Inspirational Books.

[sandyRoe]

I sometimes think there was more to 'The History of Mr Polly', by HG Wells, than I saw at first reading. The idea of getting up, packing a small bag, and just walking away from everything is increasingly appealing.
Is there any particular book which has inspired you?

[andy-hughes]

The Mind Parasites by Colin Wilson which, as well as being a Lovecraft styled pulp novel, opens wider philosophical notions. I remember in my teens reading about the notion of 'video phones' where people could see as well as talk to each other, and I think about that every time I use Skype.

[sandyRoe]

Is that the same Wilson of, The Outsider' fame?

[andy-hughes]

It is Sandy - a wonderful writer.

[sandyRoe]

Next time I'm in the library I'll put in a request for The Mind parasites.

[andy-hughes]

You may be out of luck Sandy - it has been out of print for years, but a good on-line book finder should be able to get a copy for you.

[Peter Pedant]

O god the only books I have read three or four times are eeek
textbooks - you have to know what is in it to teach it

Otherwise Dickens- the usual - after a tv adaptation - finding the prose is so much better than the script

[Peter Pedant]

Art as inspiring a course in life

it is lucky you two weren't fixated by Superman ( or spiderman )

[Tilly2]

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' Richard Carlson.

It really helped at one stage of my life.

[Peter Pedant]

but don't you read books to get away from Life ?

If the script leads you to say 'how true ! how true ! - why not stop reading the book and just going on living ?

The attraction of Jane Austen is that you DON'T meet her heroines and that makes it worth reading

[Rosetta]

Unoriginal I know, but for me it was To Kill A Mockingbird. A brilliant description of a decent man fighting for justice, and against racism in his local community

[ABAuntie]

Peter, i agree that books can be a route to escapism, BUT also like tilly says it can be really helpful to find out that other people have had the same or similar experiences to you. This can out things in perspective or give you another view of your own situation and help you work your way out.

I know its s bit cheesy but i read Chicken soup for the soul years and years ago at a bit of a low point and it really helped me feel that life was not that bad :-)

auntie xxx

[woofgang]

I find the later Discworld books by Terry Pratchett are very wise and inspiring, particularly Snuff, also Nation by the same bloke.

[jno]

Mind Parasites ahoy

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[starrynightsky]

I think that the most inspirational book to me is the William Shakespeare biography, well to me.