Manatee
The eternal present
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Do you have any books that you would consider to have really changed your life, books whose words you live by, books you'll always keep?
What are they?
I think I can tell how much I like a book by how many times I move house with it. Books are heavy and we can find almost anything on the internet, so the ones I've kept a long time are really special to me.
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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The Town and the City by Jack Kerouac ... has helped me on so many levels at different times with understanding the world and the people in it.
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
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It would be hard for me to narrow down fiction, history, and biography - so many good ones for so many reasons, so I won't answer that. However, the books most helpful to me for personal growth have been The Art of Happiness and How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend (Monks of New Skete). I love all my garden design and plant reference books, especially Carrots Love Tomatoes and Rodale's Low Maintenance Gardening Techniques. I use my home improvement books a lot, too, especially an old book by Reader's Digest called Home Improvements Manual which is a great reference. For pure escape, I read James Herriot's short stories over and over (especially when I'm not feeling well).
Manatee
The eternal present
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Wow, great reads so far! I'll say I've enjoyed reading most of those myself!
So far, I'd have to say The Art of Living by Epictetus, The Art of the Commonplace by Wendell Berry, Laurel's Kitchen (such a great nutritional resource for beginning vegetarians-- or anyone), The Tassajara Bread Book, and when I was little...
...Pat the Bunny, Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, and Madeline L'Engle books.
The reason I asked is because I think this Magna Carta book I am reading may be taking up bookshelf real estate for a while to come... it's pretty damn good so far.
Keep 'em coming!!
joev
Merion Village
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This is going to sound overly wonky and nerdy, but that's just who I am: Salt by Mark Kurlansky. Books like that (and that's my favorite example) tell the story of mundane things that have such a tragic/triumphant story behind them. Makes you think about everyday things in a more meaningful way.
In terms of fiction, my favorite author is John Irving. Most of his books from the 1970s and 80s are genius. His recent ones have been a bit of a letdown though. (especially that last one that clocked it at like 43 pounds of paper.)
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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Franny & Zoey by JD Salinger, Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut, Dharma Bums, by Jack Keroac, & Orbiting the Giant Hairball, by Gordon MacKenzie.
the first book explains why you should do anything at all.
the second book explains why anything you do should be positive.
the third book explains why you should do anything you want.
and the last book explains how to do what you want and still keep your sanity.
at least that's what they mean to me.
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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Very few books will I re-read. The list that I can think of is:
ALL of the Dark Tower series.
Catcher in the Rye.
Tolkien (all of it).
Douglas Adams (all of it).
Another Fine Myth.
Snow Crash.
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
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blammo wrote >>
Franny & Zoey by JD Salinger, Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut, Dharma Bums, by Jack Keroac, & Orbiting the Giant Hairball, by Gordon MacKenzie.
the first book explains why you should do anything at all.
the second book explains why anything you do should be positive.
the third book explains why you should do anything you want.
and the last book explains how to do what you want and still keep your sanity.
at least that's what they mean to me.
I especially love Vonnegut, although I like a lot of Sci-Fi. I also like moralistic Russian literature for some reason. Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky, I've read 3 times.
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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atalou
ShoNo
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The Awakening - Kate Chopin: Required reading for an undergrad class that made me realize how often we love the IDEA of something or someone more than the reality.
An Alchemy of the Mind - Diane Ackerman: After reading this I decided not to stop at my master’s and stayed in for my doctorate.
Go Ask Alice - Anonymous: This book was given to me to read by our school librarian in the 5th grade. I was way too young to understand most of it. Looking back, I have no idea why on earth she gave me the book to read at the time, but it did haunt me enough to stay pretty straight for most of my adolescent years.
Life of Pi - Yan Martel: I stayed up way too late to finish this book and sat upright in bed at the ending. Did not get a wink of sleep that night thinking about it.
Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Kundara: I read this during my mid-twenties when I had just ended a relationship with someone who I think modeled his life after the protagonist. I have never loathed a character so much.
The Portable Dorothy Parker - Dorothy Parker: My grandmother sent this to me when I was 19 or 20. I still pick it up at least once a year when I need a good shot of snarkyness.
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