Thread: What book had the biggest impact on your view of the world?

Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity - Richard Rorty

I took a class of his on the history of philosophy and it totally changed my perspective on shit. He references Kuhn quite a lot, so maybe I should read that book all you smart people have already read.

I've had to think about this for a couple of days.

Its unpossible to cite only one book (or a few for that matter)

I'll say that I can think of two that really helped shape my view of our world (existence too!)

This one really helped to form my sociological, economic, and religious perception in as much as a book can.


Among many of the books that I read regarding the idea of existence and the "self" I find that this one really blew my mind and presented the most challenge to interpret. I think its truly a powerful masterpiece on human consciousness and perception.

Great thread.

On the Road
For Whom the Bell Tolls
This Game of Ghosts

Changed my view of the world or changed my life? Because those are two different questions - Lolita changed my life, but not my view of the world.

It changed my life because I had to read it in a lit course that was required for my history major, and the book had such an impact on me, I switched to a literature major, got my BA in English.

Nicolai Gogol's "Dead Souls" and David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest" were to me accurate portraits of modern humanity.

Originally Posted by jon turner

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

This has to be near the top of my list.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank in the 3rd grade.

Originally Posted by yogachik

Changed my view of the world or changed my life? Because those are two different questions - Lolita changed my life, but not my view of the world.

It changed my life because I had to read it in a lit course that was required for my history major, and the book had such an impact on me, I switched to a literature major, got my BA in English.

I thinks the thread title is pretty clear. "Biggest impact on your VIEW of the world".

It's impossible to really choose just one but..

changed my world view: The Collected works of Ralph Waldo Emerson

changed my life: The Complete short fiction of Ernest Hemingway

The book that changed my VIEW of the world is Semi Tough. Yes, you heard me, Semi Tough. I've never been able to look at the Super Bowl, or commercialism, or advertising, the same way again. I see our world as the Semi Tough world.


edit to add a non-fiction, per Blurred's request: The World Without Us. That definitely changed my view of the world.

Godel Escher Bach by Hofstadter

Where the Wild Things Are
The Giving Tree
Oh The Places You'll Go
All The Kings Men
Monkey Wrench Gang
A Sand County Almanac
The Fools Progress
Infinite Jest

... In that order, more or less. There's more than one connect-the-dot in my history.

Blurred: Do you work for Paradigm Entertainment?

First, The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, but, soon after, Gravity's Rainbow.

Originally Posted by f2f

oh, and:

I laughed out loud in real life. Strunk and White used to haunt my dreams. I've still got a copy, and as you can probably tell, never use it.


Edit. I remember reading Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and Illusions when I was quite young. His philosophy really appealed to me, even if I wasn't able to fully comprehend it.

I've got to start reading more... I'm sitting here thinking of all the great books i've been missing out on.

Anything by Gogol.

The one that sticks with me is far from a classic, but for whatever reason it really resonated with me. It's the Paul Auster-edited anthology, I Thought My Father Was God.



This collection features true stories collected for NPR's National Story Project, mostly from everyday folks who aren't writers at all. I never did hear him read these on the radio, but I love the book. Some stories are poignant, some are dumb, some are sad, some are near-brilliant. I've read a lot over the years -- I was an English major -- but this anthology holds a special place in my heart. Just seems really life-affirming on some level..

Originally Posted by wicked_sick

Edit. I remember reading Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and Illusions when I was quite young. His philosophy really appealed to me, even if I wasn't able to fully comprehend it.

Both great books that I read intially too young and then had to revisit. Have to throw in "A Gift of Wings" also, really like the barnstorming and commadarie that comes out of that, a different time in America for sure.

Remembered "The Little Prince" Antoine de Saint Exupéry as well, once again liked it when I intially read it when I was younger but gained more from it wehn I read it latter on. I think I have given this book to more people than any other, sometimes its to their kids sometimes it's to my friends. I think both can get something out of it.

Originally Posted by Shepherd Wong

Godel Escher Bach by Hofstadter

On its surface, GEB examines logician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher and composer Johann Sebastian Bach, discussing common themes in their work and lives. At a deeper level, the book is a detailed and subtle exposition of concepts fundamental to mathematics, symmetry, and intelligence.

oh, well. i know what i'm getting from the university library next. pray god they don't accuse me of piracy!

Originally Posted by Hohes

Siddhartha

Ditto... also add Jonathan Livingston Seagull and The Old Man and the Sea. However, the book that got me to love reading was The Hobbit.

Originally Posted by yogachik

[Lolita] changed my life because I had to read it in a lit course that was required for my history major, and the book had such an impact on me, I switched to a literature major, got my BA in English.

For me it was Huckleberry Finn. I read Tom Sawyer as a kid, then immediately Huck Finn, which wasn't nearly as much fun (Duh.) In College I had a really great American Lit teacher who lovingly deconstructed this novel and showed its literary and historical significance like no other book I've ever read. Completely changed the way I read.

Just a few






Note: if anyone hasn't heard of this book by Tim O'Brien just do yourself a favor and read it. It's a collection of short stories about his experiences in Vietnam and is truly a fantastic read.

Originally Posted by f2f

oh, well. i know what i'm getting from the university library next. pray god they don't accuse me of piracy!

It's nerdy, long and honestly kinda hard to get through, but it's great because it's really non-snooty and fun to read.

I'm not sold on a lot of his books, but:

Veronkia decides to die - Paulo Coelho

Great book, short but moving.

Originally Posted by Platinum Pete

Surprised nobody called the Bible their most influential.

He said he wasn't looking for fiction or propaganda.

Originally Posted by Tippster

However, the book that got me to love reading was The Hobbit.

First thing that came to mind to me as well.


A couple that I have read in the past few years:
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild


and Cities of Salt by Abdelrahman Munif

House Of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Changed the way i saw things, gave me nightmares and made me think the dimensions of my house were changing.