One book that changed you forever

[rini17]

For me it were (and still are, new books are still coming once a time) Ringing Cedars .
Most books have a perspective from inside our technical civilization, but these ones are written from perspective of nature and of ancient roots of Humanity.

[maverickstruth]

I guess if I had to go back and say which book "got me thinking" in broader terms first, it would have to be Walsch's "Conversations with God".

Another that got me to challenge the religious traditions that I grew up with was one by Elaine Pagels, "The Gnostic Gospels." I was also really impacted by Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus."

And finally, for something a bit different, I found the trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman -- "His Dark Materials" -- to be really beneficial in terms of helping me ask questions that might otherwise not have occured to me.

[beroy]

In my 60's, The Places That Scare You by Perma Chodron
In my 50's, Still Here by Ram Dass

[gypsyrose]

Viktor Frankl's
Man's Search for Meaning....

This book taught me the meaning of true freedom. While Frankl was being tortured in a concentration camp during WW2, he realized that the one thing that could not be taken from him was his freedom to choose his response to life. Quote:

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

This is the most positive and life affirming book I've ever read.

[and]

The granddaddy of them all... Think and Grow Rich

[icesar]

What a great thread!! *takes out paper and pencil*

There are a few books which I can clearly remember having a distinct impact on my life. The first was The Fifth Mountain by Paolo Coelho. Then, after college, Rich Dad Poor Dad really hit home. And most recently, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.

[dor]

What's funny as i have gotten older is some books i thought were 'life changing' i now think 'eh' - case in point everything by Ayn Rand

sometimes it doesn't have to be directly self-help PG Wodehouse's humor particularly the Psmith books, just made me laugh laugh and laugh.- and enjoy life more...

[laur_454]

The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle was the first spiritual book that I've ever read. It helped me at a time when I was angry, jealous, addictive, and completely unconscious. I don't know where I'd be without that book if my dad hadn't given it to me a few years back. Also, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill was the first book that ever taught me about the Law of Attraction. Quantum Leap Thinking by James Mapes also helped me learn about the powers of visualizing.

[Liara Covert]

One of the great things about this particular posting is that we all have opportunities to discover some great new books and expand on our own lists. Many of the books mentioned thus far in this posting are ones which have touched my life in some way. I think its a challenge to choose a favorite piece of reading material simply because I learn differently at different times.

May we continually expand our horizons and inspire others to do the same.

[esn]

I am learning to paint - watercolors.
Surprisingly, I find myself learning about perception ( and how to hold a paintbrush).

Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards.

“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is - infinite” William Blake

Best Wishes,
Eric

[Adam]

Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein

It is impossible to explain; it can only be grokked. Though the words are in English, is isn't written in a way that can be easily translated into the standard set of American cultural terms... It creates its own culture.

It is also a different story before and after understanding the subjectivity of our consciousness. I read it a few years ago, and just finished reading it again today, and it has helped to open my eyes to my environment each time in vastly different ways. The first time that I read it, it helped me to realize that everybody was a separate individual, just as I am... Not everybody is perfect, and we each have power and responsibility, but we refuse to accept either. Finishing it now, I realize that while we are all also the same with our different perspectives. One thing that stuck out at me was the questions and debates that I've seen on this board and in my recent personal spiritual journeys is also reflected, almost like a mirror, in the book.

The book reminded me that that, no matter what the nature of the whole of reality is, our perspectives are always subjective. We live in a subjective reality, and are all creators within it. Creation and observation are the same thing; as subjective beings, we are incapable of doing otherwise.

To grok is to become something; to experience its love, its fear, its hate, its joy, its pleasure. To grok is to know, to drink, to eat, to be consumed, to have and to be had. To grok is mutual; the thing being grokked becomes the one who groks as much as the one who groks becomes the thing.

I await Steve's opinion of this book. Waiting fills, though.

[dadeon]

Too many, but two that I can think of now..

Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins and

Pulling Your Own Strings by Wayne Dyer

[Kendoran]

Psycho Cybernetics was life changing for me. I'd read the equivalent of a third of the contents through free articles written by various authors prior to purchasing the book, so I can't give full credit to the book.

Another one which goes hand in hand with Psycho Cybernetics is The way of the superior man - the bulk of both books contain essentially the same philosophies, but in different forms, from different perspectives.

[marky]

wow, these are some awesome titles. i recognize many of them, and others i now want to read.

for me...here are a couple that ive read that have ive enjoyed (in no particular order of imporantance):

think and grow rich
the celestine prophecy
this thing called you
the hands of light
what jesus taught in secret
ask and it is given
embraced by the light
the isaiah effect

[Steve Pavlina]

The Prophet by Kalhil Gibran

You can read it in one sitting, but it will take a lifetime to digest.

Here's one of my favorite passages from the book:

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

[munish]

Time Power-by brian tracy.

[problemsolver]

your money or your life by joe dominquez and vicki robin

[marky]

as a man thinketh, by james allen.

[Seibiant]

Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy made me realize that you really can change who you are! This was such a revelation to me and it really fuelled my growth. I still regularly re-read parts of it - it's awesome!

[cordis]

Well I have got a fair list that would fit this category, (see post ) However if I had to pick just one, I think it would be "Illusions" by Richard Bach.

Mind you I was considerably younger then but have re-read it many times.

[dor]

Originally Posted by Kendoran

Psycho Cybernetics was life changing for me. I'd read the equivalent of a third of the contents through free articles written by various authors prior to purchasing the book, so I can't give full credit to the book..

I agree about this book - about changing my thinking - i only wish i had applied it when i read it but of all the 'classics' of self help I would say this one planted the seed that helped me sprout later on.

Also Ben Franklin's autobiography - some say the first self help book ever written - combined with his Poor Richard's almanak quotes - little strokes fell great oaks, god gives all things to industry, plough deep while sluggards sleep, by dilenge and paitence the mouse ate in two the cable, a stich in time saves nine, and one I wish our pc society would remember Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but names may never harm me

[savethebook]

Originally Posted by Chrome

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

Me too! I read this book at a critical point in my life, when I was desperately trying to prove myself in the working world, and it really helped me out.

[ricky]

I started my quest of personal development by reading up about Arnold Schwarzenegger. Then I read a lot of books about self-hypnosis. Then Anthony Robbins, then Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. It was that book that actually changed me.
The book, or the audio book that actually showed me that we needed to take action as well was Claude Bristol's "The Magic of Believing". That was awesome! It was after listening to that audio book that I started experimenting with visualization and that's where most of my success in life came from. :-)

[ElizaJ]

I recommend the book 'Affirmations' by Stuart Wilde. It is very empowering; probably Stuart's best book.

[Damian]

Has to be 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' by Robert M. Pirsig for me.

It taught me that it was OK to be a Questioner rather than a Conformist. Excellent read and thoroughly reccomended.

Take care, keep smiling, be the change.