Posted on 05/01/2018 3:18:41 PM PDT by Simon Green
Here's one that definitely influenced me: "Red Planet" by Robert A. Heinlein.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Planet_(novel)
It's the first novel I can recall reading, around age 8 or so. It was the start of a lifelong love of speculative fiction, and Heinlein's Libertarian(ish) philosophy certainly put its imprint on me.
(The main chsracter's father discusses getting a pistol permit for his daughter. The grandfather chimes in:)
"That a free citizen should have to go before a committee, hat in hand, and pray for permission to bear arms - fantastic! Arm your daughter, sir, and pay no attention to petty bureaucrats."
After the Bible, tops is My Way of Life (Summa Theologica) by St, Thomas Aquinas. Rich beyond words.
It sure does. I quit drinking 9 years ago, changed my life.
“Animal Farm”
“Atlas Shrugged”
Yes. Yes. And Yes.
Hey! I used to work there at Mount Washington and the Self Realization Institute.
Bible. Nothing else comes close.
At the risk of being cliché, me too. The Bible.
FM 21-75 COMBAT SKILLS OF THE SOLDIER
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That’s a good one. I carried the FM 7-8 around with me for over a decade in the Army, I damn near had t memorized.
Without a doubt, for me it was a book by Charles Stanley entitled, “Landmines In The Path of the Believer.” Seriously changed my life.
Thanks, tet68. I’m gonna check the book out.
The bible- proverbs.
“The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich” by William Shirer- helped me to understand the nature of tyranny and how thin the veneer of civilization truly is.
CC
I'll never forget what Spot said. "Bow-wow."
“The Shore Road Mystery” by Frank!in W. Dixon. A Christmas gift from my concerned parents who knew the report cards coming home didn’t reflect my actual ability. It was the first Hardy Boys book I read, and I eventually read my way through most of the series. After that, it’s all been cumulative.
I agree wholeheartedly about Zig Ziglar, and would add a short book by Peter Drucker, “Managing Oneself”. I think a young man or woman who can absorb the lessons in those two books will do very well, whatever field they pursue.
Currently on the nightstand— Albert O. Hirschman’s “The Passions and the Interests”.
Atlas Shrugged
When I was younger, the “Chilton repair guide to the 1969 Chevrolet nova” , otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere!
CC
bios or autobiographies from almost anyone. “Growing Up” Russell Baker, for example. “Bill W” (founder of AA)...I learn so much from other people’s lives.
The magic of thinking big by dr. David Schwartz
In 1959 they started re-writing the prior ones (including Shore Road Mystery), ostensibly to remove ethnic stereotypes, but also dumbed them down and made the boys more respectful of adults, and the adults more conventional.
In the original ones, some of the criminals were downright perverted, and Chief Collig was a lazy opportunist. Aunt Gertude was a pain in the rear whom the family put up with only because she was rich.
I have since purchased two other sets of hers, all good, easy and enjoyable reading.
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