Which books changed your life or mind?

[Mvrmoorthy]

Yes. Clearly Dickens' "Great Expectations". I could feel what Pip had lost through his snobbish attitude, the value and place of simple, loving
creatures like Biddy and Joe in our lives.It had a profound effect on my
social attitudes.

[Perrywinkle47]

I would also add A thousand Splendid Suns. This book has made me realize as to how fortunate and blessed we are altogether.. Never knew how it is living in a war-ridden country.

[Sweetrustedchild]

lord of the flies change my whole life. It made me question my whole belief system and made me realize that books and words were very powerful things that could make very powerful statements. my mind has been blown by a lot of books since but that was the first one

[Serenity]

Try A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It will leave you breathless.

Absolutely one of my favorite books! Couldn't agree more!

[Book-worm]

I really liked all the books by by Paulo Coelho, esp. "The Alchemist". It combines a great story with search of ones destiny. All his books have this in common. Highly recommend!

[Adam Richards]

This book - 'An Alternative Decision' will change your mind and it's possible it could change your life too. Absolutely brilliant piece! I recommend this book to everyone, however please realise and understand that it tackles real deep questions and issues. It keeps you the reader locked intellectually and I must say, it also has humour, it really is fantastic. Since 9-11, this is a must read, and I am glad that finally we have a book like this. You must be prepared for a challenge! Enjoyed it!

[Mairin]

Wow.. good question!

I would have to say "Of Human Bondage" by Sommerset Maugham or "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens. I felt that they both touched a note that I could relate to regarding past loves.

[GoldieCL]

Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina

more recently,

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
anything by Wally Lamb

[Techavon]

Cosmos by Carl Sagan, followed by Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion shortly thereafter opened my eyes to a scientific and rational worldview. Sagan was a brilliant, brilliant man. After reading his book, I've been chest deep in books about science ever since. It caused me to see the beauty of reality in an entirely new light.

I give this book the credit for setting me on the path to being a Biologist.

[Angelawang]

East of Eden by Steinbeck

[Wheelbaron]

Hi, new here
So here are a few important ones for me

Gentle Ben I had a very hard time learning to read. My dad was reading it to us one chapter a night, and I got impatient. I literally learned to read over night, and have been ever since.

The Hobbit, and the trilogy Ironically my dad got me started on these too, I have been hooked on fantasy from that point on. The irony is that my dad is very anti fantasy ,(religious views). To this day I have no idea why he pointed them out to me.

My Side of the Mountain Inspired me to many a boyhood adventure.

Kim
Black and Blue Magic
Well the list goes on and on, but I guess that is enough for a first post.[/b]

[Elphaba]

Atlas Shrugged. You've met Rand's writing and ideas in The Fountainhead, but this is much more - more whole, more complete. Highly recommended.
Guns, Germs and Steel changed the way I look at history. His other books are great too.
My Year of Meats was my final push to become vegetarian.

[Jp1978]

The book that has had the most influence on my outlook on life is The Little Prince.

[Carusmm]

The book that has had the most influence on my outlook on life is The Little Prince.

I loved that book. How did it influence you?

[Jp1978]

It made me value time and personal relationships. I read it when I was a kid, but really got to appreciate it when I read it again in college.