I just finished reading La Nausée by Jean-Paul Sartre in French, the language I'm learning in High School right now. It was one of the most interesting books I have ever encountered, even though I have studied existentialism quite a lot, it basically renovated my entire philosophy of life. But I realized something very profound after finishing it. I am a total moron.
Before that, I hadn't read a book (aside from school required books, which I only skim marginally to ace the tests) for almost 5 months. This is a problem, as I am missing out on a lot of stuff. Lurking on random internet forums when I can't sleep late at night is not a good substitution for reading novels. So this is where you come in, I need suggestions.
What are some great books you've read, and what kind of person would enjoy them? I seriously need to expand my reading list.
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- What's the most influential book you've ever read?
What's the most influential book you've ever read?Follow
There have been many influential books I have read, I am sure I would be leaving out alot, but to list just a few off the top of my head, and in no particular order.
Edited, Dec 30th 2006 9:08pm by fhrugby
Edited, Dec 30th 2006 10:03pm by fhrugby
- The Prince by Machiavelli
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu
- Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
- The Foundation Trilogy by Asimov
- The Heart of Darkness by Conrad
- The Republic by Plato
- The Animal Farm by Orwell
- 1984 by Orwell
- On Liberty by Mill
- The Origin of Species by Darwin
Edited, Dec 30th 2006 9:08pm by fhrugby
Edited, Dec 30th 2006 10:03pm by fhrugby
Maybe not influential, but beautiful:
The Alexandria Quartet, by Lawrence Durrell.
The Alexandria Quartet, by Lawrence Durrell.
What's bred in the bone will not out of the flesh.
The Lord of the Rings and other related Tolkien books cemented my role in life as a fantasy geek.
Stephen King's The Stand led me to getting arrested and kicked out of school.
Those influenced my life in both good and bad, but definately big, ways.
Stephen King's The Stand led me to getting arrested and kicked out of school.
Those influenced my life in both good and bad, but definately big, ways.
publiusvarus wrote:
we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
Quote:
* The Prince by Machiavelli
* The Art of War by Sun Tzu
* Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
* The Foundation Trilogy by Asimov
* The Heart of Darkness by Conrad
* The Republic by Plato
* The Animal Farm by Orwell
* 1984 by Orwell
* On Libery by Mill
* The Origin of Species by Darwin
* The Art of War by Sun Tzu
* Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
* The Foundation Trilogy by Asimov
* The Heart of Darkness by Conrad
* The Republic by Plato
* The Animal Farm by Orwell
* 1984 by Orwell
* On Libery by Mill
* The Origin of Species by Darwin
Well damn, I've read all but two of those so I guess I've got a pretty good start! I'm also hoping that's Liberty and not really Libery, as in misspelled Library.
Maybe not influential, but they helped me see things differently.
1984 - Georges Orwell
the 6 novels of Dune - Frank Herbert
Both books are based on political intrigues and how to manipulate people. i'm now seeing the potential goals and consequences of political events. These novels also have lessons of doing what needs to be done according to your values.
1984 - Georges Orwell
the 6 novels of Dune - Frank Herbert
Both books are based on political intrigues and how to manipulate people. i'm now seeing the potential goals and consequences of political events. These novels also have lessons of doing what needs to be done according to your values.
Yes, yes M. Monkeyes you are very smart but, can you sUck your own cOck?
No? Then I say good day to you, sir.
Good Day!
No? Then I say good day to you, sir.
Good Day!
Excuse me, is this the stimulation thread?
1 post
The Art of War ~ Sun Tzu
The Book of Five Rings ~ Miyamoto Musashi
Ender's Game ~ Orson Scott Card
The Book of Five Rings ~ Miyamoto Musashi
Ender's Game ~ Orson Scott Card
Damien, Siddartha or Journey to the East by Hermann Hesse.
Black Coffee Blues by Henry Rollins
Old man and the Sea by Hemingway
Tao Te Ching, Dhammapada and Bhagavad Gita
Meditations by marcus aurelius
Brave New world by Aldous Huxley and Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury
Dune, Dune Messiah, Children and God Emperor by Frank Herbert
Reading Thus Spoke Zarathustra right now and rocking out to it. Have the Prince sitting on the shelf and plan on reading through it. Sun Tzu was interesting but I doubt I would find myself reading it over and over again like I do the above mentioned books.
Black Coffee Blues by Henry Rollins
Old man and the Sea by Hemingway
Tao Te Ching, Dhammapada and Bhagavad Gita
Meditations by marcus aurelius
Brave New world by Aldous Huxley and Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury
Dune, Dune Messiah, Children and God Emperor by Frank Herbert
Reading Thus Spoke Zarathustra right now and rocking out to it. Have the Prince sitting on the shelf and plan on reading through it. Sun Tzu was interesting but I doubt I would find myself reading it over and over again like I do the above mentioned books.
Bode - 100 Holy Paladin - Lightbringer
Funniest book I ever read, Lolita.
If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have two old school arcade games with me, they would be Spy Hunter & N.A.R.C.
Edited, Dec 31st 2006 2:17am by MonxDoT
If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have two old school arcade games with me, they would be Spy Hunter & N.A.R.C.
Edited, Dec 31st 2006 2:17am by MonxDoT
Oh and ******* Pennywise still creeps me the f'uck out
Bode - 100 Holy Paladin - Lightbringer
The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbs
Taught me everything I needed to know.
Taught me everything I needed to know.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
#14REDACTED,
Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 11:38 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Crime and punishment.
#16REDACTED,
Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 11:45 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) I loved the alchemist, it`s some of my favourite literature. I like crime and punishment because it`s one of the few novels where i can actually relate to the main character, and it has some very interesting messages in it. The alchemist in fact, comes a close second, with on NO.3 "Steppewolf" by Herman Hesse.
I vow to read all these books now. Thank you for your suggestions. It will be kind of like a new year's resolution, except I'll actually try to do it before Dec. 31, 2007.
Great suggestions already, here are a couple more:
"The discovery of Heaven" by Harry Mulisch. Not totally sure you'll find a copy of that, as it is a Dutch book, but should be translated. One heck of an epic book that deals with religion, one of the best Dutch ones. (movie did it little justice, even if Stephen Fry was excellent)
"To your scattered bodies go" by Philip José Farmer, one of the best science fiction books to be found. It's just a very good book, that alone makes it definitely one to be read, influences are perhaps not as obvious.
"Behold the man" by Michael Moorcock.
"The discovery of Heaven" by Harry Mulisch. Not totally sure you'll find a copy of that, as it is a Dutch book, but should be translated. One heck of an epic book that deals with religion, one of the best Dutch ones. (movie did it little justice, even if Stephen Fry was excellent)
"To your scattered bodies go" by Philip José Farmer, one of the best science fiction books to be found. It's just a very good book, that alone makes it definitely one to be read, influences are perhaps not as obvious.
"Behold the man" by Michael Moorcock.
5 posts
I would suggest "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.
Vass wrote:
I would suggest "Anti-communist propaganda" by Ayn Rand.
Vass wrote:
I would suggest "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.
Christ.
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
I got bored so i read Lord of the Flies.
the Bible.
i guarentee you will never read another book with as much conflict, human strife, and will to overcome all obsticals. without a doubt, the single most infuential book ever written.
i guarentee you will never read another book with as much conflict, human strife, and will to overcome all obsticals. without a doubt, the single most infuential book ever written.
"The White Dragon" By Anne McCaffery.
I had read LotR but was a little to young to understand it enough for it to fit into the "Influential" Catagory, but my mother bought me this book purely because it had Dragon in the title, and on such choises Geekdom is formed.
Also "Enders game" By Orsen Scott Card was the book that showed me that:
1. LotR while good and a classic is not atually that well written and there is books out there that can stretch the boundries that you thought you had reached.
2. Sticking to one Genre is bad.
3. Pulp fiction (I.e forgotten realms/Draginlance) novels is also generally bad.
I had read LotR but was a little to young to understand it enough for it to fit into the "Influential" Catagory, but my mother bought me this book purely because it had Dragon in the title, and on such choises Geekdom is formed.
Also "Enders game" By Orsen Scott Card was the book that showed me that:
1. LotR while good and a classic is not atually that well written and there is books out there that can stretch the boundries that you thought you had reached.
2. Sticking to one Genre is bad.
3. Pulp fiction (I.e forgotten realms/Draginlance) novels is also generally bad.
I read a book called A River runs through it. I cannot remember the author, but I do remember not being able to put the book down. It got passed to me from a friend and when I was done, I passed it along to anpther friend. I am sure I can google it though if I really wanted.
I usually stick with history books, (King Henry, Queen Elizabeth, History of France, etc), but this one was amazing. A true story of slavery, mixed babies being born and persecuted...
I usually stick with history books, (King Henry, Queen Elizabeth, History of France, etc), but this one was amazing. A true story of slavery, mixed babies being born and persecuted...
Definitely Bernard Werber books.
''Les fourmis'' (3 books)
Then Les thanatonautes, L'empire des anges, Nous, les dieux.
I didnt read all of his work but I would if I got ahold of it.
These books changed my life, litterally.
http://www.ratsdebiblio.net/werberbernard.html
''Les fourmis'' (3 books)
Then Les thanatonautes, L'empire des anges, Nous, les dieux.
I didnt read all of his work but I would if I got ahold of it.
These books changed my life, litterally.
http://www.ratsdebiblio.net/werberbernard.html
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