enslaves his fellow man and freedom remains elusive, THE POWER OF ONE is the moving story of one young man's search for the love that binds friends, the passion that binds lovers, and the realization that it takes only one to change the world. A weak and friendless boy growing up in South Africa during World War II, Peekay turns to two older men, one black and one white, to show him how to find the courage to dream, to succeed, to triumph over a world when all seems lost, and to inspire him to summon up the most irrersistible force of all: the Power of One."

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by afflictionblade

The Giver - Lois Lowrey

this is such an imaginative and well-written book. it's amazing. nearly every part is really interesting. this is the kind of stuff i dream of someday writing

oh yes, that was a very nice book...
and "where the red fern grows"...even if its a young adult (i think) i cried so many times reading it...havent seen it in a while...no whered it go...(crawls under bed)

[Bill Gold]

Originally Posted by J Flex 188

The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay

hehe, seeing all those powers at the top of teknobrahma's post reminded me of that title, which i had been trying to remember all day.

"Set in a world torn apart, where man enslaves his fellow man and freedom remains elusive, THE POWER OF ONE is the moving story of one young man's search for the love that binds friends, the passion that binds lovers, and the realization that it takes only one to change the world. A weak and friendless boy growing up in South Africa during World War II, Peekay turns to two older men, one black and one white, to show him how to find the courage to dream, to succeed, to triumph over a world when all seems lost, and to inspire him to summon up the most irrersistible force of all: the Power of One."

That's definitely my favorite book. The movie was good, but nowhere near as good as the book.

[Ken Leung]

Thanks for the replies. Lots of good suggestions I look forward to read.

I am in Hong Kong visiting relatives, and found myself inseparable from Atlas Shrugged. I got the book about 1.8 weeks ago before I left for HK, and I am at page 592 already. It opened up lots of great lines of questions for me. If I try to name a few of them I think I will only embarrass myself because there are so many thoughts going through my mind at once. I probably should reorganize my thoughts after I finish the book.

The thing I find interesting is, I feel I know a lot of these thoughts and ideas in me long time ago; only, I did not have the right words to express them. Reading this book gave me the tools of presenting these ideas to myself. I for one am particularly bad with language, and feel like I found just the right thing at the right time.

I already marked down tons of quotes I want to read and think about again. Definitely one of the most valuable learning experience since I was born, feels like exactly what I need at this moment of my life, at the crossroad between childhood and adulthood. I only hope my future experiences will be as fullfilling as this one.

Anyway, please keep the book names coming! I look forward to experience the books that are capable of shaping people's vision and soul!

[Dorienne]

Originally Posted by Ken Leung

What book(s) inspired you the most when you were growing up?

I am looking for books that changed the way you think when you were going up, books that shaped the person you are today. It could be books like the one above or a philosophy text book, basically something that left a mark after you read it.

This may sound extremely childish and silly, but a book that really changed my outlook on life, love and frienships was Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. I was about 12 when I read it, and it really changed how I viewed life. Stories in that book just really took hold of my heart. I still remember how affected I was by some of the sad stories in it...I remember stories about teasing, family issues, and relationships. They all were related to me in one way or another, and they taught me to not take advantage of what I have, and how lucky I am to be living in the US, and that I have loving friends and a loving family, and without all this, I wouldn't be in Robotics with all you wonderful people.
This book may seem childish to many of you, since I'm only 15, but it really changed my outlook and behavior now. Whomever has not read this book and is a teenager and goes through the trials and issues any teenager goes through, read the book. It will really make you think of how you handle situations, and tells you what to do when you come across one along the way.
--d0ri

[Joshua May]

Some other books that I really recommend are Dan Brown's novels. So far I've just read "Angels and Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code"