What three books have had the greatest influence on your life?

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  • PJWGIII
    PJWGIII Chicago, IL Posts: 811
    The fact that this thread has yet to mention The Great Gatsby is just plain sad. That book kicks Catcher's ass any day of the week.
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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,673
    PJWGIII said:
    The fact that this thread has yet to mention The Great Gatsby is just plain sad. That book kicks Catcher's ass any day of the week.
    It's a classic, for sure. 

    Tender is the Night as well.  Great stuff.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,673
    Malroth said:
    1. Goonies- First "thick" book I read. Checked it out of a bookmobile.

    2. The Bible- Most may not believe in this concept of god and jesus, but the teachings on love are........

    1 Corinthians 13:4-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

    4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

    3. A Constellation of Vital Phenomenon- My favorite book, so it is the book I compare all the rest to.
    Title refers to the medical definition of life.
    Alright, cool!  A book I'm not familiar with.  Great title.  I'll have to check that one out.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,673
    Malroth , I read the review on Goodreads.  Costellation sounds really good, thanks!


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Malroth
    Malroth broken down chevrolet Posts: 2,558
    brianlux said:
    Malroth , I read the review on Goodreads.  Costellation sounds really good, thanks!


    you are welcome.
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  • dankind
    dankind Posts: 20,841
    edited July 2018
    brianlux said:
    PJWGIII said:
    The fact that this thread has yet to mention The Great Gatsby is just plain sad. That book kicks Catcher's ass any day of the week.
    It's a classic, for sure. 

    Tender is the Night as well.  Great stuff.
    I’m a fan of Fitzgerald’s later Hollywood work, including The Last Tycoon (unfinished) and The Pat Hobby Stories. 
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  • Leathe?ma?
    Leathe?ma? Яussia Posts: 354
    There are some books that i really don't understand the hype about them. Catcher in the rye and 100 years of solitude, for example
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,673
    Leathe?ma? said:
    There are some books that i really don't understand the hype about them. Catcher in the rye and 100 years of solitude, for example
    I'm that way with Kerouac's On The Road.  That's not to say I think it's a bad book, but for me it was pretty much a road to nowhere.  From Kerouac's generation of writers, I'm much more taken by Nathanael West, Gary Snyder, and a few others.  Charles Bukowski once said he really like poets and the idea of poetry more than actually reading poetry.  That's kind of how I feel about the beats.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Thoughts_Arrive
    Thoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    I knew On The Road had a huge impact on musicians of the 60s before reading it but did not see why after I finished reading.
    It was an epic read but, such a long read.
    The movie is not bad.
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • markymark550
    markymark550 Columbia, SC Posts: 5,224
    I would have to go with
    1. The Bible - Like Malroth said, even if you aren't a believer, it's teachings are still good and useful.
    2. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - had to read this in high school and it really had an effect on me. Powerful themes of seeking your own truth as well as the totality of life's experiences leading to understanding.
    3. Practical C++ Programming from O'Reilly publishing - first programming book I bought, which led to a hobby and ultimately a career
  • TFlyer
    TFlyer DMV (dc,md,va) Posts: 881
    Treasure Island - When I was younger I loved anything to do with pirates (I am still fascinated by them), but even beyond that it started my love for all things nautical, and travel
    Lord Of The Rings/The Hobbit - I first got into these when I was younger as well and have revisited them many times. I have my mothers original first edition LOTR collection which is very special to me. 
    Trainspotting - This is just an all time favourite of mine that I can take with me wherever I go and I can always enjoy 
  • TFlyer
    TFlyer DMV (dc,md,va) Posts: 881

    Leathe?ma? said:
    There are some books that i really don't understand the hype about them. Catcher in the rye and 100 years of solitude, for example
    I enjoyed reading Catcher in school but what I enjoyed more was the lengthy discussions my class had about why some people disliked it and why they couldn't understand how much others loved it. Or the fascination with Holden Caufield's character. 
  • Thoughts_Arrive
    Thoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    I keep thinking about this thread and cannot think of which of the few books I have have had a great impact.
    I need to go through my collection and ponder.

    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014

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