Has anybody read any books that made them walk away a wiser man, offering an insightful viewpoint on something, fudnamentally altering your view of the world, or leaving you totally fee clueless about something you thought you knew? If so, please post it along with a brief summary so all can share in the knowledge. Only post if it really makes the grade and is an enlightening book, not just a good read or whatever. Here is mine:
“Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond. A very good book that demonstrates how geographical differences and the immediate effects of the geographic differences are the ultimate cause of European dominance over the rest of the world.
Richard Bach wrote a book called
“Illusions; The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah”. I am hesitant to try and describe the book because everyone who reads it will find something completely different in it. The plot details a man’s journey to become his own messiah. Its a killer read.
The Great Gatsby, I hope everyone knows it. Rarely have so few pages contained so much.
Non-fiction, The Future of Democracy, by Fareed Zakaria, on what it truly means to be a “democracy.” Very revelant in today’s world, and VERY insightful. A great book to start with if you’re looking into politics.
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers. You just gotta read it. You think you know something about life, and then you read something like this…
I’ll have more later.[/quote]
That one is awesome, as is “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” by the same author.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
its an insightful look into the profitability of Counter-Culture and how 'Sticking it to the man" may actually spur the economy instead of stalling it, and possible create the very consumer society that radicals oppose.
A book placed neither on the right or left politically…it offends both sides equally.
[quote]Mwschwab wrote:
Richard Bach wrote a book called
“Illusions; The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah”. I am hesitant to try and describe the book because everyone who reads it will find something completely different in it. The plot details a man’s journey to become his own messiah. Its a killer read.[/quote]
Agreed. Excellent book.
I like Eggers, also, but I find his style to be too self-serving and egotistical–which is probably the point anyway. Regardless, he’s a fantastic author.
Back to Illusions…
I think I’ve read that book at least 5 times a year for the past few years…
I wasn’t a big fan of Jonathon Livingston Seagull, but Bach hit the nail on the head with Donald Shimoda.
[quote]conorh wrote:
Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour. Definitely one of the greatest books I’ve ever read.
This should definitely be on any T-boook list.
[/quote]
I guess I should give you a synopsis: L’Amour talks about growing up on the trailing edge of the old west and all the adventures he had before he became a professional writer. L’Amour also kept lists of all the books he read and a year or two’s lists are reprinted, a gold mine in and of themselves for someone wishing to become a well versed (literally) and ecclectic reader.
[quote]KombatAthlete wrote:
Has anybody read any books that made them walk away a wiser man, offering an insightful viewpoint on something, fudnamentally altering your view of the world, or leaving you totally fee clueless about something you thought you knew? If so, please post it along with a brief summary so all can share in the knowledge. Only post if it really makes the grade and is an enlightening book, not just a good read or whatever. Here is mine:
“Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond. A very good book that demonstrates how geographical differences and the immediate effects of the geographic differences are the ultimate cause of European dominance over the rest of the world.[/quote]
I havn’t read “Guns, Germs, and Steel” yet (in its entirety) but my history prof. had us read excerpts, it’s on my to read list.
Perhaps the best book I’ve read is “Fields of Fire” by James Webb. Not only is it an excellent account of the Vietnam War but in my opinion it sheds a light on the Iraq War as well. Further, it’s a story about service and sacrifice that should make all of us think.
All quiet on the Western front by Erich Maria Remarque.
It’s been a while but this book is generally considered the greatest war novel of all time. Interestingly it has a decidedly anti war undertone.
Remarque was a veteran of WW1 and though the book is fiction, it’s story is based on true historical events.
The story follows Paul Baumer and his classmates / comrades through the living hell of WW1’s front lines and trench warfare. It is so much more than a war story, it is a story of a man’s search for humanity as he tries to find some kind of peace and reconciliation for having killed his fellow man.
This book caused me to confront some of my preconcieve notions (prejudice) about certain things in life and also consider how life’s events shape and form us into who we become.