What book had the most significant impact on your life?

Feel the fear and do it anyway - Susan Jeffers. About 30 years ago.
 

A book lent to me in fourth grade by my teacher. "Somebody Else's Shoes." It was about a little girl who envied her classmate whose parents were very rich. She wished she could be her classmate until she was invited to her birthday party. The classmate's parents weren't there, and the party was hosted by her governess, food provided by the kitchen help and served by maids. She had everything except the time and attention, and apparently the love, of her parents.
 
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule, about Ted Bundy which I've read a few times.
By Reason of Insanity by Shane Stevens I read about 12 times. A book about a serial killer and Stephen King said is one of scariest books he's read.
 
As a preteen the first novel I actually finished was Call of The Wild / White Fang, By Jack London.
Many late-night books, falling asleep in bed with a book. Read most of the School Library.
I guess I quit reading in bed when I reached my Early 60's. A good book leaves good dreams.

Hundreds after that. I'm reading Dale Brown, "Edge of Battle."
Just finished David Poyer, "The Command."
I really liked National Geographic and Mechanics Illustrated growing up thru School. National Audobon Society stuff.
 
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Not any particular book – I read to (1) gain knowledge or (2) to relax and enjoy a novel. I really can’t say any particular book impacted my life although many made me think. I remember reading Dr, Zhivago when I was younger and it made me think that an individual can stand out in a collective state of a regime.
 
This might not be the most significant book but it is one I have had for decades and revisit often. It is The Art Spirit by Robert Henri. He was an artist and teacher who inspired many with his wisdom and notes to his students. I can open it to any page and learn something.
 
A few books have made a deep impression, but I can't think of any that made an impact on my life. Although I'm not sure what "making an impact" means in the context of this thread. Consequently, I pondered this for a long time before I even started reading the responses, and even before I got to MACKTEXAS's comment, The Grapes of Wrath Came to Mind. Life changing? No, but as a literary work, it blew my mind. I've read others that were even more mind blowing, but back in 1964, Grapes was the first book I read that had that effect.

OK, now when I think in terms of an impact on my life, there was a book. But I'll bet no one here has ever heard of it. In the summer of 69, I was suffering with a lot of anxiety, at times feeling like I was going crazy. I was getting gas at a gas station, and at the cash register there was one of those wire rotating book displays. It had one of those self help books that were popular back then. This one was called Psycho Cybernetics, and was filled with directions on how to examine your mind. I bought it, tried it, and studied it. It was life changing, probably because at that time of my life, it was exactly what I needed.

It fixed my brain, so to speak. I quit my job, went back to college, started a new life, and I've never regretted it.
 
Oldeagle66 said:
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule, about Ted Bundy which I've read a few times.
By Reason of Insanity by Shane Stevens I read about 12 times. A book about a serial killer and Stephen King said is one of scariest books he's read.
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I read The Stranger Beside Me many years ago and it stays with me because of her close relationship with Bundy who seemed quite ordinary.
 
JustDave said:
A few books have made a deep impression, but I can't think of any that made an impact on my life. Although I'm not sure what "making an impact" means in the context of this thread. Consequently, I pondered this for a long time before I even started reading the responses, and even before I got to MACKTEXAS's comment, The Grapes of Wrath Came to Mind. Life changing? No, but as a literary work, it blew my mind. I've read others that were even more mind blowing, but back in 1964, Grapes was the first book I read that had that effect.

OK, now when I think in terms of an impact on my life, there was a book. But I'll bet no one here has ever heard of it. In the summer of 69, I was suffering with a lot of anxiety, at times feeling like I was going crazy. I was getting gas at a gas station, and at the cash register there was one of those wire rotating book displays. It had one of those self help books that were popular back then. This one was called Psycho Cybernetics, and was filled with directions on how to examine your mind. I bought it, tried it, and studied it. It was life changing, probably because at that time of my life, it was exactly what I needed.

It fixed my brain, so to speak. I quit my job, went back to college, started a new life, and I've never regretted it.
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a sign from the gods or administering angels??
 
Hard to say just one. Non-fiction has usually had the most impact. Different books at different points in my life. Often stumble on just what i need given times. Synchronicity at work.

Nothing Personal, Photos Richard Avedon, text by James Baldwin about how we relate to fellow humans.
Handbook to Higher Consciousness, Ken Keyes
The Gift of Fear, Gavin de Becker. About learning to trust one's instincts.
Still Here, Ram Dass the title a reference to his classic 'Be Here, Now' but this one about coming to terms with aging.
And most recently, The Field, by Lynne McTaggert-- a scientific look at consciousness that i think i've mentioned elsewhere.
 
seadoug said:
Very narrow audience, but The Velvet Rage by psychologist Alan Downs. It explains why living in a Straight world causes Gay men issues of shame, rage and self-hatred. It also outlines the corresponding actions, like promiscuity, perfectionism, cattiness and the inability to form long-term relationships. I had already moved past these when I read it but it made me think "so that's why I acted that way when I was younger". It was eye-opening.
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Vaguely remember hearing about that book. I know what you mean about a book helping a person understand their own behaviors better. What i find interesting is that sometimes they are most helpful as we are going thru something--helping us find a path out of difficulties, but other times they are more useful in doing a postmortem on a stage of life we've already gotten thru-- because human beings when in throes of sorting out who we are, well we often resist being 'pidgeon-holed' even if the 'shoe fits' perfectly.

So if we find a book that explains us to ourselves before we've made it thru on our own we might resist any advice offered and so slow our own growth. But when we find it later, because we're already doing better, happier with ourselves it is easier for us to accept the 'mess' we were, and feel good about getting thru whatever.

Not sure if i'm making myself clear, it's just my experience. If you look at my list some of those books helped me get thru things and on a healthier path, others helped me understand how i got thru after the fact.
 
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Just thought of another one, The Waste Makers by Vance Packard. I read it when it was first published in 1960, about how people in the US consume a whole lot more than they should or even need to. We still do 65 years later. If anything, we consume even more. It used to be that advertising was "find a need and fill it." Now it's a case of "create a need and fill it."
 
I read Robinson Crusoe when I was about 20.

I thought about that book for probably a year after that. It shaped my views on being able to adapt in the face of adversity, and accepting the cards you've been dealt.
 
Georgiagranny said:
Just thought of another one, The Waste Makers by Vance Packard. I read it when it was first published in 1960, about how people in the US consume a whole lot more than they should or even need to. We still do 65 years later. If anything, we consume even more. It used to be that advertising was "find a need and fill it." Now it's a case of "create a need and fill it."
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I read and enjoyed several Vance Packard books. The Status Seekers comes to mind. It would be interesting to see how they held up. My bet is "pretty good".
 
While reading one of the hundreds of books in the monasteries library I read one line in a book that has made the biggest impact on me. It had to do with self liberation. What I still remember is that I am not in control of what I am to become, the universe is. The name of the book is "Knowing The Mind" by Padma Sambhava
 

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