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Most Influential Book
Name the book that has most influenced you--in whatever way you so describe-- whether that book be fiction, poetry, architecture, comic, or what have you. It could be a book on Persian rugs. I just want to know about it. This influence could be what made you love to read, or hate to read, or what pushed you to write or into some particular career. My leanings are distinctly literary, but I wanted to push this out of the book club to see where the question took others.
I can't answer this question decisively. I could give a three or four-way tie, and that's the best I could do. So don't be afraid to get long and drawn out about it.
My most influential book(s):
The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, by H. L. Mencken: My first exposure to Nietzsche, and honestly probably number one on this list. Opened up new ways of thinking for me, was perhaps the first book to make me realize there was more than one way to see the world.
The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway and All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy: Both, in their own diverse ways, taught me how to write. Taught me just how much can be done with words.
I can't answer this question decisively. I could give a three or four-way tie, and that's the best I could do. So don't be afraid to get long and drawn out about it.
My most influential book(s):
The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, by H. L. Mencken: My first exposure to Nietzsche, and honestly probably number one on this list. Opened up new ways of thinking for me, was perhaps the first book to make me realize there was more than one way to see the world.
The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway and All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy: Both, in their own diverse ways, taught me how to write. Taught me just how much can be done with words.
Tags: books
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Stehle on -
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch.
He was my CMU prof and the most inspirational person in my life. I was blessed to know him and be taught by him. Read his book. It will seriously change the way you see life. Trust me.
www.thelastlecture.com
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Permalink Reply by phampants on -
Randy Pausch was amazing. I came across his last lecture on YT. It was 12:30am. I stayed up to watch the whole thing because it was beyond belief. I'm truly am jealous that you were taught by him.
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Permalink Reply by David Stehle on
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Wasn't his lecture the best ever? The man was amazing!
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Permalink Reply by cooper on -
I can't say there was one book. War and Peace on some level, The Handmaid's Tale, The Archeology of Knowledge.
One is just a stellar piece of literature, the other an insight, the other thoughts unknown to me.
There are so many book it is hard to actually decide.
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Permalink Reply by Leanne Behrns on -
Handmaid's Tale had a pretty big impact on my life. I loved dissecting that novel, and diving into anything else Atwood penned.
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Permalink Reply by Charlee on -
That is absolutely impossible to answer!! I think (nearly) every book I've read had been quite influential...
perhaps I need to think about it more.
And, PS, EXCELLENT choices...Hemingway is one of my favourites (obviously) and Nietzsche is pretty much my favourite person in life ever. Hahah, I often ask people what they think of him upon meeting them! No joke!
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Permalink Reply by Eric on -
Two great reasons for us to get to know one another.
You really say, "Hey, I'm Charlee, what do you think of Eternal Recurrence?"
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Permalink Reply by Charlee on
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haha no i'm not a COMPLETE prat
i usually just ask them what they think of homeboy in general--then it's open-ended enough that if they are not particularly into him, it doesn't become horrendously awk
although i'm not going to lie, their answer provides a useful screening for whether or not we're going to be tight...since, you know, i obviously have SO MANY people trying to be my friend that i must weed them out somehow! :)
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Permalink Reply by Eric on
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Never, in the history of the world, has a discussion involving Nietzsche used both "awk" and "tight" in such a way. This truly is the 21st century.
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Permalink Reply by Charlee on
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HAHA Yes, I beg your pardon--I tend to morph into teenage girl-speak when overtired, although I probably should have made an effort to avoid it in a literary discussion.
I am slightly disturbed by the notion of not using proper words (and have no clue as to why I was compelled to refrain from writing 'awkward'), but I do believe that there is a time and place for informal language/writing...
I think this is the place, but perhaps not the time? ;-)
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