Books that changed your life

[Pilgrim]

I'm reading "The Karamzov Brothers" (new translation from the OUP) and it is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best book I've ever read. I must agree with Philosophickle that it masterfully works in the concepts and tenets of the Christian faith, as well as a wonderful, impassioned speech by Ivan Fyodorovich about the problems a skeptic can have trying to imagine God existing in a world such as ours, and allowing the suffering and torture to continue. I was moved to tears by this, as well as by another part later on which I won't spoil for anyone who would like to read the book.

Aleksei Fyodorovich is the only devoutly Christian character that I've encountered in fiction who I like - he's my favourite character in the book. I can't recommend this book enough! There's loads more too, love, money, murder, jealousy and fantastic insights into the world of children and young adults. Dostoevsky just gets it.

Great book no doubt. The description of the religious leaders who would imprison Jesus if he arrived today is one of the great bits of writing of all time I think. At least from a theological, philosophical and even sociological point of view.

[The Curtmudgeon]

One phrase that Heinlein said that really sticks with me still is this, ...

"Don't drink to excess. It causes you to shoot at tax collectors -- and miss."

The (one of my favourite RAH lines, anyway ) Curtmudgeon

[Pilgrim]

There are so many good ones like,

"It's just bad manners to shot someone at the dinner table."

[eudyptes]

"TANSTAAFL"....Moon is a Harsh Mistress...I think....

[Pilgrim]

Yes indeed tovarich!

[BigBen]

In general it started with the Bailey School Kids in the 3rd grade, and then Goosebumps. Not a very profound answer, but when I look back on it, that is what gave me such an appreciation for reading, it also gave me a strong imagination and a sense of wonder... cheesy enough for you?
Later in life after I became a Christian:
The Curate of Glaston by George Macdonald... I struggle with a lot of his theology, but the closeness and intimacy he seems to have with God is so powerful, and reading his words honestly feels like I'm reading a long lost language that seems to share so much more about God than other literature I read. He really instilled in my mind that a closeness with God is always possible. I feel like G.M. is the one that jumpstarted me to strive to address my Lord as Abba.
Like many of you, pretty much anything by C.S. Lewis. I admire the fact that C.S. Lewis managed to stay so humble despite being so intelligent, and how like Paul he seemed to count his extraordinary gifts as nothing if not used for the sake of glorifying Jesus.

Ironically the Psalms was the only book in the Bible I never read, then I started recently. Seeing the intimate thoughts of men who worshipped God thousands of years before I was born, and how I seemed to be thinking on the same lines as ancienct Hebrews did wonders for my faith, realizing the unity we all find in Christ as we struggle and bear our respective crosses.

[Pilgrim]

After reading that last post I realize I forgot to mention the Chronicles of Narnia which I have been reading over and over again since elementary school. Those book truly affected my understanding of God and grace as well as duty and commitment.

Especially the exchange between Aslan and Jill Pole Aslan says he had been calling them and Jill, confused says, "But we were calling for you..." Aslan: "Child, you would not have been calling for me had I not already been calling for you."

Powerful stuff.

[The Curtmudgeon]

Ironically the Psalms was the only book in the Bible I never read, then I started recently. Seeing the intimate thoughts of men who worshipped God thousands of years before I was born, and how I seemed to be thinking on the same lines as ancienct Hebrews did wonders for my faith, realizing the unity we all find in Christ as we struggle and bear our respective crosses.

I read consecutively through the Bible, and have just finished the Psalms again this morning. I'm currently reading from my ESV Study Bible, reading the study notes along with the verses. It's helped draw out a lot of things that I hadn't noticed, at least in the same way, from earlier readings. But certainly reading Psalms does wonders for making me think about worship -- what it really is, how we do it, all of that. Especially the final coda of Pss. 146-150 -- talk about ending on a high note!!

The (yes, even the imprecatory psalms teach us a lot about approaching God) Curtmudgeon

[Rushing Jaws]

I'm sure we've probably had a thread like this before. But what are some books, doesn't matter what genre, had a major impact on you and the way you thought about things. It doesn't have to be deep. If Dr. Seuss had a huge impact on you as a child (or even as a grown adult), I'd like to hear about it.

For me, On the Road and Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac had a major impact on me wanting to have adventures and travel the world. It also helped shape my view on Americana...

CS Lewis introduced me to the world of Apologetics in The Great Divorce, which, oddly, isn't much of an Apologetics book strictly speaking, but it was my gateway drug to his other works like the Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity.

Philip Jenkins' book Hidden Gospels: How the Search for Jesus Lost Its Way, though probably not a major book on most people's bookshelves, really influenced my understanding of how Biblical scholars go about disproving popular Christian conspiracy theories (in this case, the Jesus Seminar's non-traditional, and post-modern view of canon history).

I'm sure there will be more that occur to me later, but that's all for now.

## OK...

• Herbert Lockyer's "All The Men of the Bible" & "The Women of the Bible" got me reading Alexander Whyte (1836-1921), which got me reading the Puritans & Calvin
• James Barr's "Fundamentalism" helped me to get used to historical-critical methods of understanding the Bible
• Reading "The Two Babylons" is one thing that got me interested in the Ancient Near East & in Classical religion.

That's it for now

[TCapp]

.....as a kid...
Mr Popper's Penguins....the impact is somewhat obvious I think :penggrin:

Disappointment With God: Philip Yancey ...I grew up in a fundamentalist church...this book was one of the first Christian books I'd ever read that dared to "ask questions" and wonder about things....

I've read that Yancy book. I only borrowed it so I do not own it, sadly. But I agree, it was one of a small handful of books that I've read that kinda gives you "permission" to be anything other than on a perpetual Christian Cloud 9.

Another book I have that's good is something about Christian women who have depression. I can't remember the exact title. But it was helpful to know that suffering depression wasn't shameful and something you have to keep under a tight lid. Acknowledging it and seeking help for it has brought me to a place where it doesn't effect me so bad.

[rogue06]

Well, The Thomas Covenant series got me interested in reading, so that is one. On Civil Disobedience was the first term paper I wrote on, so that made an impact on me too. Obviously, the Bible. And the Chronicles of Narnia.

A fellow reader of Thomas the Unbeliever series

Taking this in a different direction, some of the books I've read had a profound effect though not necessarily positive. At the age of 11 I read Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil," one right after the other. Now you know at least one reason I'm so messed up.

[Bill the Cat]

A fellow reader of Thomas the Unbeliever series

Yeah. You know there is a new trilogy (actually a quadrilogy) that Donaldson is writing. 2 books are already out and 2 are in the future. I'm buying them as soon as I get the extra cash.

[Littlejoe]

I have loved to read since about the 5th or 6th grade....so there are so many. I guess the first influential books were the "Encyclopedia Brown" short stories that gave me a taste for analytical thinking.

Then there was the "Doc Savage" series, analytical thinking, importance of team work, and first tast of sci-fi.

Then in my late teens, I began reading books by John D. McDonald that my dad had. Particularly the "Travis McGee" series. John D.'s books are pretty secular, but it taught me "real life" was not all sugar and spice, that there were some really ugly folks out there. He had a real insight into base human nature that really opened my eyes.

After giving my heart to Christ, as Pilgrim said, the Bible became alive to me and I couldn't get enough of it.

Then I read "The Screwtape Leters" and my thirst for C.S. Lewis was born. What an influence he had on my spiritual life. "Out of the Silent Planet" Sci-fi series, "The Great Divorce", and of course the Narnia Series.

After I got married and had a family, the book "Point Man" by Steve Farrar, hit me so hard I literally broke down and wept when I realized how badly I was missing the boat in the "leading my family" dept., both spiritual and physically.

There are others of course, but these stick out at first blush

LJ

[The Curtmudgeon]

Yeah. You know there is a new trilogy (actually a quadrilogy) that Donaldson is writing. 2 books are already out and 2 are in the future. I'm buying them as soon as I get the extra cash.

I've gotten so tired of reading ... a ... slowly ... written ... or ... at ... least ... published ... series ... of ... books, that I'm waiting on the last book's publication before I buy any of the Last (so-called) Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. That said, I'm looking forward to reading them.

The (but I'm sure by that time I'll have to first re-read the First & Second Chronicles) Curtmudgeon

[Bill the Cat]

I've gotten so tired of reading ... a ... slowly ... written ... or ... at ... least ... published ... series ... of ... books, that I'm waiting on the last book's publication before I buy any of the Last (so-called) Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. That said, I'm looking forward to reading them.

The (but I'm sure by that time I'll have to first re-read the First & Second Chronicles) Curtmudgeon

I'm the same way. I'll have to purchase the first two series again, as I read them when I was in 10th grade some 25 years ago...