Books that inspired you

[Kris Verdeyen]

Originally Posted by BurningQuestion

I just read almost all of Tom Robbin's works in about a week.

My favorites (in order): Jitterbug Perfume, Another Roadside Attraction, Villa Incognito, Skinny Legs and All, and Half-Asleep in Frog Pajamas.

Don't forget Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, from which I quote, "Like many Italic sentences, this one has Mafia connections." Tom Robbins is silly, but in a good way.

Finally got around to reading ZatAoMM, as so many suggested. What I took away from it is the idea that what you do is far less important than how you do it. It is quite simply a good story (made me want to buy a motorcycle), but the philosophical discussion interwoven within the cross-country motorcycle trek truly makes the book special.

[SirLancelot]

Let's see...
I've read so many! Some of the ones that had the most impact on me were

-Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
-anything by Shakespeare
-Pretty Birds, by Scott Simon

...And I could go on and on
~Anna

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Kris Verdeyen

Finally got around to reading ZatAoMM, as so many suggested. What I took away from it is the idea that what you do is far less important than how you do it. It is quite simply a good story (made me want to buy a motorcycle), but the philosophical discussion interwoven within the cross-country motorcycle trek truly makes the book special.

As with many of the really worthwhile books, reading ZatAoMM several times I took away more with each reading. Although I haven't read it since the mid-70's I think it's probably worth revisiting yet again.

[DUCKIE]

Oh, The Places You'll Go! - Dr. Seuss

and on the humorous side...

Wicked Spanish for the Traveler - Howard Tomb

which includes such important phrases as...
Yo no sabia que la tela metalica tenia tantos usos. [I never knew chicken wire had so many uses]
& Acaso huelo una enchilada vieja? [Do I smell an old enchilada?]

[basicxman]

Enders Game
Robot Builders Bonanza 3rd edt

[artdutra04]

I just finished The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama; it was definitely one of the more inspiring books I've read this year.

Land of Desire: Merchants, Power and the Rise of a New American Culture by William Leach was another.

[XXShadowXX]

Series of Unforunate Events: taught me that life is more then it seams

Catcher in the Rye: taught me to stop complaining and get a life

The Klingon Dictionary: I'm a geek sry

Starwings: war will destroy humanity

StarTrek books in general: make want to build stuff

12 hours to ship: my book still being wrote

[Kim Masi]

On My Own Two Feet-Although this book to teach young women about personal finance, I think it is important for EVERY YOUNG ADULT to read. Its about how to manage your money, assets, prioritize, and learn how to save, and make the most of your money. After reading this book, you'll know more about personal finance than 80% of the country.

A Case for Christ-A atheist journalist searches for evidence of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Even if you're not a Christian, it is a fantastic book.

And Mending a Broken Heart- I heard the author is a really cool person

[Cory]

It's Not About the Bike.

Most inspirational book I've ever read.

[JaneYoung]

I am a little bit shy about posting this. Books can be very personal and can become dear friends. I have this info on my Facebook profile and copy/pasted. I may add a couple later, as well:


Beautiful Joe by Margaret Marshall Saunders (who felt she would not be taken seriously as a woman writer, so she wrote it under Marshall Saunders)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Joe

I read this book as a young child and still have it. The cover is stained and the pages smell old just the way I like them. This book helped set me on a path to help abused and neglected animals to the best of my ability and to my family's long suffering credit.

Another book that helped shape my life was a book by Irving Stone, The Agony and The Ecstasy. A novel based on the life of Michelangelo. I found the book at eye level in my school library when I was 12 and it basically remained checked out in my name for the rest of junior high, every 10 days. I understood the concept of a Renaissance man - very clearly.

Another book was by Louisa May Alcott - Little Women. I read her other books as well, but Little Women was the one that taught me that women can do many things, have many diverse interests, and can be adventurous, spontaneous, roll with life's punches, and laugh.

There are many other books I've read that have inspired me over time but those 3 are pretty much at the core of who I am today.

Jane