Posted on 04/29/2016 9:05:38 AM PDT by MtnClimber
e all have memories of books that have ignited our imaginations but is there one special book that has changed your life?
That's the premise behind a fascinating new collection of essays featuring contributions from writers, politicians and actors, who discuss the book that holds a special place in their hearts. Among the contributors are Sofia Coppola, Margaret Atwood, Dave Eggers and Jodi Picoult.
The entry I particularly liked was from the country music singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash, who seemed to capture what Marcel Proust said about there being no days of our childhood we live so fully as those we spend with a favourite book.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
There are few I would rate as "potentially life-changing," but Shel Silverstein? Dr. Seuss?
“The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand.
AS was clearly a vehicle to detail Objectivism. Nearing the end, Rand needed to wrap up something not conducive to ending, presenting the triumph of her hyper productive heroes vs the total failure of socialism.
It’s something the SJW Left needs to read, but is far too long & sophisticated for them to even consider. It challenges the Left’s stances on welfare, “soak the rich”, the nature of money, sexuality, and the drive of the productive. For a group ranting about diversity, they really need to realize the hyperproductive deserve “justice” too.
Pity Rand gets so wrapped up in pointedly ignoring charity, and demeans religion as she does.
Interesting how “who is John Galt” has entered cultural awareness, but the answer hasn’t (see tagline).
People are enthralled by that which they aspire to.
Some things are, alas, what some indeed aspire to.
Hi Ho!
A better list than I expected, but note the absence of Asimov, Heinlein, and Tolkein...
This guy? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Kourdakov
The book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persecutor
$11.84 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forgive-Me-Natasha-Sergei-Kourdakov/dp/0551005742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461951942&sr=8-1&keywords=forgive+Me+Natasha
Jump on it!
That is him! I will order his book.
Bolshoe spasibo.
Actually, it is. Number 36.
I don’t remember the name or author of a book that changed my life. When I was 15 or 16, I read a book written by a former KGB agent who became a born again Christian and who managed to emigrate out of Russia.
The Persecutor. Sergei Kourdakov. Good story. Remember they burst into a room and the believers were on their hands and knees trying to collect their literature on the floor, while being beaten with clubs.
See also Tortured for Christ by Wurmbrand and Tortured for His Faith by Popov.
Glad I could help! :)
Yes, it is. . . "36 Tony P Hall (politician): The Holy Bible"
Animal Farm should be on that list
Animal farm is number 30.
A couple of my picks:
Autobiography of Cellini
Life and times of Rembrandt by Van Loon
Moral doctrines by Epictetus
I chose freedom by Kravchenko
Chesterfield’s letters
The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang
Books, fine old hardbacks, are incalculably valuable. The library is more important than the garden and comes before it. Books are kryptonite to the criminal-minded, this only adds to their value.
Caused spine chills and i realized that reading could be fun.
It changed my life. Green Eggs and Ham was the first book I owned and the first book I learned to read by myself. Go Dog Go was the second and the Cat in the Hat was the third. The love of reading was instilled in me very young. I could read the first grade reader Dick and Jane, front to cover the first day of class. By the time I was in High School I averaged a book a week for pleasure. Now I average a book every three days. and it all started with Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham! Definitely a life changer for me.
Then I would venture to say that it was less the book itself than the act of reading that changed your life. After all, what life-changing message does one derive from “Green Eggs and Ham?” That one can refuse to eat them with a mouse? That SamIAm does not care for that particular culinary oddity? Or is there some deeper social allegory I’ve missed all these years?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.