Books that inspired you

[MisterX]

Originally Posted by 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.

MrToast

A. I completly agree with you there having first read it as a pip squek of a 5th grader Ender was my idol!!!!! I so wnated to beat the snot out of bullies and destory an entire race to this date I still do reports on the book when given the oppurtunity each time reading it anew

B. Never heard a group that cant drink or even date till 16 refer to as cool but whatever floats your boat (p.s.. I am sure you know this but Orson Scott Card is Mormon)

[Josh Hambright]

So i got bored with the book i was working on and finaly got around to reading "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", amazing book, I already loved the movie. I dont know if this book 'inspired me' persay but it definately made an impact on me. Hunter S Thompson is insane, yet a genius, has alot of fun with his life, yet at the end of the day he is still alive and still gets paid. Thats pretty inspiring to me.

I also started a book i picked up from a thrift store. its called "Cycles of War" cant think of the authors name but it discusses the idea that war comes in cycles based on societies needs and wants for power and need to be part of a group. it was writen in the 70's, definately an interesting read.

[MrToast]

Originally Posted by MisterX

A. I completly agree with you there having first read it as a pip squek of a 5th grader Ender was my idol!!!!! I so wnated to beat the snot out of bullies and destory an entire race to this date I still do reports on the book when given the oppurtunity each time reading it anew

B. Never heard a group that cant drink or even date till 16 refer to as cool but whatever floats your boat (p.s.. I am sure you know this but Orson Scott Card is Mormon)

A. Yes, I love to do book reports and whatnot on the Enders series. I did a report a while ago on how the names of characters describe their personality and also (in a different way) completely deny it. For example, Ender is the Ender of the war, the race of buggers, etc, but he's also the beginner of a colony, Jane, the resurrected buggers, etc.

B. Mormons are most definitely cool. Oh of course I know he's a Mormon. You can't read The Lost Boys and not know he's a Mormon. (Now there's a freaky book for you. Mormon horror novels...)

MrToast the Mormon

[dubious elise]

i feel compelled to add another... "the five people you meet in heaven"

its hardly religion oriented but it does make you think twice about every action you make!

[MissInformation]

A lot of you are mentioning Orson Scott Card. I've never read his more sci-fi series, but long ago I fell in love with his Alvin Maker series. And then I read Hart's Hope, which I think is one of his best. One of the main points behind Harts Hope is how very thin the line is between justice and revenge, and how powerful forgiveness is. I have always been the type of person who likes things to be fair, just... and this book really made me take a closer look at whether or not it was justice I sought out or revenge. I would like to say I never get revenge now (and I'm not talking about pranks and jokes between friends), but I wouldn't want to lie to you... I'm not that perfect

Now, Orson Scott Card... he seems to be a really nice man. Back when I was in high school, I was in a poetry reading hosted by the editors of the Maryland Poetry Review and one of them gave me Card's address, so I wrote to him, and he wrote back. We continued to write to each other until I went to college and got to busy to write to anyone. In one of the last letters I received from Card, he sent me a tape of a lecture he had given on writing. I must have listened to that tape a hundred times in one week! When my college advisor found out I was corresponding with Orson Scott Card, he told his 13 year old daughter, who then had to meet me because she loved Card. She was a very sweet kid, so I eventually gave her all of my letters from Card along with the tape, and made her promise that when she was no longer interested in writing to him, she would pass along his address to someone who loved his writing as much as we did.

Heidi

[MisterX]

Originally Posted by MissInformation

A lot of you are mentioning Orson Scott Card. I've never read his more sci-fi series, but long ago I fell in love with his Alvin Maker series. And then I read Hart's Hope, which I think is one of his best. One of the main points behind Harts Hope is how very thin the line is between justice and revenge, and how powerful forgiveness is. I have always been the type of person who likes things to be fair, just... and this book really made me take a closer look at whether or not it was justice I sought out or revenge. I would like to say I never get revenge now (and I'm not talking about pranks and jokes between friends), but I wouldn't want to lie to you... I'm not that perfect

Heidi

Some claim that the Alvin Maker series was based off of the life of Joseph Smith but I find this connection to be very loose at the least. (yet more proof though of Orson's Mormonism in his writing as mentioned by Mr. Toast)

[MrToast]

Originally Posted by MisterX

Some claim that the Alvin Maker series was based off of the life of Joseph Smith but I find this connection to be very loose at the least. (yet more proof though of Orson's Mormonism in his writing as mentioned by Mr. Toast)

I think I disagree. I can look at the Joseph Smith story and the Alvin Maker series. For example, both had extraordinary visions. For Alvin, it was the "vision" of the Shining Man (who turns out to be the Red Prophet). For Joseph, it was the vision of God the Father and His Son.

Both had traumatic leg damage that seemed to be miraculously healed. For Alvin, this was when the millstone fell on his leg, and for Joseph (I forget how it happened), it was when he had to have a large portion of his femur (I believe) cut out, which miraculously healed.

Both Alvin and Joseph were in possession of extraordinary objects that both claimed to have obtained through extraordinary means. Alvin had his Golden Plow that he transmuted from iron and brought to life in the forge, and Joseph had the Golden Plates entrusted to him by an angel.

Both stood trial many times for baseless accusations. Alvin that he was a witch, Joseph for many things, among which was inciting the Mormons into rebellion.

Both had older brothers whom they trusted completely. Alvin had Measure, Joseph had Hyrum.

And so on...

MrToast

[MisterX]

Originally Posted by MrToast

I think I disagree.

Both had traumatic leg damage that seemed to be miraculously healed. For Alvin, this was when the millstone fell on his leg, and for Joseph (I forget how it happened), it was when he had to have a large portion of his femur (I believe) cut out, which miraculously healed.

And so on...

MrToast

About the surgery:
Joseph Smith's leg operation came as the result of an infection that settled in his leg after a serious bout with typhus fever. The Smiths called for a surgeon, who made an eight-inch incision in the leg. Though the procedure gave Jospeh relief for a time, as the incision healed, the pain returned, more violent than before. Once again the surgeon was called and he repeated the same procedure with the same result. Finally a group of doctors were called together to examine Joseph, and amputation was recommended. Joseph's mother prevailed upon the doctors to try once more to correct the problem before giving over to amputating the leg. They ended up removing part of the bone from which Jospeh did heal though he would forever walk with a limp and often relied on a cane.

I guess you are not the only on that believes so Toast.. http://www.hatrack.com/research/stud...porschet.shtml

[AndyB]

Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell

It's largely a Christian book but as many have pointed out, there are much broader themes. It's really about taking the status quo and instead of mindlessly following it, constantly reanalyze it to create a more perfect or relevant "status quo".

[1527Michiru]

The combination of two books has inspired me most.
"Escape From Slavery" by Francis Boch

and "The Power of One" I don't remember the Author

Both were deeply involved with racism and independence, and although "The Power of One" is not listed as an autobiography, the Author has commented that very few things have been changed from his original life.

Another book that has Inspired me was "They Things They Carried"
I will always and forever love this book, and admire the man who wrote it for his bravery.

]]
~Casey

[MrForbes]

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) by Richard Feynman, the physicist

[Gary.C]

Left behind Series
Masada
Transall Saga

[RoboMom]

Old thread, but I'm still reading!

Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People Robert S. Root-Bernstein

Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas James Adams

Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius Michael Michalko

And

The Cloud Collector's Handbook Gavin Pretor-Pinney

[Ogehsim]

For inspirational books, I second Three Cups of Tea and add its sequel Stones Into Schools. These books are amazing, and if you believe in the mission of FIRST -- changing culture and promoting education -- you will love them. Greg Mortenson is my hero, and I hope to high Heaven that one day I can have made an impact like he has.

For books to make you think, anything by Malcolm Gladwell. Some times the "science" may be a little iffy, but they're very thought provoking.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead requires a knowledge of Hamlet to fully understand. It's a play, specifically theater of the absurd. There's some great quotes and philosophical stuff in there, and it's short too for a nice quick read.

What is Your Dangerous Idea? Today's Leading Thinkers on the Unthinkable Again, thought provoking. You will agree, disagree, possibly be confused, but it's very interesting.

[woody]

Lots of great books in this thread. I guess I'll throw in a few of my own:

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Read the book, watch the video...

Rocket Boys After I watched October Sky, I read several of Homer Hickham's memoirs. It's a fantastic book about dreaming and overcoming obstacles.

1984 by George Orwell. It's a classic, and it's a great warning of where we might end up if we surrender our history and subsequently our liberty to anyone.

Fahrenheit 451. In my mind, a great counterpart to 1984. Probably one of the best (and most well known) criticisms of censorship out there.

Launching a Leadership Revolution by Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady. All about developing yourself as a leader, and then helping others to do the same. A must read for any FIRST mentor, and should be required of students too!

Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright. It's less on "leadership" in the traditional sense and more on developing the attitude and culture of a team to promote excellence. Teams like 148, 217, 1114, 111, etc. stand out as shining examples of some of the principles in this book. If that's not enough of a reason, just talk to IKE. He'll convince you : )

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz. I saw this mentioned earlier in this thread, and I'm actually on my third time reading it right now. It is a fantastic book that covers everything from belief, to attitude, to developing positive habits. This is one of the best "personal development" type books ever written. If you read this and actually apply even some of the principles he discusses, you will be amazed with how much you can change your outlook and your results.