Books that changed your life

[Fingerprint]

Has a book ever changed your perspective on life or your view of the world? If so what book and why?

[heathfield]

"Catch 22" First time I read it I thought it was utterly hilarious. Second time I read it I could see there was a serious side to it as well. Third time I read it I realised that it was one of the most damning anti-war books I'd ever read.

[mkt]

The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran

Think its a book everyone should own...or at leat read....Elvis loved it. James Dean loved it. (Not that they ever told me that obviously but apparently its correct) They weren't exactly known for their love of books but i guess its just one of those works....as i say its worth a look. Mind you plenty of my friends have dismissed it and said that after reading the first few pages they were confused beyond belief so couldnt be bothered with it!!

[lostboy87]

high fidelity,i related to rob gordon so much it was scary and it made me wanna own a record shop

[spudqueen]

Fingerprints of the Gods by Erich Von Daniken and Kon Tiki by Thor Heyderdahl. Okay, I know I'm greedy for choosing two books, but they both taught me to have a different outlook on life and not necessarily to believe the standard theory of everything but to look at things from a different angle.

[CLOWN TICKLE]

Sophies Choice

Its about philosophy and its brill

[naomi24]

Chariots of the Gods by Erich von Daniken. I agree with Spudqueen.

[LeMarchand]

"Skallagrigg" by William Horwood, which totally changed the way I looked at Cerebral Palsy sufferers.

[bookermel]

Illusions by Richard Bach

Made me think about how futile it is to try to please everyone. You can only do your best!

[jiggy-gb]

I think the first book to have a profound effect would be To Kill A Mockingbird. I had just presumed that Black and White people had always got along, the way we all did at school. It broke my heart to discover quite the opposite. Ah, the naivity of youth...

[druiaghtagh]

Skallagrigg also, wonderful bok, must re read it again some day

[felinechums]

Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B. F. Skinner.

Teaches you a whole new way of looking at your own behaviour and the behaviour of others.

[Echo]

I don't know about you but books didn't change my life. Real life experiences did.

[stoo_pid]

"Design for the Real World" by Victor Papanek.

Essentially a text book for budding designers but written in straight-forward, easy-to-understand format for non-desigmers / students (I am neither). When I first read it over 20 years ago, it was my first introduction to the concept of social ethics, environmental issues & sustainability. (While not exactly ahead of its time, it was written almost two decades before publication of the Brundtland report that "introduced" the concept of sustainable development.)

I still read this every few years & while a couple of sections are a little bit dated now (mainly those focussing on computer technology) a depressing amount of it is still relevant today.

[The Tree]

the road less travelled by m scott peck.brill book