Books that inspired you

[JVN]

Originally Posted by JVN

Just Thought of Another one:

The Mysterious Island, by Jules Verne.

"But here not any instrument whatever, not a utensil. From nothing they must supply themselves with everything... if the engineer could have brought his practical science, his inventive mind to bear on their situation, perhaps all hope would not have been lost. The engineer was to them a microcosm, a compound of every science, a possessor of all human knowledge."


I'm home for the 4th of July.
This quote from The Mysterious Island has been hanging on my wall for years. I thought I'd share.

JV

[MrToast]

Ender's Game! After reading about all of the success Peter had, I want to take over the world too! (Also any book by Orson Scott Card. He's The Man)
The Book of Mormon: Because Mormons are cool.
His Dark Materials series (Includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass)
Anything by I. Asimov Grandmaster of Science Fiction
Edgar Allan Poe: The Gold Bug, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher
Harry Potter: Because secretly I wish I could be a wizard, too.
The Screwtape Letters: If you want to learn more about how not to be a bad person, read this. I learned more from this little book than nearly every other book I've ever read. Makes you wonder: Did C.S. Lewis interview Satan?
Flatland: For the mathematician in all of us
Mac OS X for Unix Geeks: Never do "sudo rm -fv /" unless you are REALLY stupid. (Basically DOS's "format *.*")
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Because you should never ever ever go anywhere without your towel.


MrToast

[MissInformation]

So I’ve finished Atlas Shrugged. I think it’s going to be awhile before I process it completely, it causes very conflicting emotions (was it really justice?). This whole thread has made me look up some of the writers I loved so much and I found that Peter Jenkins (A Walk Across America) published a book called Looking for Alaska in 2001, which is about the year and a half his family spent in Alaska and the amazing people they met there. And while I don’t think it is as inspiring as his first book, it is still a wonderful book. Of course, I’m biased; visiting Alaska has always been on what I call my “life goals” list, and I’m finally going to do it in August. After reading his book, I’m considering putting “live in Alaska for at least a year” on my list (I need to add new things, I’ve checked off 6 things in the past 3 years). Part of Peter Jenkins’ talent is inspiring you, not necessarily to have dreams, but to be brave enough to go after those dreams. Most of the people he meets in his travels are not famous, they’re rather ordinary, everyday people, but this does not make them any less wonderful. He tends to be drawn to people who are living their lives the way they’ve always dreamt they should be lived.

I have to admit, I’m a little scared about going to Alaska. What if it’s not as great as I’ve always believed? England wasn’t. Or worse yet, what if it’s better than I have ever imagined, and it makes me unhappy with the life I am now living? I don’t believe in fate and “meant to be” but what if I am wrong and Alaska is where I am meant to be, will I be content giving it up? I’m certainly not ready to move there now, too many ties, too many responsibilities, possibly too many fears… And I shake my fist at Peter Jenkins for showing me more of that wild, elusive spirit that is Alaska, for making me want what I cannot now have, other than a brief touch… but writers and books like this, that draw such emotion and thought are exactly the kind of books I love.

Heidi

<==========>
Alaska... say it softly, and it's almost like praying...

[melissa]

Last summer I read Tuesdays With Morrie, and that book was amazing. It showed me a new outlook on life, to live every day as if it is your last, and to always look on the bright side of life, no matter how grim your circumstance may be. Always appreciate everything you are givin in life, whether that is an old friend, a sunny day, or one more chance to tell someone how you really feel. Another book that really affected me was The Truth About Forever. It shows that no one is perfect, no matter how hard you might try. So don't try to be something you're not, be yourself. Live your own life the way you want it. We only get one life, live it, and don't regret anything you do.

1984, 1984, 1984........

[Josh Hambright]

Anything by Chomsky is good. He's one of the most quoted people alive today. He's a genius and an amazing writer.

Currently i'm reading "You cant be neutral on a moving train" by Howard Zinn its great.

I'd have to say another important book in my life has been "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Nietzsche it was the first book of 'philosophy' that i ever read and it really made me do alot of thinking about the nature of things

Another influential one was "A clockwork Orange" just because it was so twisted and i like that sorta thing.
"Flowers for Algernon" this book was one of the first books i ever read that truely moved me.
Another one of my favorites has to have been "Please Kill Me" because it proved that music is more then just something you listen to but a major part of life, its a book all about music that never actualy talks about music. If you've ever wondered about punk rock its an amazing book that details where it came from by the people who started it.

"Einstein on Peace" also inspired me alot.

[suneel112]

The Lord of the Rings, definitely. It is a great book (or four books, I am including The Hobbit). I also like Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars that Tell Them and Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.

[EStokely]

Some really great choice here.

But I have to say Atlas Shrugged.
I first read it in High School. I have re read it many times since. Its fiction but with a message that, at times may seem overdone, means something.

I actually downloaded teh 3 volume set from Audible.com (I got them less than the 50 bucks a pop) Its like 45 hours. Its almost as good as reading it.

Don't base the book on The Fountainhead, while a good book in itself, its not up to the level in Atlas Shrugged.

I will have to dig out my copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and re read it.

Great thread

ok this isnt an inspiring book...but DO NOT READ HOUSE ON MANGO STREET. I just got done with that book because we were forced to read it for school and it wasnt very good. im sure you guys were planning on reading it anyways right? haha

[Dorienne]

Originally Posted by CourtneyB

ok this isnt an inspiring book...but DO NOT READ HOUSE ON MANGO STREET. I just got done with that book because we were forced to read it for school and it wasnt very good. im sure you guys were planning on reading it anyways right? haha

I read that book when I was a freshman, and I actually did like it. It was kind of like a warp into this girl's mind and life. She deals with many life changing things that some people go through. Sandra Cisneros is a great author, and this book really does, in my opinion, show how brilliant she is. It's hard to describe things in the mind of a child, but she really accomplishes that.
--d0ri

Ahh, my computer lost it and crashed...deleted my reply ...Here's the short version:

Give Me A Break by John Stossel; Interesting new views on the US gov and businesses.

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide by Douglas Adams; Favorite book, ever. read my sig, love the sig, 42.

[digress]
Kurt Vonnegut, Isaac Asimov, all good books. I'll give some more reading ideas later, but those are what popped into mind. Always wanted to read Atlas Shrugged, haven't, *adds to todo list* (Brandon, can't you please put it on your todo list and tell me how it is, can you? pleeease .)
There is a series about King Arthur, with one of the titles "The Winter King", "Exlacibur"...really great series, written by Brenard Cornwell. Not for children though.
[/digress]

Originally Posted by Dorienne Plait

I read that book when I was a freshman, and I actually did like it. It was kind of like a warp into this girl's mind and life. She deals with many life changing things that some people go through. Sandra Cisneros is a great author, and this book really does, in my opinion, show how brilliant she is. It's hard to describe things in the mind of a child, but she really accomplishes that.
--d0ri

Ya i guess your right. When i was reading it some parts were good, but it seemed a little boring, but who knows, maybe if i read it again itll get better haha

i have more..if you liek to run or do sports read Running With the Buffalo. Its a good inspirational book.

I also had to read for school, Zoyas Story and Of Beetles and Angels. Those were pretty good books. Of Beetles and Angels kinda bored me, but it was ok.

[Dorienne]

Originally Posted by CourtneyB

Ya i guess your right. When i was reading it some parts were good, but it seemed a little boring, but who knows, maybe if i read it again itll get better haha

Yeah lol I admit some parts seemed kind of boring, but overall it seemed good to me. I think anything someone reads for school, they don't like. Possibly because it was chosen for them and not a first pick of theirs. =) Now I need to go back and read it...
--d0ri

[fallnangelzbld]

Even though I rarely read, sometimes i catch something that seems interesting and read it ... here are the ones that totally changed my way of thinking ...

Fahrenheit 451
Boy, when everyone in the world works against what you believe... what do you do?

The Giver
Try living in a world with no color, no taste, no pain... no snow, no fire... and tell me how you like it ... lol

All of J.R.R. Tolkien's Works
When failure weighs against you and all feel its arrival... how do you become successful?

As you can see, i love books that challenge the way others think. I don't like fitting into a mold that everyone else creates for me ... and these books are awesome ways of showing an alternative. I'm picking up Atlas Shrugged this week... lol

[RudimentaryPeni]

The books that inspired me are mostly all of George Orwell's books... Made me believe eventhough we are in 2004 it's starting to feel a lot like "1984". You'll have to read george orwell's 1984 to understand completly.