| life altering books
Posted: 11/25/2006 8:05:15 PM | smplychrls: Thanks, my library is always growing, lol. And you are correct, I have a lot of psychological and nursing related books due to my schooling.
I LOVE Andrew Weil, I have his 8 weeks to optimum health. I have never read The Tibetan Book of the Dead, I will look into that.
A few more:
Paradox and Healing- Greenwood and Nunn (I have cited this book sooo many times!)
The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire- Deepak Chopra
The Sacred Canopy- Peter Berger (goes into the sociology of religion) | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 11/26/2006 7:02:18 AM | Wonderful post OP!!
On Thanksgiving I curled up into a wonderful book titled:
Life's Greatest Lessons (subtitled - 20 Things That Matter) by Hal Urban
It's an easy read and I can't encourage others enough to read it. It would make a great gift to anyone as well. Definitely life altering. Every child should be encouraged to read to help build their character. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 11/27/2006 6:04:57 PM | | Reading CHE GUEVERA by jon lee anderson a few yrs back got me on my way | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 11/27/2006 6:20:33 PM | Books are definitely a passion of mine. From trashy romances to biographies to quantum physics.
Oephys and Sassyaquarius - you covered many of the books I've been moved by and have on my shelves. Others are
Loving What Is - Byron Katie
The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet
Seeking the Heart of Wisdom - Jack Kornfield
The Hunger For Ecstasy - Jalaja Bonheim
The Invitation - Oriah Mountain Dreamer
If The Buddha Dated - Charlotte Kasl
Green Grass Running Water - Thomas King (actually anything by him is brilliant)
Pablo Naruda
In addition to the movies mentioned...there is a beautiful film called Dreamweaver
Great thread...looking forward to checking out some of the other suggestions. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/1/2006 3:53:34 PM | Many, many books, but the very best is (are):
"Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita" by Swami Rama
Swami Rama's commentaries are invaluable for understanding the message of the gita, but the translation of the gita is a bit archaic, so also get something with a more contemporary translation like:
"Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation" by Stephen Mitchell, to read along with the commentaries. If you do this-you will be transformed into your self-no kidding! | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/6/2006 8:45:22 PM | Creative Visualization and also The Secret - Life changing no question about it!!! | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/6/2006 9:07:32 PM | Tom Sawyer
Call of the North
White Fang
and many many others, most of which became part of my life experience. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/6/2006 9:08:53 PM |
Life of Pi
Could not put it down
J.
yep, awesome read! | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/6/2006 9:17:45 PM | I think Carnagies book is a good one also.
But my all time fave, which is fiction, is called The Power of One by Bryce Courtney. It's an amazing story that just goes to show we are always learning the power.
I got it for my 19th birthday and fell in love with it. Infact, I just bought a copy tonight for an XMas gift for a friend.
Trust me... read it! | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/6/2006 9:24:03 PM | I was about 10 years old when an uncle of mine left behind a simple little book by the title, "The Joys of Living" (or something like effect) by Orison Swett Marden.
My uncle, or someone else, had underlined a phrase or two on most pages of this well used book. My curiosity got the better of me and I started reading these phrases. Most were examples of deeds successful people had to do...to succeed and some were things like, "Money does not make happiness". This book was the seed that gave me of a positive outlook on life.
Since then, I read many books to that effect. To many to list. I still have a few in my possession. At times I still reach to them for inspiration.
Doc Sage  | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/6/2006 9:27:31 PM | | One that has a positive outlook on life and a tone that is understandable at any level would be Shel Silverstein "The Giving Tree" I think my two year old said it plainly enough.. Nice tree. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/7/2006 12:59:15 AM | My all-time fav, which I have probably read well over 100 times, is "Breakfast
of Champions" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. It is brilliant, insightful & hilarious.
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/7/2006 8:14:57 AM | hegemony or survival by noam chomsky. i'll never be the same.
i always tell others not to read it...it's too life altering. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/9/2006 2:41:46 PM | Alive
Taking a look at some of the profiles on this site, I had no idea there were so many Bukowski fans. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/9/2006 5:01:54 PM | kalonji:
Noam Chomsky's books are fabulous. A friend recommended that I read "Manufacturing Consent," back in the 90's. Wow! Probably one of the main reasons why I don't own a TV today.
I think I might have to check that one out. Thanks.
S. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/10/2006 8:30:25 AM | Hello Fellow fish of the west. I would have to say the most enlightening book i have ever read is by John Gottman. Why Marriages Succeed or Fail.
The only prob i have with the title is it should actually say Why Relationships Succeed or Fail.
The insight given in that book is IMHO invalualable to not only those in a relastionship, but work, family, and friends.
from the book reviews this is the gist of the book.
Gottman is a leading researcher in couples therapy. His book, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, is based on thorough research. He busts some of the myths of marriage and divorce to provide, in plain English, what works and doesn't work in marriage. Based on his 25 years of research and observations of the "masters" and "disasters" of marriage, he can determine with over 85% accuracy which couples will stay married and which will divorce. He offers quizzes to help you see where you and your marriage stand, and provides explanations for why couples get stumped by some problems. His model includes communication skills, physiology, and relationship-building activities with basic instructions for what not to do, and more importantly, what to do, to have a happy marriage.
For example, Gottman offers that there are four things you should not do; these four things are so bad, Gottman calls them the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:
Criticism ("What kind of person are you?")
It's not that it is wrong to complain about things you aren't happy about, but when you criticize, the other person hears the insult, not your point. If you complain, complain without criticizing. Women may be more likely to do this.
Defensiveness ("Well what about what you did?")
This only continues the argument; a better response is to take responsibility for something and admit what you could have done in the past or what you could do in the future better.
Contempt
("I may not be perfect, but I would never do something so horrible as what you did")
This kind of insult is especially hurtful, as it leaves a long-term resentment that comes back in other arguments and makes them worse too.
Stonewalling (shutting down and not responding to your partner)
Gottman notes this is associated with high physiological arousal (e.g., increased adrenalin, faster breathing, increased heart beat) and efforts to self-sooth with thoughts like "I can't believe she's saying this!"). Men are more likely to do this. Instead, stay calm, and if you find yourself breathing faster, take a 20-30 minute time out to give your body time to relax. Otherwise, nothing discussed will come to any conclusion, as the argument is so unpleasant to the Stonewaller that he (or she) will say or do anything to end the argument.
Stonewalling women know this one well. the prime example of this, he looks like he's listening, but sitting there picking lint off his shirt..
I was a stonewaller
NOW how many can relate to what Gottman is saying here, not only in our respective relationships, but extened as well.
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 12:32:47 AM | A Thousand Plateaus by D & G (those initials seem to be acceptable and common, but the truth is I can't spell)
I read too much for work, I fear. D & G make me aware - hacceity. Gawd, I'm a geek. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 1:13:50 AM | Stephen R. Covey - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Barbara Marciniak - Family of Light
John Lawrence Reynolds - Shadow People
Stuart Wilde - The Quickening
Nicholas Negroponte - being digital
Russ Kick - Book of Lists
Lobsang Rampa - The Third Eye
Bruce Sterling - Tomorrow Now
Dan Brown - Deception Point
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi - The Crazy Ape
Simon Singh - Big Bang
Carl Sagan - Broca's Brain
Robin Skynner/John Cleese - Life, and how to survive it.
William Reed - Ki, A practical Guide for Westerners
What the Bleep? - excellent watch, definitely a recommendation | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 2:01:36 AM | playboy.
penthouse.
hustler.
in that order.
Here I thought we were alike. Same, but Hustler, Penthouse, and Playboy and Swank share the 3rd position. Sometimes Swank and the others go toe to toe too I guess. Been awhile since I "read" any of them though. Thank you internet.
If I had no**** instead of the tiny midget one I currently do, I'd say.
In no order.
Anything by Neale Donald Walsh
Most by Wayne Dyer
Most by Deepak Chopra
Most by Jane Roberts-Seth
All by Abraham-Hicks
Bridging Science and Spirit
Hidden Domain
Mind's Sky
See Spot Run.
That's all for now. MUCH more. All non fiction though. At least, supposedly non fiction.
Oh, and read anything by a fundamentalist Christian, or stereotypical politician, but conclude the opposite. | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 2:27:09 AM | Hahhaa yeah I like "He's just not that into you".
The "How to win friends and influence people" book was too boring for me. I didn't gain any new friends after reading it at all, hahaa.
Why hasn't anyone recommended "Ishmael"? It's a great book! :) So is the "Tin tin" series (I'm dead serious!). Tin Tin got me hooked on travelling!
Cheers! :) | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 7:38:17 AM | A History of Conquest & Oppression in the Western World: by John Mohawk
The Power of Myth: Bill Moyers/Joesph Campbell
The Prophet: Kahlil Gibran | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 12:44:07 PM | Until Today, In the Meantime & One Day My Soul Just Opened Up ~ Iyanla Vanzant
The Road Less Traveled ~ M. Scott Peck
The Four Agreements ~ Miguel Ruiz
The Diary of Anne Frank
Anything by William Diehl or Stephen King has profoundly affected me as well, one has a very firm grip on the human condition and uses actual events and conditions of human nature to draw you in and keep you guessing, and the other has a profound understanding of the spiritual condition and the human psyche of our times.
Movies that have had a life altering affect on me:
Flatliners
Schindler's List
The Stand
With Honors | |
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| life altering books, that gave lasting lesson
Posted: 12/30/2006 1:20:19 PM | In reverse order:
'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy' by David D. Burns, MD (a couple of months ago, turned around my anxiety / depression issues )
'Watership Down', by Richard Adams (couple of decades ago, awakened my interest in 'community')
'Winning Through Intimidation', by Roger Ringer (my mid-twenties, gave me the self-confidence to switch from extreme introversion as a chemist to a career as a moderately outgoing salesperson)
'The Manchurian Candidate', by Richard Condon (around age twenty, gave me an insight into where I was heading, and I didn't like what I saw, so changed myself) | |
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| life altering books
Posted: 12/30/2006 4:55:11 PM |
The Diary of Anne Frank
Check out Man's Search For Meaning, by Viktor Frankl.
Movies that have had a life altering affect on me:
Schindler's List
Check out Escape From Sobibor, and, if you don't mind reading subtitles, Kanal. | |
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