What are some life changing or thought provoking books you feel everyone should read?

Fran101

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#1
:) think this is a great way to discover new great books! Add a small summary if you can (no spoilers please!)

Here are a few off my list, there are so many but just to get things started..

- The Book thief
By Markus Zusak


It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

- The Harry Potter series
By: JK Rowling


Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

- Cosmos
By: Carl Sagan


COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past, present, and future of science. Brilliant and provocative, it traces today's knowledge and scientific methods to their historical roots, blending science and philosophy in a wholly energetic and irresistible way.

- His Dark Materials
Phillip Pullman


In the epic trilogy His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman unlocks the door to worlds parallel to our own. Dæmons and winged creatures live side by side with humans, and a mysterious entity called Dust just might have the power to unite the universes--if it isn't destroyed first. The three books in Pullman's heroic fantasy series, published as trade paperbacks, are united here in one dazzling boxed set that includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. In these new editions, each chapter opens with artwork by Pullman himself, along with chapter quotations from the likes of Milton, Donne, Black, Byron, and the Bible that did not appear in earlier editions. Join Lyra, Pantalaimon, Will, and the rest as they embark on the most breathtaking, heartbreaking adventure of their lives. The fate of the universe is in their hands.

- Survivor: A Novel
Chuck Palahniuk

Tender Branson—last surviving member of the Creedish Death Cult—is dictating his life story into Flight 2039’s recorder. He is all alone in the airplane, which will crash shortly into the vast Australian outback. But before it does, he will unfold the tale of his journey from an obedient Creedish child to an ultra-buffed, steroid- and collagen-packed media messiah. Unpredictable and unforgettable, Survivor is Chuck Palahniuk at his deadpan peak: a mesmerizing, unnerving, and hilarious satire on the wages of fame and the bedrock lunacy of the modern world.

- The Giver
Lois Lowry


In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price

- Jane Eyre
Bronte


Jane Eyre is the story of a small, plain-faced, intelligent, and passionate English orphan. Jane is abused by her aunt and cousin and then attends a harsh charity school. Through it all she remains strong and determinedly refuses to allow a cruel world to crush her independence or her strength of will. A masterful story of a woman's quest for freedom and love. Jane Eyre is partly autobiographical, and Charlotte Brontë filled it with social criticism and sinister Gothic elements. A must read for anyone wishing to celebrate the indomitable strength of will or encourage it in their growing children.
 

Airn

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#2
Looking for Alaska by John Green
John Green is such an amazing person and I love all of his books. He was a way of writing young adult books that is magical and realistic. This book has been banned in several schools because of its graphic nature. However it is NOT a sex book, it is NOT a drug book, it not about any of those things. It's realistic. It also helps that John Green (and his brother, Hank) are awesome YouTubers. They are just simply lovely people.

This particular book is about a teenage guy going off to a boarding school. He meets some friends and his focus is on a girl, Alaska. Alaska and friends show him the ins and outs of being a teenager. The local smoking hole, what teachers suck, how to have awkward sexual moments, the works. Something happens to Alaska and the guy takes it upon himself to find out what. It's not a mystery. It's more of .... the guy discovering who he is. What it means to be a human, a teenager, love and loss.

It's really touching. It has some sexual references and one (extremely awkward) sex scene. It also has cursing in it. (It's a story about teenagers in boarding school....) But like a lot of famous young adult books, Green doesn't glorify any of these things. (Twilight..... :rolleyes:)



Gonna keep thinking and update this :p
 
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#3
There are a ton really but this is the first the popped in my head

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life is a non-fiction book by Barbara Kingsolver detailing her family's attempt to eat only locally grown food for an entire year
 

Xandra

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#5
looking for alaska by john green
john green is such an amazing person and i love all of his books. He was a way of writing young adult books that is magical and realistic. This book has been banned in several schools because of its graphic nature. However it is not a sex book, it is not a drug book, it not about any of those things. It's realistic. It also helps that john green (and his brother, hank) are awesome youtubers. They are just simply lovely people.

This particular book is about a teenage guy going off to a boarding school. He meets some friends and his focus is on a girl, alaska. Alaska and friends show him the ins and outs of being a teenager. The local smoking hole, what teachers suck, how to have awkward sexual moments, the works. Something happens to alaska and the guy takes it upon himself to find out what. It's not a mystery. It's more of .... The guy discovering who he is. What it means to be a human, a teenager, love and loss.

It's really touching. It has some sexual references and one (extremely awkward) sex scene. It also has cursing in it. (it's a story about teenagers in boarding school....) but like a lot of famous young adult books, green doesn't glorify any of these things. (twilight..... :rolleyes:)



gonna keep thinking and update this :p
HEY

HEY

CRASHCOURSE?!?!?

Crashcourse writes teenage smut? My lord...
 

Pops2

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#6
On liberty by John Stuart Mill

Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, but don't waste your time trying to read the whole thing. skimming it will give you the important part.

The art of war by Sun Tzu

The Soldier's Load and the Mobility of a Nation by SLA Marshall

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbons
 

Equinox

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#7
Great thread idea - I haven't made the time to read as much as I would like to, and only recently started again (HEY KIM, be proud of me please). I'll definitely be looking up a few of these books to add to my ever growing list. I especially want to give Cosmos a try, I just love Carl Sagan.

My favorite book has to be The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I don't know about life changing, but it is an incredibly captivating book filled with intriguing and memorable thoughts.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
John Green is such an amazing person and I love all of his books. He was a way of writing young adult books that is magical and realistic.
I really like John Green's books. Bought this for my younger sister for Christmas when she read The Fault In Our Stars and went crazy for it.



She recently bought Paper Towns and I'm looking forward to reading that as well. I haven't gotten the chance to read Looking For Alaska but would really like to.
 

noludoru

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#8
Nobody gets to cheat and say the bible either!

I'll get back to this.
I'm just going to say that I don't count that as a book anyone needs to read.

As far as books everyone should read at least once goes, Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" is definitely a must-read.
 

Dizzy

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#9
I don't read a lot.

But books I've read that have stuck with me...

Cloud atlas. Bit mind boggling to begin with, but you soon get it! Very clever book.

The time travellers wife. Read this so many times. Then they made a film, that actually sticks quite close to the book. The book is better though.

I love Stephen king books. Love!
 

Danefied

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#10
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
 

Romy

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#11
The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula Le Guin. Anybody that thinks they aren't racist especially should read it. She's a genius and will slap you upside the head so hard in the most subtle possible way.
 
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#12
I'm just going to say that I don't count that as a book anyone needs to read.
Oh but I think it's a book that everyone should read. Only because, if some people actually read it (rather than having certain parts cherry-picked for them), they might start to ask questions.

Personally, I recommend The Skeptic's Annotated Bible to help that process along. ;)
 

LauraLeigh

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#13
The Stand by Stephen King

It's not a "gory" horror story, but rather a story basically about how we destroy ourselves and then good vs evil...

It kinda scares me because "The Plague" portion is something I can see happening to us someday...

I love all his books and am working on a collection of his first editions!
 

RBark

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Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, but don't waste your time trying todread the whole thing. skimming it will give you the important part.
What, you didn't like the 350 page long speech that John Galt gave near the end? Lol.

I skipped that whole speech lol.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#15
1984 by George Orwell
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

And on... and on... I haven't read all of these but they're all on my must read list.
 

Romy

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#16
Oh but I think it's a book that everyone should read. Only because, if some people actually read it (rather than having certain parts cherry-picked for them), they might start to ask questions.

Personally, I recommend The Skeptic's Annotated Bible to help that process along. ;)
Not just questions, but historically it's been the major piece of literature in most European's lives for the past two thousand years. Agree with it or not, there is so much history that happened around it, and involving people heavily influenced by it (not just talking about the bad stuff, things like the guys who wrote the American constitution too), that it's difficult to grasp fully where they're coming from without having read it yourself.
 

AllieMackie

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#17
I'm just going to say that I don't count that as a book anyone needs to read.

As far as books everyone should read at least once goes, Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" is definitely a must-read.
Stranger in a Strange Land is indeed a must-read. I'm not a fan of most of Heinlein's works, but that one changed me.

I have more I want to list... when I have time. :p
 

sillysally

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#18
I think that exposing yourself to holy books if any kind is a good idea. It's not about what you do or do not believe, but looking at the world from a different perspective and learning about the faiths that influence millions.
 

milos_mommy

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#19
Agreed...the Bible is DEFINITELY a thought-provoking and life-altering book, whether or not you've read it or believe in it, it still very much affects your day to day life. You might as well read and see how and (try to figure out) why.

And I don't want to sound like a jerk here...but did a John Green book REALLY change anyone's life? I've never read anything by him, so I don't know, but what I hear from people who have read his stuff, his books are terribly captivating and emotional, but nothing world-altering. So I'm curious, do you guys just really like his books and find them very touching, or did they actually alter the way you live your life or look at the world?!?

My list:

Fight Club - Chuck Palahnuik. Aside from the obvious - opening your eyes to consumerism and capitalism and a whole book about looking at our society in another light and so on...this was the first book I read where I could really relate to the characters (and trust me, that's NOT a good thing). I'm still trying to figure out why people glamorize Marla Singer so much. I've written I believe four college papers on different aspects of Fight Club.

On The Road - Jack Kerouac. It definitely glorifies a less-than-glorious lifestyle, but it really made me think about the way I live and youth, being tied down, taking huge risks, minimal living, and living in the moment.

Hardcore Zen - Brad Warner. I was already a Buddhist when I started this, but it just clarified some of the concepts I try to use in day to day life.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver - if you eat food in America, read this. It's not like other "disturbing" portrayals of the food industry, but instead mostly discusses the perks and reality of clean eating, locavore, etc.

Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim - if any of you have seen Greg Araki's film version, you know this is an incredibly disturbing novel about children and sex abuse. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's also a very compelling story about the various ways people deal with trauma. As a teenager, I saw this book as the dichotomy between shutting down/isolating during depression and "living life to the fullest" in spite of it, even if that meant self-destruction and even if that "living" was really just a desperate attempt to cling on to some sensation while dealing with the numbness of depression and trauma.

I'm sure there are lots, lots, lots more. V For Vendetta (the graphic novel), Crime and Punishment, Candide, etc. Maybe I'll elaborate on a few more later.
 

Fran101

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#20
As all supreme ruler of this thread LOL can we please not turn this into a debate about the bible?
The answer is what YOU FEEL everyone should read. Everyone should feel free to say what they feel.

I personally am not a fan of the "good book" but hey, different books speak to different people.

..but if anyone says twilight for any other reason than "it taught me how to spot abusive relationships". you will be given a lecture :rofl1:

milos_mommy;22435 90 said:
And I don't want to sound like a jerk here...but did a John Green book REALLY change anyone's life? I've never read anything by him, so I don't know, but what I hear from people who have read his stuff, his books are terribly captivating and emotional, but nothing world-altering. So I'm curious, do you guys just really like his books and find them very touching, or did they actually alter the way you live your life or look at the world?!?
The fault in our stars did change my life. Now, his books are sometimes written off as simple fluffy YA books (and there is nothing wrong seeing them that way..they are sweet and fun and honest and sometimes very funny. But I do think the books are deeper than that and can have an effect on the lives of those who read them) the fault in our stars did change the way I think of cancer, cancer survivors/patients, etc.. and life in general.
so I think that does count.

IMO I think different books speak to different people. So while some see certain books as fluff or nothing special, it might speak to others in a way that truly does affect their life. Beauty of literature!
 
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