My friend Jennifer blogged recently about the 5 most influential books in her life. And over the last month 5 people have asked me for book recommendations. Plus in the last month during our packing and moving I spent a little time with each of my favorite titles as I tucked them each into storage boxes. So I think the blogging gods are asking me to think about books and what they mean to me! Here is a list of the books that have shaped, changed or made a huge difference in my life.
1. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
"I'll never live for the sake of another man; nor let another man live for the sake of mine"
2. Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder
Philosophy woven with fiction -- the perfect way to learn
3. The Bridge Across Forever: A Lovestory by Richard Bach
Modern fairy tale and a great love story
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
My first glimpse of injustice
5. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Understanding true ambition
6. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Great introduction to the beat generation
7. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A great, simple look at life and what really matters
8. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Horror, love, magic, great fiction
9. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Feminism 101
10. Rise to Globalism by Stephen Ambrose
American Foreign Policy 101
11. Race Matters by Cornel West
My introduction to race in the USA
12. A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn
The real history class
13. Make Gentle the Life of This World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy
RFK's son has put together a collection of thoughts, quotes, and inspirational material on various topics from life to race relations
14. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
A fantastic journey and so authentic
15. The Joy Diet: 10 daily practices for a happier life by Martha Beck
The best diet ever - useful and challenging exercises for bring more joy into your life
16. Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen
My mantra
17. The Impossible will take a Little While by Paul Rogat Loeb
Inspirational reading in a time of doubt
18. 100 Ways to Motivate Others by Steve Chandler
And motivation for yourself to want to try and be better
19. Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
A great fictional futuristic tale
20. Captains & Kings by Taylor Caldwell
Wow - an epic of JFK porportions....
20. Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton
Inspiration, history, and fiction
21. Five Quarters of the Orange, by Joanne Harris
One of my favorite authors in one of my favorite places
22. Time Traveler's Wife
Simply amazing and thought provoking
23. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Beautiful relationships between women in an interesting and challenging time
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