What books have most influenced your life?

1. 98

   Bede le Venerableposted 5 years ago

   For better or worse, books have an amazing power to shape our thoughts, behavior, and even our destiny. The books that have influenced me most are the Bible, The Hidden Face by Ida Gorres, Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean Pierre de Caussade, and, at least during my teenage years, Walden by Henry David Thoreau. How 'bout you?
   
   

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   1. 73

      Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Hey, Bede, thanks for sharing. I understand in a few days time is World Reading Day. If you had to visit my home now, you'll see a Bible on my dining table for a devotional purpose. Besides the Bible, many devotional and inspirational books like that of Mathew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible I read regularly. Many thanks again.

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      1. 68

         catalystmuseposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I have found (other than the bible) Catcher In the Rye by JD. Salinger. Though some parts I barely understood.

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            Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            So, you mean to say the Catcher is parallel to the Bible, which is also "barely" understood by many folks? Thank you.

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      jordancollinsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      The great Gatsby is the most influential book I've ever read.

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      1. 73

         Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Good to know, and thanks.

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2. 77

   psycheskinnerposted 5 years ago

   Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B F Skinner

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3. 82

   snakeslaneposted 5 years ago

   The I Ching, or, Book of Changes [Richard Wilhelm, Cary F. Baynes, Hellmut Wilhelm, C. G. Jung]

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4. 0

   Velcroposted 5 years ago

   "The giving tree "- Shel Silverstein
   and the "artist's way" - Julia Cameron .....there are many other books that had a deep impact on me .....and every book is a literary piece of art ....so can't distinguish...

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   1. 73

      Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Hey, Velcro, "every book is a literary piece of art ....so can't distinguish..." I agreed. But do not forget what Francis Barcon said that some books are to taste, some to be chew and digest. Do all books meet these criteria? Thanks.

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         Velcroposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you , Miebakagh57, I do mark the great words of Francis Bacon...they are absolutely true .it is just my personal view..but I also want you to ponder over the words of Stephen King," Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons , and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones."Thanks.

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5. 73

   Miebakagh57posted 5 years ago

   Hey, Velcro "and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones." Ah ah ah!!! I hardly realized such a thing can exist. But it is true. So many bad boys get their bad ways from bad books? Thank you.

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   1. 98

      Bede le Venerableposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Bad books teach bad ways to bad boys (and good boys) – I agree, Miebakagh. Consider the influence of The International Jew: The World’s Foremost Problem, authored by none other than Henry Ford. This had a major effect on Adolf Hitler and many Nazi leaders. Hitler revered Ford so much that he kept a photo of him on his desk. Bad books can surely have adverse results.

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6. 76

   lobobrandonposted 5 years ago

   Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.

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   1. 73

      Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Hello, lobobradon. They are two kinds of mankind. Many thanks.

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      1. 76

         lobobrandonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Care to elaborate? What do you mean two kinds of mankind?

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            Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Hello, lobobrando, those who read the good books, and those reading the bad books. Are these the same persons? Good day.

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            1. 76

               lobobrandonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               What are the good books and what are the bad books? Please don't say the Bible or any other religious book, because they've got bad parts in it. Most of the old testament, for instance, has no respect for women and others. Also, if you are referring to good and bad people it's all subjective and then again it's not binary. Good day to you as well.

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               1. 73

                  Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Hello, lobobrando, I do not intend to refer to the bible or any religious books. Now, they are a book about pornography. Can you say it is a good book if I mentioned it here? Also, there is a bad book on dieting and losing weight to write by a doctor.
                  
                  Also, there is this good book on History "Europe in the Nineteenth and Twenty Centuries 1789-1950." So these books divided humankind into two. Are we learning any lessons?

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                  1. 76

                     lobobrandonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     You'd have to define good and bad. I'm considering it to be right and wrong based on the generally acceptable morals.
                     
                     Books can be a bad read, but not bad. Some books can be deceitful and provide wrong information, maybe those are considered bad books?

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7. 73

   Miebakagh57posted 5 years ago

   Hey, lobobrandon, I do not submit to your last opinion. If a book provides some wrong or misleading information, perhaps, I am inclined to consider that it is due for review or updating? 
   
   As fora book being a bad or bad read, it depends on the view the society looks at it. Consider a book like "Satanic Verses."  Can you say t is a bad book or a bad read, or both? Many thanks.

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8. 77

   psycheskinnerposted 5 years ago

   I ready sexy books too, I don't consider them bad--just generally not life changing.

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   1. 73

      Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Hey, psycheskinner, no one can say "Human Sexual Response," by Masters and Johnson is a bad book. I read it when I am just a boy of 23 years. You'll wrong to say that a sexy book is not life-changing unless the person unless the person is afraid of the marriage act or coitus. Thank you.

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      1. 77

         psycheskinnerposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I said "generally".  Also "sexy book" not "book about sex".

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         1. 73

            Miebakagh57posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            psycheskinner, okay, what's the difference between sexy books, and books about sex? Do you mean here to say that ponors are the sexy books?

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   2. 76

      lobobrandonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Yup.

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9. 73

   Miebakagh57posted 5 years ago

   Hello, Bede, I agreed with you. So, I am very careful not to keep a bad book in my personal library. Much of the evils we see going on around us can be as a result of that. You know people are prone to do evil more than good.
   
   Nowadays, book reading is becoming scarce. The motion pictures are taking their places, and the influence it has on growing children seems very much alarming on a world scale. Thank you, and have a nice time.

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