What is the most influential literature (non military even) you have read

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Sat Oct 26, 2002 7:00 am

Hey it's the General forum right, and we are all buds correct, so I am curious, what all my buds have read in their life times, that has had a major influence on them personally.

This is open to anything that qualifies as the printed word (but lets keep it on a neutral level and leave out touchy subjects that will only get the thread dumped in Art of Wargaming).

Me I have to say these books have drastically influenced me as a reader.

Carl Sagan's book Demon Haunted World (but I will freely admit, this book will pisss off just about anyone).

Plus Carl's book Billions and Billions (which also may have things to say, that will generally make you upset). But then we often shoot the messenger.

Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule (which for those that have not read it is, "People are stupid").

Arthur C Clarke's book The Light of Other Days, which I think will shock people into thinking things they might never have thought.

The Coming Global Superstorm (can't recall the author at this moment, but it's a fairly recent book). You can say what you want people, but Stephen King doesn't own the most frightening literature, this book has me scared, problem is, its not some dumb fairy tale.

What have you guys read that deserves comment?

U2 · Post by U2 » Sat Oct 26, 2002 1:15 pm

Hi

Virginia Wolf's A Room of One's Own

Dan

abradley · Post by **abradley** » Sat Oct 26, 2002 3:10 pm

The first author that came to mind was,

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/people/A0842083.html

Roberts, Kenneth Lewis

Roberts, Kenneth Lewis, 1885–1957, American author, b. Kennebunk, Maine, grad. Cornell, 1908. Well known as staff correspondent for the Saturday Evening Post and as an author of travel books, Roberts retired in 1928 to write the Chronicles of Arundel, a series of American historical novels; the series eventually included Arundel (1930), The Lively Lady (1931), Rabble in Arms (1933), and Captain Caution (1934). All Roberts's novels are colorful, exciting, and historically accurate. His later novels include Northwest Passage (1937), Oliver Wiswell (1940), Lydia Bailey (1946), and Boon Island (1956).

See the autobiographical I Wanted to Write (1949).

Andy <<< If your into early American History these are the ones, one is even pro-British Revolutionary War (Oliver Wiswell). DAR who had loved him before banned him after it was published

At least 3 have been made into movies.

Read them all at least once and a couple 3 times, except the 'Cowpen' book, it's available at the Battleground only and was written specifically for it.

Mojo · Post by **Mojo** » Sat Nov 16, 2002 9:25 pm

Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut. Literally changed my life:D

VictorH · Post by **VictorH** » Sun Nov 17, 2002 3:59 am

George Orwell's 1984

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

Fallschirmjager · Post by **Fallschirmjager** » Sun Nov 17, 2002 4:58 am

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

Brilliant writing.

KG Erwin · Post by **KG Erwin** » Sun Nov 17, 2002 5:49 am

...and since I'm a pro football fan, Dan Jenkins' "Semi-Tough" is a classic. The movie didn't do it justice. I've read many military books cover to cover, but Dave Hackworth's "About Face " and Guy Sajer's "The Forgotten Soldier" stick out in my mind. For straight narrative history, Bruce Catton's 3-volume Civil War series, as well as Douglas Southall Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants", I've read cover to cover. The controversial "Hitler's War", by David Irving, I've read cover to cover. I'm also a fan of Kurt Vonnegut and Hunter S. Thompson, and in the SF realm, Michael Moorcock's "Dancers at the End of Time" series. Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, etc. . All of the reading I've done in my whole life has influenced me in one way or another, so , I can't pick any one or two books that have shaped me--they ALL have shaped my opinions & thought patterns.

scimitar · Post by **scimitar** » Sun Nov 17, 2002 1:43 pm

Originally posted by VictorH
George Orwell's 1984

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

1984 for me too... And olso other books, like the fantastic serie of Asimov: "Foundation"; Carl SAgan's "Cosmos" and a superb one, in French: "Le livre du Voyage" from Bernard Werber. It's not a book, it's a dream!

VictorH · Post by **VictorH** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 6:44 am

Originally posted by scimitar

1984 for me too... And olso other books, like the fantastic serie of Asimov: "Foundation"; Carl SAgan's "Cosmos" and a superb one, in French: "Le livre du Voyage" from Bernard Werber. It's not a book, it's a dream!

Yes, Carl Sagan is excellent, he has another book that I really liked - The Dragons of Eden.

How does an American ever get ahold of "French Books", such as the one you mention? That is the second one I have had recommended that isn't available in English.

troopie · Post by **troopie** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:33 am

'Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R.Tolkien

'Treatise on the Gods' by H.L.Mencken

'Barrack Room Ballads' by Rudyard Kipling.

a mixed stew indeed!

troopie

Marek Tucan · Post by **Marek Tucan** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 12:37 pm

It is hard to tell...
Well, I`m sure about these:
L.O.T.R. (Tolkien)
The Cruel Sea (Monsarrat)
also 1984...
And more... I cannot remember them all:)

David Heath · Post by **David Heath** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 8:54 pm

The Bible

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 8:59 pm

The current scariest book I have read is The Coming Global Superstorm.

Sure wish the whole book was fiction.

Mike Wood · Post by **Mike Wood** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:05 pm

Hello...

So many books, so little time. The ones I read that changed my life in some way, which come to mind, include:

The Voyage of the Beagle, Darwin
The Origin of the Species, Darwin
The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Fromm
The Time Machine, Wells
The Evolution of Physics, Einstein
Relativity, Einstein
On the Beach, Shute
Commentary on the Gallic Wars, Julius Augustus
Introduction to Psycho-Analysis Volumes I-III, Freud
Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck
Sidhartha, Hess
The Republic, Plato

Got to go back to work...

Michael Wood

Ross Moorhouse · Post by **Ross Moorhouse** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 4:57 am

The very first book my mother read to me which would of been a Golden Book. She still has them all too.

This gave me an interest in reading that will never go away. Thankfuly my daughters have also inherited this too. My oldest now days prefers to read than watch t.v. this floored me when I saw her doing this.

By the age of 12 I had read "The Dam Busters" 10 times. By the age of 13 I was reading James A Michanner {Spelling}

By the age of 26 it was the Bible and lots of Sci-Fi.

Now days it still the Bible and heaps of WWI related stuff on aviation.

Charles2222 · Post by **Charles2222** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 6:29 pm

Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence and Heliotropium.

sbond · Post by **sbond** » Sat Nov 23, 2002 4:35 am

Jack London.

Culiacan Mexico · Post by **Culiacan Mexico** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 11:13 am

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon

Muzrub · Post by **Muzrub** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 12:01 pm

Future Shock...

Alvin Toffler.

Its an interesting read for something written 30 years ago it hits the nail on the head 9 out of 10 times about todays society and our future society.

Oh and orwells "Animal Farm" who can go past that.
Read that when I was kid....

My fav book about the War would be the "The last battle" Cornelious Ryan. I had an Hard copy, very early edition or first- but when I moved to Queensland I lost it... Hopefully who ever found it read it.

sven · Post by **sven** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 5:52 pm

Originally posted by Culiacan Mexico
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon

Moral Sayings and Courage of William Jefferson Blythe Clinton by Bill Clinton

It is a short book...one page I think.

What is the most influential literature (non military even) you have read

What is the most influential literature (non military even) you have read

Books

Many many influences...

Re: Books

Re: Re: Books