What Book Has Helped Shape Who You Are Today? - Page 5

DrNefario · 01-20-2013, 09:06 AM

Keep the Aspidistra Flying - George Orwell
The Outsider - Albert Camus
The Illuminatus Trilogy - Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
Unreliable Memoirs - Clive James
Consciousness Explained - Daniel C Dennett

Those are all books that seemed important to me at the time, but which probably didn't have a lasting real effect.

The books which made me love reading are probably more significant, but I can't really remember what those were.

Apache · 01-20-2013, 01:00 PM

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel. I have read that one many times.
Apache

BadBilly · 01-21-2013, 12:42 AM

I have loved books since before I could read. I'm sure I've taken a lot away from a lot of them. Only one, however, can I think of, really affected how I try to live my life. I have no idea who wrote it. It was a rather forgettable science fiction book published in...the early '80s, I think. I believe it was called Mustang (in reference to the automobile). There was just one short snippet of it that I remember. Two characters were talking and one of them said something like: Everything you do affects the people around you. You have to take responsibility for that.

For some reason, this really seemed to resonate with my 17-year-old self. it's a principle I try to keep in mind. Could be worse. I could have picked up Atlas Shrugged.

SteveEisenberg · 01-24-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

For me, it was "Vimy" by Pierre Berton . . .

Just read it on basis of your mention here. Excellent.

Xanthe · 01-25-2013, 02:32 AM

There was a book I read as a kid, that was set in San Francisco before, during and after the Great Earthquake of 1906 that sparked my interest in history, which resulted in me pursuing that course of study. Unfortunately, I no longer remember the name of the book.

The strongest non-familial influence that shaped me as a person though, wasn't a book. It was a TV show - Star Trek (Original Series). Looking back, I can see how strongly I absorbed the philosophies of that show.

barutanseijin · 01-25-2013, 03:03 AM

Pierre Bourdieu, la Distinction: Critique sociale du jugement (Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste), 1979.

There are others that i've absorbed, probably unconciously, but as far as books that i am aware of having had an effect on me, nothing else comes close. One cannot judge & distinguish in the same way after reading this book. (and that's probably true even for those who disagree with it.)

Iznogood · 01-27-2013, 12:23 PM

I clearly remember the first "real" book I read. I was about eight years old (I think), and had been fascinated by books all my life. I clearly remember my parents reading to me, but the first books I read on my own were my mothers "Nancy Drew"-books whan I was around 7 years old. The first "grown-up"-book I read was "Five Little Pigs" by Agatha Christie. At the time I was very proud about reading a "real" book and not only childrens books. After the jaw-dropping experience Five Little Pigs gave me, I've always had a fascination for the classical mystery genre which is still my favourite genre.

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01-20-2013, 09:06 AM	#61
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,099 Karma: 11315768 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	Keep the Aspidistra Flying - George Orwell The Outsider - Albert Camus The Illuminatus Trilogy - Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig Catch-22 - Joseph Heller Unreliable Memoirs - Clive James Consciousness Explained - Daniel C Dennett Those are all books that seemed important to me at the time, but which probably didn't have a lasting real effect. The books which made me love reading are probably more significant, but I can't really remember what those were.

01-20-2013, 01:00 PM	#62
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,137 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel. I have read that one many times. Apache

01-21-2013, 12:42 AM	#63
BadBilly Nodding at stupid things Posts: 209 Karma: 4097046 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Sony T1, OnePlus 6, Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, iPad Mini 2, PC	I have loved books since before I could read. I'm sure I've taken a lot away from a lot of them. Only one, however, can I think of, really affected how I try to live my life. I have no idea who wrote it. It was a rather forgettable science fiction book published in...the early '80s, I think. I believe it was called Mustang (in reference to the automobile). There was just one short snippet of it that I remember. Two characters were talking and one of them said something like: Everything you do affects the people around you. You have to take responsibility for that. For some reason, this really seemed to resonate with my 17-year-old self. it's a principle I try to keep in mind. Could be worse. I could have picked up Atlas Shrugged.

01-25-2013, 02:32 AM	#65
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	There was a book I read as a kid, that was set in San Francisco before, during and after the Great Earthquake of 1906 that sparked my interest in history, which resulted in me pursuing that course of study. Unfortunately, I no longer remember the name of the book. The strongest non-familial influence that shaped me as a person though, wasn't a book. It was a TV show - Star Trek (Original Series). Looking back, I can see how strongly I absorbed the philosophies of that show.

01-25-2013, 03:03 AM	#66
barutanseijin Nxfgrrjks Posts: 99 Karma: 925422 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York, NY Device: aura hd	Pierre Bourdieu, la Distinction: Critique sociale du jugement (Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste), 1979. There are others that i've absorbed, probably unconciously, but as far as books that i am aware of having had an effect on me, nothing else comes close. One cannot judge & distinguish in the same way after reading this book. (and that's probably true even for those who disagree with it.)

01-27-2013, 12:23 PM	#67
Iznogood Guru Posts: 932 Karma: 15752887 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Norway Device: Ipad, kindle paperwhite	I clearly remember the first "real" book I read. I was about eight years old (I think), and had been fascinated by books all my life. I clearly remember my parents reading to me, but the first books I read on my own were my mothers "Nancy Drew"-books whan I was around 7 years old. The first "grown-up"-book I read was "Five Little Pigs" by Agatha Christie. At the time I was very proud about reading a "real" book and not only childrens books. After the jaw-dropping experience Five Little Pigs gave me, I've always had a fascination for the classical mystery genre which is still my favourite genre.

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