Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion: Provides a scientific and logical rational behind an atheists disbelief. Interesting read regardless of your stance. Vladimir Nabokov Lolita made me realize how the world is filled with devious nymphets who utilize their blossoming sexuality to get what they want. Nabokov was really onto something with that one. Heavier than Heaven by Charles Cross a biography on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. While unquestionably Cross took certain liberties upon himself to weave a more entertaining presentation of Cobain’s life, it was still informative and interesting. Actually heart breaking for me since I held Cobain in such high esteem. Turns out he was a overly sensitive selfish junkie but I still got mad love for him. Last but not least Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell. Why you ask because Clifford taught me how to fucking read.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - It is a bear to read, but I feel like it showcases every human emotion. When reading it, you actually feel for the characters. It also describes really cool military battles and strategy.
Also, The 80-20 Principle by Richard Koch - It makes you evaluate what you are doing so that you work more effectively. Koch says that 80% of work is BS and only 20% really matters. The trick is finding the 20% that matters and focusing on that.
I have read a ton of books and sorry to say for myself NONE changed my life.
Having a child at 17, changed my life, finding my X-Wife cheating on me changed my life, getting a job with my current company changed my life. Personally I do not understand how reading something can change someones life. Alter your views or give you some focus on certain aspects yes, however life changing I just dont see.
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
I have read a ton of books and sorry to say for myself NONE changed my life.
Having a child at 17, changed my life, finding my X-Wife cheating on me changed my life, getting a job with my current company changed my life. Personally I do not understand how reading something can change someones life. Alter your views or give you some focus on certain aspects yes, however life changing I just dont see. [/quote]
I agree that your own experience will always have a more profound effect than anything you read/watch etc. However, I would also say that if your views are altered significantly enough by being exposed to a new idea or way of thinking it can change the course of your life (if you actually put any of it into practice).
It’ll be more subtle than any of the dramatic, life altering events you’re describing and the change will be incremental over the course of time, but a change has taken place. If you change the heading of a ship by only one or two degrees, you won’t even notice at the time, but it’ll end up somewhere completely different than it otherwise would have.
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone Biographical account of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s life.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand Someone had to name a Rand book. This was the first book of hers that I read, so it gets the nod from me. Also, John Galt’s speech stomped on any enjoyment I got out of reading Atlas Shrugged.
If the Buddha got Stuck Charlotte Kasl Introduced me to Buddhism and the notion of being compassionate towards oneself.
[quote]orion wrote:
[quote]T11 wrote:
The Game: Secret Society of Pick-up Artist by Neil Strauss, it makes you rethink how you approach women and sheds a whole new light on how you should really go about it. Nice guys don’t always finish last but betas do.[/quote]
Is it really that much of an epiphany?
Cause to me that is more like the Old Testament.
It tells you where we came from, but other than that…
[/quote]
Hello Roosh/tuth
the prince
Not life-changing, more perception changing: “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “How to Make Friends and Influence People”.
I’m also reading Ben Goldacre’s “Bad Science” at the moment; the author is British as are many of the references, so many American readers might not know who / what he is talking about at times, but it’s a real eye-opener into the modern ‘nutritionist’ and ‘alternative medicine’ movements, supplements, and big pharma working. And he also tears up Gillian McKeith, which can never be a bad thing; “… celebrity nutritionist Gillian KcKeith or, to give her her correct medical title, Gillian McKeith.”
“The Art of Expressing the Human Body” by Bruce Lee, because of one sentence from his wife.
When Linda Lee was asked years after Bruce Lee’s death how he was able to perform so fast and so accurate in his martial arts and did he possess special genetics.
She answered no. It was because IT is what he decided to SPEND his TIME with.
That made an impact on me.
The Bible of course. Testimonials from losers & people of lowly means that went on to influence relationships of those around them and the lives of so many more because of discovering their meaning for being on earth. There is also no greater poetry found in any other book.
How can a body builder not like Samson? The Bible is full of great men and women from kings to lowly prostitutes who failed time and time again but persevered and went on to make a difference in history.
Paul who is the author of many books of the New Testament, fifty years after Jesus’s crucifixion, originally headed up the group that hunted, persecuted and killed Christians. St Stephen was their first victim. Truth is stranger than fiction. How can one go from killing a group of Christian followers to becoming their greatest defender?
It is history. The Bible is known as the anvil that has worn out all hammers. They are to this current year making discoveries that prove it’s historical correctness. It is in a class by itself regarding the number of ancient copies and their reliability. For years there was no archaeological evidence of King David or Pontius Pilate a Roman governor that sentenced Jesus to crucifixion.
How can important figures of two nations not have anything left in modern times to prove they ever existed except from writings in the Bible detractors scoffed? Rome kept meticulous records yet Pontius Pilate name was not found said unbelieving historians.
Archaeologists are finding walls with ancient inscriptions that had been built over during the ensuing centuries. Inscriptions like â¦S TIBERIVM â¦PON]TIVS PILATVS â¦PRAEF]ECTVS IVDA[EA] which means â Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea. His name now confirmed for the first time other then historical reference by the Bible.
Islam, Buddah, Hindu writings never showed a God that put himself so clearly in the world through so many people for so long. None ever had one that claimed to be the son of God and affected so many. Islam and the Bible both recognize Abraham and Jesus,however not in the same way.
[quote]conservativedog wrote:
“The Art of Expressing the Human Body” by Bruce Lee, because of one sentence from his wife.
When Linda Lee was asked years after Bruce Lee’s death how he was able to perform so fast and so accurate in his martial arts and did he possess special genetics.
She answered no. It was because IT is what he decided to SPEND his TIME with.
That made an impact on me.
The Bible of course. Testimonials from losers & people of lowly means that went on to influence relationships of those around them and the lives of so many more because of discovering their meaning for being on earth. There is also no greater poetry found in any other book.
How can a body builder not like Samson? The Bible is full of great men and women from kings to lowly prostitutes who failed time and time again but persevered and went on to make a difference in history.
Paul who is the author of many books of the New Testament, fifty years after Jesus’s crucifixion, originally headed up the group that hunted, persecuted and killed Christians. St Stephen was their first victim. Truth is stranger than fiction. How can one go from killing a group of Christian followers to becoming their greatest defender?
It is history. The Bible is known as the anvil that has worn out all hammers. They are to this current year making discoveries that prove it’s historical correctness. It is in a class by itself regarding the number of ancient copies and their reliability.
Islam, Buddah, Hindu writings never showed a God that put himself so clearly in the world through so many people for so long. None ever had one that claimed to be the son of God and affected so many. Islam and the Bible both recognize Abraham and Jesus,however not in the same way.
[/quote]
To loosely add to what Derek posted before, you’re only as good as what you do.
If you feel the need to compare your religion with others on subjective and personal merits, you’re probably not as attuned to the principles you think you understand and espouse in your own life, as much as you think.
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
To loosely add to what Derek posted before, you’re only as good as what you do.
If you feel the need to compare your religion with others on subjective and personal merits, you’re probably not as attuned to the principles you think you understand and espouse in your own life, as much as you think. [/quote]
I’m speaking to the many that don’t even believe there was ever a human being name Jesus or that he was tortured and crucified for what he taught. Zeus or Apollo have not influenced history in such a manner nor had so many hate them.
Some say which religion or god do you choose? There are so many, as if because there are many none can be true.
My life is insignificant here. What I wrote points to evidence that a certain book about a certain God cannot be dismissed unless your view is based on a whim. I am not going to debate this. I know my history and I simply named two books that changed my life because of the many testimonials of miraculous and unique lives.
What did you think about Linda Lee’s answer?
Getting things done by David Allen has helped me the most.
I’ve read tons of books, but they mostly inspire for a short while more than change my world view.
Not life changing either but very helpful… “Your Erroneous Zones” By Dr. Dyer was a gem for me.
There’s a severe lack of Kurt Vonnegut here. I love him.
Horton hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss. I f’ing loved it when I was 4, I can still quote sections of it 48 years later.
“I meant what I said, and I said what I meant, an elephants faithfull 100%.”
Take that Mayze you damn bludger with an overblown sense of entitlement.
And the pictures were pretty cool to!
The Bible
“Heavens for Real”
Jac Uppmuntraren by Mats Wahl. A coming of age novel about a sixteen year old long distance runner. I read it religiously in my teens…
Way of the peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. Just a great philosophical guideline to a happier life, very zen influenced.
A Lie about my Father by John Burnside. By far the best book about an abusive father I’ve read. I finished it while cycling through Ireland and it made me realise quite a few things about my own biography.
How to make money in stocks
Intelligent investor
Read them, study, make money, work less = more time for enjoyable things
[quote]crazyj23 wrote:
How to make money in stocks
Intelligent investor
Read them, study, make money, work less = more time for enjoyable things[/quote]
This is the kind of stuff I love.
Reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad really made me look at working and money very differently. It also spurred me to begin aggressively pursuing avenues to make more money. It’s all about that passive cashflow.
Lots of passive income = more time developing other skills.
I read the Qur’an as a teenager, started practicing Islam pretty soon after that. I guess thats about as life changing as it gets.