What book changed your life?
Posted at 5:00 AM on January 29, 2010
by Anna Weggel
(78 Comments)
Filed under: Culture
Yesterday famed author J.D. Salinger died at the age of 91. His books, most notably "The Catcher in the Rye", have been formative reading experiences for generations of young people. Today's Question: What book changed your life?
Comments (78)
The exiles of crocodile island
The book that changed my live or let me view my life in a way I could handle was Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. At nine years old instead of the childish short books I picked up Mark Twain and saw through his stories that life was an adventure. My father, a gambler and alcoholic moved us over and over and over so many times we ended up going to 20 schools. Between the poverty and watching him beat my mother I found a way to make each experience an adventure. I gave all of myself to my younger sisters care trying to let them see life through my eyes. To ignore the horror and see what the rest the world offered. I would not have made it without the gift that Mark Twain gave me, that one day in a cold trailer in Fargo, ND.
Many have changed me, but the most recent is "Everyday Justice" by Julie Clawson. Published this past October, the author reveals injustices that are conveniently overlooked to make our lives comfortable. She goes beyond raising awareness and offers practical steps and additional resources for further exploration. She comes at the topic from an evangelical Christian perspective, but there are universal applications.
The Giver by Lois Lowry changed my world when I read it more than a decade ago. The concept of an entirely subjective world was so new to me. I realized that the world could be so many other worlds - so many things could have happened differently. It was also the book that made me an optimist. At the end, you can choose whether to find a happy ending or a sad one, and I have always believed in the happy one.
When I was young, I read John Howard Griffin's "Black Like Me." Although I was bothered by his method, his experiences had a profound impact on my understanding of racism. As a result, I made a conscious decision to see beyond the physical aspects of a person. As an adult, I found a kindred spirit and got a better understanding of my frustration with the "Church" in John Shelby Spong's book "Why Christianity Must Change or Die."
The Phantom Tollbooth was one of the first books I remember reading as a kid.
From wiki: The Phantom Tollbooth is a children's adventure novel and a modern fairy tale published in 1961, written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer. It tells the story of a bored young boy named Milo who unexpectedly receives a magic tollbooth one afternoon and, having nothing better to do, drives through. He finds himself in the Kingdom of Wisdom. There he accepts a quest to rescue the princesses of the kingdom, acquires two faithful companions, and has many adventures. The book is full of puns, and many events, like Milo's sudden jump to the Island of Conclusions, are the consequences of taking English language idioms literally.
Juster claims his father's fondness for puns and The Marx Brothers' movies were a major influence. The Phantom Tollbooth was an "instant classic" when it was first published in 1961 and has never gone out of print since. Critics have compared it to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland series of books in terms of classic appeal and importance.
Time for another read :)
Love Letters To Him ( A book of 52 poems, essays and reflection questions) by Author Sheila Ford, changed my life forever. It unveiled a hidden treasure deep within my soul which I did not know existed. It inspired me to write several of my own poems that revealed then healed past hurts and wounds that had been buried for years. Thank you Jesus for Sheila's courage and obedience to write this life changing book!" Tracy Curley, Maple Grove, MN
The Secret by Ronda Bryne
The books of Roald Dahl were great favourites of mine when I was little, and I count James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and especially Danny the Champion of the World as works that were very influential on me.
While a senior in high school I read "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown and I have to say it changed my whole perception of the history of this country. Prior to that, I'd been exposed to the standard glorious-dead-white-men theme of westward expansion, subdue nature and tame the savages narrative. "Bury.." was the first inkling I had that there were other stories out there and it had a profound effect on the way I saw this country and my place in it. I know it's an imperfect history (what is?) but it opened my eyes to other stories and the idea that this country can mean many different things depending on where one comes from and what kind of background one has. It really was a life-changing book and I recently purchased a second-edition hardcover in a used bookstore to re-read it.
Two books that changed my life when I was a 10 year old were 'Where the Red Fern Grows", by Wilson Rawls, and "Bridge to Terebithia", by Katherine Paterson. Both of these have endings that describe the emotions of loss and love that come with death, two topics hard to imagine for a young person. Throughout 'Where the Red Fern Grows", the reader comes to truly love the fictional hounds Little Ann and Old dan. when the dogs die, the reader feels as if their pet has died. My mom and I cried. Likewise in "Bridge to Terebithia", the reader truly cares about Leslie, a girl who then dies. A young reader will definitely be impated by the emotion in these wonderful stories. This is why they changed my life.
"The Grapes of Wrath" was my introduction to American fiction at about thirteen years old. If only I should write anything with half that much power myself...of course not...But for better or worse his fiction scared me, to resolve before I was fourteen, to never: take out mortgage debt on the family farm, get married or have kids, count on God, or the weather, or lenders for mercy, or of course California's peach orchards to find work !
Forty years later I'm hardly smarter and certainly less stimulated than "The Grapes" , etc. in 1968 at thirteen.
A People's History of the United Sates by Howard Zinn.
Howard Zinn gave us many unsung heroes in our history and inspired his many students to believe in themselves and their power to achieve justice in many arenas.
"Anti-Intellectualistm in American Life" by Richard Hofstadter, which won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize in Non-Fiction. The historians analysis of the American character and it's culture enables me to understand the gridlock in Washington DC, obstacles to national health care reform, and the support for Tea Party ideology. Most important book I ever read. Julie Holmen, St. Paul
I second the comment on Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" as one of the most eye-opening and attitude-changing books I've read. Zinn stood up for the losing side, the oppressed, the ignored and the exterminated victims of history. And why wasn't his passing noted?
The book that changed me the most was Mary Daly's "Beyond God the Father." It transformed my understanding of the world and everything in it. I have never encountered anything that has been able to refute what she says. Rosemary Reuther wrote a rejection of it, but she only rejected it--she could not marshal one fact or logical argument or idea or evidence to counter what Daly said, and in the world of intellectual honesty, one does not "get to" challenge an idea without some argument or evidence--just because you don't want it to be true. I honor the memory of Mary Daly and am grateful for the gifts she gave to the world and to me.
George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. Read in my late teens. Made me aware of history, poverty, and good writing.
Enders Game - Orson Scott Card
It showed me that even an underdog can change the world.
Lots of books have changed my life. Most recently, Finding Darwin's God by Kenneth Miller overturned my previously-held beliefs that evolution is a conspiracy theory propounded by a homogeneous mass of atheists.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reading this book in high school really opened my eyes to the effects of discrimination. I became much more aware of discrimination occuring in my communities and in the world and commited to decreasing it.
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. All about how a middle-aged man finds out how hollow, shallow and unfulfilling it is to be consumed by all this new technology and business, business, business. When, in middle age, that angst happened to me too I was able to do something constructive instead of destructive...I quit business and technology and became a teacher instead.
A River Runs Through It. The spare, dense prose has been the model for my own writing for 35 years.
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
As a 17-year-old college freshman, I read "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer. He helped me understand how fanaticism works (religious and political) and how to recognize it.
The Screw Tape Letters, a short little gem about the discussions demons have about humans,
by C. S. Lewis
The Grapes of Wrath. It is impossible for me to trust anyone after reading that.
Aldous Huxley's "A Brave New World"
It was the book I read in jr high school that got me interested in reading again.
Howard Zinn's "Declarations of Independence." He taught me that political change comes from the bottom up, not the top down; that before The Great Men of History can do their Great Historic Act, a broad social movement made it possible, even inevitable. Understanding history in this way isn't only closer to the truth, it's more empowering and profoundly democratic. (And puts more responsibility on us, as well.)
I wish I could pick one but there is a tie: "Black Elk Speaks," by John Niehardt, is an amazing work that recorded the words of Black Elk, including his account of the Batlle of Little Big Horn. "The Autobiography of Malcolm X: as told to Alex Haley" is another pivotal work that introduced readers to Malcolm's journey. What resounds for that work, also, is that soon after Malcolm and Mr. Haley finished the work, Malcolm was assassinated; something that he had sensed and shared in his novel.
In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan
Brautigan's offbeat,roundabout manner of storytelling showed me there are others in the world who think like me. I am a writer and performer today in large part because of Richard Brautigan
"A Wrinkle in Time" made me want to save the world. "The Bible" gave me ideas about how to do it. Reinhold Niebuhr's "The Irony of American History" gave me the insight that man can never save the world... only God.
-US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
-Department Of The Army ST31-180: Special Forces Handbook
-First Aid For Soldiers:FM 21-11
Uncle Sam taught me allot:-)
Here comes GD 2.0... ready or not...
DTOM
Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power Of Now' and 'A New Earth'
My own book, POEMS FROM THE BATTLEFIELD changed my life! LOL! The process of writing it was a true journey into history, psychology and the self.
Wally Lamb's I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE and SHE'S COME UNDONE also impressed on me the way mental illness presents itself and is still misunderstood, and how difficult it is for loved ones to deal with it.
(Please pardon the caps. I never get this HTML thing right.)
Most recently would be "The Omnivore's Dilemma," by Michael Pollen. What could be more life changing than finding out where our food comes from, and how it's grown. While I have not become a complete organic vegetarian, both my conscience and my own sense of self preservation has been altered by this fact based book, and I am making more informed choices in what I choose to eat.
"The Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. It showed to me that the great minds of science were still regular Joes, therefore a regular Joe can be a great mind in science.
"Vegan: the new ethics of eating." I put down my chocolate chip cookie, went vegan & never looked back (i've been vegan 9 years now).
Comments texted to MPR:
In 9th grade we had to read “Ivanhoe”. I thought, on no, not old English, but I loved it and wished there was a sequel. -Jo, Stillwater
“The Little Prince” -Sara
“Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I picked it up in 4th grade and haven't stopped reading since. I'm a voracious reader! -Kalee
The book that was a real revelation was “A Clockwork Orange”. -Eliot Axelrod, Bloomington
Memorable book – “A Separate Peace”. -Brandy Rhodes, Brooklyn Center
“Ishmael”, by Daniel Quinn! The tinted wrapping paper in which my mind was previously enveloped was torn asunder. -Derek Meister, Duluth
“Resurrection: The Hope for Christians and Jews”. -Bradley Hofbauer, Minneapolis
“East of Eden”...in 1986 it presented my first philosophical insight with 'timshel' (thou mayest). –Fred, St. Paul
“The Scarlet Letter”. It taught me that not all classic books are worth reading. -Jon, Minneapolis
“Timequake” by Kurt Vonnegut. –Zoran, Minneapolis
“Letters to a Young Poet” by Ranier Maria Rilke. - Amanda Neely, St. Paul
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. -Simone
“Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral and Bogtrotter”. –Connie, Mabel
The book of John in the Bible changed me because it showed me how much God loves us! -Flavio
The 1950's “Dick and Jane” readers which taught me the magic of words, and Harold's “Purple Crayon” which taught me the magic of imagination! All over 50 years ago. Thanks to Mrs. Eiden, the teacher who made it all possible! -Roxy in St Paul
“Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank. I read it in 6th grade. My eyes were opened to human capacity for evil and also survival. -Holly Vanderhaar, St Paul
“Fast Food Nation”. -Brooke
"The Hundredth Monkey" ironically formed this community-driven Republican. -Matt Chase, Eden Prairie
“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand had a profound effect on the scope of my perspective. -Alec Young
“The Catcher in the Rye”. It really cut to the quick of the beauty and sadness of life. I still find it very moving, returning to it periodically. -Clare, Minneapolis
"Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn has made me think of the world and humanity's role in it differently. –Amanda, Anoka
“Maurice”, by E.M. Forster changed my life. Forster introduced me to passion for life experience and helped me accept my homosexuality as a life strength. -David Lunsford, Minneapolis
“Strength to Love” by Martin Luther King. I read it in 1982 and that's why I remained a Christian to this day. -Marj Evans de Carpio, Burnsville.
“An American Tragedy” by Theodore Dreiser. It changed the way I viewed life and its challenges. -Chris, Hudson, WI
“A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn. -Anton, Minneapolis
Steven Levy's "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer revolution". Excellent non-fiction on early computer history and the origin of the term. -Tess, Minneapolis
The Bible. -David Carlson, Shoreview
"The Fountainhead"... Showed me the power of living true to my ideals. -Ross Meisner
“Desert Solitaire” by Edward Abbey! -Shelly, Detroit Lakes
“Travels with Charlie” by John Steinbeck. -Bob, Northfield
“The Giver” helped me think introspectively as a fourth grader - a very eye-opening social statement. -Aaron Schumacher, Zumbrota
The Bible: it inspires, comforts, guides, gives hope, and instructs us how to care for others. -Dan
“Veil of Roses” by Laura Fitzgerald. Before I read this book I hated reading. I enjoyed the book so much that I read all of the time now. -Amanda
“The Fountainhead” one can not say I love you before saying I. -Cherie Clark, Moorhead
Anything by George Orwell.“1984”, “Animal Farm”, and “Homage to Catalina”. – Kevin, Mankato
“The Big Book From Alcoholics Anonymous”. -Tom
“The Demon Haunted World” by Carl Sagan. Molly, Minneapolis
“The Mists of Avalon” because it showed me that the way I felt spiritually was not something I was alone in. –Lisa, St Louis Park
“Animal Farm” by Orwell showed me that books can be both powerful and magical. It's the book that made me a reader. -Timothy Oleksiak, Minneapolis
“Pippi Longstocking”, in third grade. It got me reading. -Halle O'Falvey
Kingsoliver's “Poisonwood Bible”! I still shutter thinking of the ants attacking the village. -Erin Seldat
Favorite book: “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad. -Liz
“Johnny Got His Gun” by Dalton Trumbo, especially since it came out in the 30's, really gives a stark personal view of what war can do to individual soldiers. So much so that it had been banned during WW2. -Tony
Book that changed my life: “The Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley. -Dyanne Ostlind
“The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd.....hope, love, courage were just some of the themes that stood out for me. –Cece, St. Paul
“Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn. -Travis, Shakopee
“Rifles for Watie” is the book that changed my life, with all due respect to J.D. Salinger. –Jonathan, Minneapolis
I believe the Bible is the book that change my life. This is the book of all books, from how to love God above all things and love your fellow man as yourself. The Bible teaches all things. I do not have the time to quote most chapters and verses. -Robert Watkins, Big Lake
Anonymous comments texted to MPR:
Life changing book – “A Seperate Peace”.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Catcher in the Rye”.
"Eat to Win" by Robert Haas. No, I am not kidding.
“The loneliness of the Long Distance Runner”
“The Westing Game” - I read it dozens of times as a kid.
The book that changed my life is “Trap Lines North”.
“Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn.
"Dove" written by Robin Lee Graham.
As a senior in high school, Elie Wiesel's "Night".
“The BFG” by Roald Dahl.
“The Chosen” by Chaim Potok.
“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe.
My favorite was “To kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Atticus Finch continues to be the hero we in America long for.
Book that changed my life? “Gone with the Wind”. It inspired my love of history and awakened my inner Scarlet, an intelligent assertive woman, .I read it every summer while laying in the sun at the cabin!
“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy.
“Cannery Row” by John Steinbeck.
“The Once and Future King”.
“A Prayer for Owen Meany”.
“Where the Red Fern Grows”.
“The Little Prince” by Antoine Saint Exuperi.
“Tracks” by Louise Erdrich.
The complete works of Shakespeare. Love, betrayal, revenge, humor, forgiveness...it's all there.
The book that changed my life was “White Oleander” by Janet Fitch.
The book “Disposable People” changed my life.
“Travels with Charlie” by John Steinbeck.
“Let us Now Praise Famous Men” by James Agee.
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. Given to me by a college professor, it still fuels my D.I.Y. spirit.
“The Origins of the Mexican American War”. Don't remember the author. Taught me that Presidents lie and that our school texts are full of lies.
“The World According to Garp” and “The Hotel New Hampshire” by John Irving. Both carried me away to another world.
"Dove" written by Robin Lee Graham. The youngest person to sail around the world solo...in a 24 foot boat! A fantastic adventure for a 16-year-old boy in 1967.
“Drinking: A Love Story”, by Caroline Knapp.
“Animal Farm” by Orwell showed me that books can be both powerful and magical. It's the book that made me a reader.
“Moby Dick” taught me what language could do. Call me Ishmael.
“To Kill a Mockingbird”. Taught compassion, empathy, and doing the right thing.
“Damien” by Herman Hesse. It started me to think at a deeper level.
“The Atkins Diet”.
The book that changed my life was “Cry the Beloved Country.” I read it for a history class at St. Scholastic and it swept me away from a cold Dulth winter.
“Atlas Shrugged”! Nothing else comes close to making the moral argument for capitalism.
“The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by dan millman.
“The Chalice and The Blade”. It presented a new way to see Christianity/religion, and opportunities for world change. –Dawn, Lauderdale
“Moment in Peking” by Lin Yutang.
"The Day The Universe Changed" by James Burke. It taught me how to look at the world objectively and to think rationally and analytically.
“The Dhammapada”; sayings of the Buddha. Concise and illuminating!
“The Satanic Verses”. The power of myth and ideas related through a story of unbelievable imagination.
“The loneliness of the long distance runner”...way better than “The Outsiders” or “The Catcher in the Rye”.
In junior high the librarian gave me “Rebecca” by Dauphine Demaurie. The young woman’s perspective, her growing doubt of herself against the "adults" who controlled her new life.
Toni Morrison “The Bluest Eye”. Among many things, to me it was an ugly duckling story about internalized oppression which I related to as an adopted person of color in a "white" world. -Nancy, Minneapolis
“The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins changed my life by helping me realize I don't have to hide my atheism.
As a young reader: “Betsy, Tacy, Tib” series by Maude Hart Lovelace. “High School: An Episode of Sparrows” by Rumer Godden. (Bruce Willis named his daughter after her.) adult: “Kristen Lavransdatter” by Sigrid Undset. An amazing epic story of a woman’s life from girlhood to death. All books are stories of strong females. Entertaining. Inspiring. And just plain great stories.
“Animal Farm”. I thought it was a fantastic book!
“Out On A Limb” by Shirley McLain changed MY life.
No book ever had me as engaged as Atlas Shrugged. I've bought dozens of copies over the years for my friends and relatives.
This thread though, has me rethinking some books other readers have chosen. Stranger in a Strange Land was wonderful. 1984 is thought provoking. The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy is h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s.
My Side Of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George.
Influenced me as a child, and as an adult I would still love to spend a summer in the wild, living in a tree, with a bird pearched on my shoulder!! I have given this book many times as a gift. I always hope that it will inspire the reader to have a love of nature and the outdoors.
Perhaps clique, but "Eat.Pray.Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert was definitely an eye-opener for me.
Also, "The Great Gatsby" and "Snow Falling on Ceders."
Reading Shakespeare's play in chronological order (as they were written) was eye-opening.
But the one book that haunts me is Henri Alain-Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes ... magical.
Young, Restless and Reformed by Collin Hansen. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Curious George by H. A Rey. I read that book out loud when I was three years old and very clearly remember being completely lost in the story and facinated to find out what was wrong with Betsy. I guess that's when I really learned about what a book can do and started an interest in reading.
The Giver by Lois Lowry. Growing up in a rural homogeneous town, 'The Giver' made me consider what makes us different and unique, and a curiosity of the unknown world outside my town.
As a lover of SF and fantasy who often sends comments to Kerri Miller on Midmorning when she touches on books, the books that changed my life are the ones that instilled a lifelong love of those genres:
The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
I, Robot, Isaac Asimov
The Hobbit and the Lord of Rings, JRR Tolkien
"The Man Who Was Magic" by Paul Gallico. I read it as a pre-teen and still is one of my favorites. A great story about how we as individuals and groups react to people that are different and things we do not understand.
I read All Quiet on the Western Front when I was in fifth grade. I certainly didn't comprehend every nuance in the novel, but Erich Remarque's powerful antiwar message stuck in my conscience and led me to oppose every war from Vietnam through Iraq.
"Diet for a Small Planet," by Frances Moore Lappe. I read this book in 1985 and have been a vegetarian every since!
Although I love literature, I have to admit that this book did more to actually affect my life than any other.
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Boylan
When I was in my senior year of college I was going to China for my fall semester on a dare, basically, I knew nothing about the place. I was given a copy of Minneota, Minnesota author Bill Holm's "Coming Home Crazy and Alphabet of Chinese Essays." To start, the book was great preparation for a life changing travel and educational experience in China. But Holm's wit and wisdom reignited my passion for reading which had been dulled by years of required reading for high school and college classes. One time I told him that he had gotten me excited about reading again and he said it was one of the finest compliments an author could get. When Holm died last year I felt as though I had lost someone in my own family, this book was that important.
I know it seems a little silly, but Douglas Adams "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy." It sparked my love of reading, my love of satire and silliness.
Without a doubt, Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" has been a touchstone for me since my childhood. (Her death last year affected me far more than Salinger's ever will.)The book opened my eyes to the beauty and power of the written word. In particular, the I found myself strongly identifying with the main character of Meg McMurray: Too smart & sassy for her own good, but uncomfortable in her own skin & deeply unsure of her innate talents. I still have my original battered, autographed edition of the book & return to it for comfort whenever the world gets to be too much.
For me, there were several. Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the 3rd Reich" and a grasp of the evil that even "normal" people can do but also that many people resisted Hitler. Another was Arthur Koestler's "The Act of Creation" and the variations of creativity from comedy to chemistry. Fascinating.
Any books by the great Haitian writer Dumas but especially The Count of Monte Cristo with its themes of revenge and redemption.
Finally. the poetry of the Psalms and Shakespeare's plays.
I am an avid reader but "The Book of Mormon" changed my life. I now belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and have never been happier. It has given me a positive, hoopeful way of life. I am so thankful for this book and for the many other wonderful books that enlighten all of us.
Replay by Ken Grimwood. It showed me that no matter how much we look back on how we might have changed our past, without those experiences, we wouldn't be who we are now.
I read YELLOW RAFT IN BLUE WATER by Michael Dorris in my late 30's. It is the same story of a family told three times from the differing perspectives of a daughter, mother and grandmother. It illuminates how we all experience and interpret the exact same events in different ways. It gave me insight on how important it is to listen and value the varying experiences of others in order to get along with people on an intimate level but also on a global level.
"Cow" by Beat Sterchi. It was probably my "Catcher In The Rye". I finally found my geekyness could be reconciled with functioning in everyday life. The book is about a cow named Blosch on a farm in the Swiss countryside cared for by a Spanish immigrant hired hand named Ambrosio. Ambrosio is run out of town and ends up working at a slaughterhouse in the city, and of course one day he sees Blosch come through the line.
For me, the book was Watership Down by Richard Adams. I read it the summer between my fifth and sixth year in school and it was the first book to really impress upon me how powerful a story can be. I started reading when I was three but it wasn't until I read this book that I really became hooked on reading.
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny. It showed me what an epic novel could be. :)
Howard Zinn died on Wednesday at the age of 87. For me the light of truth went a little dimmer with his passing. The book that changed my life was Howard Zinn " A People's History of the United States."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. ok so it didn't change my life but it is my favorite book to this day, i've read it countless times, the humor, hunter's way of talking about real issues of his time, which are not just from the 70's but can be looked at currently as well. his take is funny and horifiying.
micah
"The Three Musketeers" by Alexander Dumas. It showed me how wonderful a book of fiction can be. How it can take you to another time and place and just lose yourself to the words and the pictures they create in your mind.
"The Grapes of Wrath" changed my life. Still relevant in society, especially in the current financial environment. Should be required reading for all Americans.
The Poisonwood BIble by Barbara Kingsolver. It was the first time I truly realized the Bible was written by man.
1984. The Grapes of Wrath. Atlas Shrugged.
A book that had a profound impact on me was Doris Lessing's 'The Golden Notebook." As a young college woman in the 1980's I found it both enlightening and confronting in its analysis of the roles of men and women. I found it a challenge to read. I didn't enjoy it and I vowed to never be as miserable as the protagonist that Lessing made me care for yet despise.
For me it was "Roots" by Alex Haley. When the TV series came out, I couldn't watch it because our family didn't have a television. I was 14 at the time, so I got the book, and read it. Then, I understood what slavery in our country had been all about. I will never forget some of the impressions and images that were engraved into my imagination from that book.
'The Ragamuffin Gospel' by Brennan Manning
Against Our Will: Men, Women & Rape.
It really removed the scales from my eyes & drove home the fact that Gender & Sex wasnt all romance, & marriage but rather Power & violence.
Assigned in college some 30 years ago, the book Franny and Zooey, by JD Salinger, was assigned by a professor. It had a tremendous impact on me. Having been brought up as a christian, it had never crossed my mind to question the existence of a superior being. It shook me and I pondered this new idea for a long time.
Herman Hesse's "Beneath the Wheel" a kind of European "Catcher in the Rye." For some reason I read this first and never got around to Catcher in the Rye. Kerouac's works also come in a close second.
Howard Zinn: People's History of the United States.
Why is he death being ignored? Howard Zinn remained active and engaged in current events. I guess he was too progressive for the Corporate Media. The Corporate Elite continues to censor the truth, control the message and will write our history. SAD!
Salinger gets the press even though he did not want it. He only wrote one book.
PLEASE discuss Howard Zinn. He deserves more attention.
Native Son by Richard Wright the teller of truths
"On the Road"...I've been recovering ever since.
When I was a young teen in the 50’s I was very lost and confused. My family had moved around a lot and we had attended many many churches. I had no friends, my family did not get along and God seemed like a lie. The I read Robert Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land” . It altered the course of my life. At once, it made me more open and more skeptical at the same time.
Huckelberry Finn was a turning point in my life! I was 35 years old in a COM 201 college course. My professor brought literature to life in a way I never thought possible. It really moved me into a new-found respect for written language. I've never stopped reading that point on! I'm now teaching college psychology and have never forgotten what he did for me.
I am dismayed that the death of Howard Zinn seems to be going largely unrecognized. His work, "A People's History of the United States", allowed many of us to examine American history in a more genuine and empathetic way.
| January 2010 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | ||||||
Master Archive
Recent Entries
- Where do you stand on requiring Minnesotans to produce a photo ID to vote?
- Now that the caucuses are over, what are your three most important issues?
- What living writer might still be read 200 years from now?
- What do you think of Minnesota's system of party caucuses?
- How do you think the United States and other countries should respond to the situation in Syria?
- What do you think of constitutional amendments as a way to make policy?
- What changes would you like to see in campaign finance laws?
- What role should evaluations play in teacher job security?
- If you were energy czar, how would you change U.S. energy policy?
- Is grandiosity an appealing characteristic in a president?
Public Insight Network
The Public Insight Network draws upon your experiences to help shape our coverage.More
Categories
Services
In The Spotlight
-
Sound Learning
Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web. -
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock
