Books that have changed your life.

[SmilingKitsune]

The title pretty much sums it up, what books have you read that changed you in some way, changed your outlook on people,the world or anything else.
For me it would be J.D Salinger's "The catcher in the rye", while reading it I coudn't quite put my finger on what it was that made it so incredible, but when I put it down I felt like I had changed somehow

 

[Ago Iterum]

Of mice and men. Such an amazing book. I don't know how it changed me, but after reading it I was slightly different...

 

[Hippobatman]

"Life: Survival for Dummies"

But not really, of course. Can't say that a book have ever drastically changed me in any way, but they have sparked interests into my noggin every now and then.

 

[Kodlak]

I think mine would be any Discworld book (funniest books ever), but if I had to pick one it would be 'Thud' as it has strong messages in it as well as being funny.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

Garfield Minus Garfield. [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345513878?ie=UTF8&tag=httpgarfieldm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345513878]

 

[Nivag the Owl]

Brief History of Time

My brother desperately wants me to read Soul Music by Terry Pratchet.

 

[Thunderheavyarm]

I have to say Of Mice and Men as well. I actually welled up in the last part.

 

[Brokkr]

Of mice and men. Such an amazing book. I don't know how it changed me, but after reading it I was slightly different...

Both this one and The Grapes of Wrath did it for me.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

The Tao Te Ching,

It gave me a philosophy for life that I could actually agree with.

 

[BmC]

Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban

The first book I enjoyed, thus opening the whole world of books.

 

[zauxz]

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.

Why? How? I dont know. The fact is a fact, that affter i put down that book, i spent my nights painting. Still do. The book somehow made me see paintings, sculptures and music in another way. As if they all were equally beautifull. As if i started to see, waht the artist felt when he created it.

Preety amazing actually.

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Of mice and men. Such an amazing book. I don't know how it changed me, but after reading it I was slightly different...

That probably comes second for me, absolutely fantastic book.

I think mine would be any Discworld book (funniest books ever), but if I had to pick one it would be 'Thud' as it has strong messages in it as well as being funny.

I heartily agree, Pratchett is a comical genius.

 

[Clashero]

1984 by George Orwell. After putting it down, I knew the importance of all my freedoms, and how I couldn't live without them.

 

[Glaceis]

The original operaters manual from windows 3.1. Fell on my toe, hasn't healed right... damn books. Probably not what you were implying but still, it changed my life... stupid windows 3.1.

 

[Caninus]

I'd have to say "only you can save mankind". It's a stand alone book by terry pratchett. The book shouldn't really change your life as it is a child's book but it got me into reading and thus all the books I have read since that have affect me in anyway are all thanks to the first book I couldn't put down.

 

[Duh]

barren lives, no one here will know coz its brazilian literature

 

[Kiutu]

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. We had to read it in summerschool english, and since then Vonnegut has become my favorite author. I read a few other of his books, and have been meaning to read the rest of them. I just wish he was still alive, would loved to have met him.

 

[SnowCold]

The Island on the bird street (no, you don't know it), first time I read book for fun, and not for an assingment.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Damn you guys have good taste in literature - Pratchett, Hawking, Eco, Rowling.

I would have to say Order of the Phoenix was my favorite HP book and Mort is my favorite Discworld book but now I'm really looking forward to the Color of Magic movie coming to US dvd.

But when it comes to books changing my life, I find that they're usually non-fiction.
You guys would also probably like Robert Anton Wilson. First read Prometheus Rising (probably the singe most influential book in my life) then try the Illuminatus Trilogy.

Bruce Lee's Tao of Jeet Kun Do has also been a big influence on me and not just as a student of the martial arts.

People's History of the United States - for anyone interested in all the stuff they wont teach you in history class.