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

[Culiacan Mexico]

Originally posted by sven
Moral Sayings and Courage of William Jefferson Blythe Clinton by Bill Clinton

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

[sven]

Originally posted by Culiacan Mexico

sadder still is that that page is blank...

[Waylander]

I dont think any book has changed my life, although I am a voracious reader of many topics, however books I can recommend and I have read again and again are:

military - non fiction:
Not ordinary men - colvin (the battle of Kohima)
Tank Tracks - beale (churchills at war)
Alexander - dodge

Military fiction:
anything by Douglas Reeman/Alexander Kent
Brotherhood of war series - Griffin


other:

the forever war - haldemann
any of David Gemmel's books
Likewise Heinlein, Robert Jordan, Douglas Adams.
Churchill's history of The English speaking people

Sorry David but apart from the song of Soloman the Bible (and the Koran) both bored me although I pesevered with them both.
Literature can be a great uplifting thing, unfortunately it can also drag you down into depression.

regards
Waylander

[scimitar]

Originally posted by Waylander
the forever war - haldemann

I completely agree. Have not cited that splendid story because it's a "military" SF, But I remember that when I finished the book for the first time, I was completely deconnected with the reality...

Did you know that Mr Marvano made three "comic" books (sorry, it's best said in French: "bandes dessinées") based on the forever war? Marvano surprised me because it was like that that I imagined the characters...

[sven]

Originally posted by David Heath
The Bible

beer...

[Hades]

Lord of the Ring-Tolkien
Animal Farm-Orwel
Around the World in 80 Days, and anything else by Jules Verne

Lewis Caroll(sp)
others

[borstalboy]

Orwell's Burmese Days was the first book to really hit me emotionally, altho I don't think he was particularly proud of it.

Behan's Borstalboy, as it showed the humour and intellect of an artist in a tough situation, and how "political" actions can be attributed to an excess of alcohol and the emotions of the crowd.

Orwell's 1984, Malraux - Mans Fate, and Koestler - Darkness at Noon, Zamiatin - We, and Huxley BNWorld, as they all gave vivid glimpses of totalitarian systems or other equally nightmarish alternative societies.

Thoreau's Walden Pond, as it gave me a respect for the earth and contempt for arbitrary authority.

Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying, as it provided a glimpse into how how fragile youth's idealistic dreams are.

War novels

Mailer's Naked and the Dead, Jones From here to Eternity, Sajer - Forgotten Soldier, all good stories about how insane life in the military can be.