Books that changed your life
#1
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Books that changed your life
Please add yours, heres mine:
Asphalt nation
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052...lance&n=283155
Geography of Nowhere
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067...lance&n=283155
Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/096...e=UTF8&s=books
Miles from Nowhere
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089...lance&n=283155
Asphalt nation
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052...lance&n=283155
Geography of Nowhere
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067...lance&n=283155
Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/096...e=UTF8&s=books
Miles from Nowhere
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089...lance&n=283155
#2
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"Down and out in Paris and London" by George Orwell.
There are about five hundred more.
The extant body of classic russian literature including the industrialists (ex. Gladkov's "cement")and most banned stalinist era writings, esp. Bulgakov.
Rabelais' "Gargantua and Pantagruel"
Rene Daumal's "A Night of Serious Drinking"
James Fenimore Cooper's complete leatherstocking tales.
um, throw in a few eastern references. the tao, the little red book
oh, oh and a copy of "The Last Whole Earth Catalog" Definetly a copy of the catalog.
Exposed me to so many other ideas via reviews and ordering information for (mostly) non fiction books back in the seventies. introduced me to Buckminster Fuller, ancient crafts, workplace ideas, a whole earth full of stuff. Oh, and does anyone remember the story of 'divine right's trip' in the sidebars of the last whole earth catalog- that was wild, wacky stuff.
There are about five hundred more.
The extant body of classic russian literature including the industrialists (ex. Gladkov's "cement")and most banned stalinist era writings, esp. Bulgakov.
Rabelais' "Gargantua and Pantagruel"
Rene Daumal's "A Night of Serious Drinking"
James Fenimore Cooper's complete leatherstocking tales.
um, throw in a few eastern references. the tao, the little red book
oh, oh and a copy of "The Last Whole Earth Catalog" Definetly a copy of the catalog.
Exposed me to so many other ideas via reviews and ordering information for (mostly) non fiction books back in the seventies. introduced me to Buckminster Fuller, ancient crafts, workplace ideas, a whole earth full of stuff. Oh, and does anyone remember the story of 'divine right's trip' in the sidebars of the last whole earth catalog- that was wild, wacky stuff.
Last edited by Bekologist; 07-14-06 at 08:11 AM.
#3
Senior Member
Carless' Asphalt Nation and Home from Nowhere.
Non cyling books.
Immortal Poems of the English Language.
the works of Howard Zinn & Michael Parrenti.
Adlai Stevenson,Patrician among Politicians.
Non cyling books.
Immortal Poems of the English Language.
the works of Howard Zinn & Michael Parrenti.
Adlai Stevenson,Patrician among Politicians.
#4
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Desert Solitaire.
Edit to add: Plutarch's Lives
Edit to add: Plutarch's Lives
Last edited by Platy; 07-14-06 at 04:01 AM.
#5
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"The Air Conditioned Nightmare" by Henry Miller
"Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (the statement that people were all fellow travellers to the grave, and not some other species on a different errand);
"This Simian World" by Clarence Day
"Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (the statement that people were all fellow travellers to the grave, and not some other species on a different errand);
"This Simian World" by Clarence Day
#6
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Lies My Teacher Told Me - James Loewen. This masterpiece basically changed my whole worldview, from current affairs to religion.
#8
I'm made of earth!
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Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn
www.ishmael.com
www.ishmael.com
#9
Prefers Cicero
The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Jane Jacobs
The March of Folly and several other works by Barbara Tuchman
(those two have some similarities...they were both somewhat self-taught outsiders who challenged the conventional wisdom of professional historians or urban planners.)
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn. The book that brought us "paradigms".
A bunch of massive historical works...Livy's Roman history, Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Macauley's English history...took me years to read them in small snatches late at night, but it really helps you reflect on present day events and see the same bull**** at work through the ages
Harry Potter series. They are so good.
The March of Folly and several other works by Barbara Tuchman
(those two have some similarities...they were both somewhat self-taught outsiders who challenged the conventional wisdom of professional historians or urban planners.)
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn. The book that brought us "paradigms".
A bunch of massive historical works...Livy's Roman history, Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Macauley's English history...took me years to read them in small snatches late at night, but it really helps you reflect on present day events and see the same bull**** at work through the ages
Harry Potter series. They are so good.
Last edited by cooker; 07-14-06 at 02:58 PM.
#10
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The Tao of Physics
Small is Beautiful
The Man who Planted Trees
Mid Course Correction
Natural Capitalism
many more...
Edit: more:
A Handmade Life
Siddartha
Anything by Gary Snyder
Small is Beautiful
The Man who Planted Trees
Mid Course Correction
Natural Capitalism
many more...
Edit: more:
A Handmade Life
Siddartha
Anything by Gary Snyder
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
Last edited by bmike; 07-14-06 at 08:55 AM.
#11
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Edit: removed Amazon link
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Edit: removed Amazon link
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Last edited by meteparozzi; 07-14-06 at 09:14 AM. Reason: Remove the amazon link
#12
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Any chance we can ditch the Amazon links?
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
#13
totally louche
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the man who planted trees, i forgot about that one....nice. oh, of course, robert pirsig's zen motorcycle musings. How about Saint-Exupery's classic 'le petit prince'? stellar. Johnathan Livingston Seagull, and most of Richard Bach in all his pithy sappiness, was pretty dang telling. what is it with pilots anyways?
i got a lot out of Ginsberg's "America" and Kerouac, and Brautigan in his whimsy. Keller's "Catch-22" has got to be one of the most brilliant contemporary political satiries of the 20th century... of course, Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" would rank up in the shortlist of best satires of the 20th century, i believe.
John Updike's "Rabbit" series. And John McPhee for his nonfiction analysis of just about anything.
so, so many books......
i got a lot out of Ginsberg's "America" and Kerouac, and Brautigan in his whimsy. Keller's "Catch-22" has got to be one of the most brilliant contemporary political satiries of the 20th century... of course, Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" would rank up in the shortlist of best satires of the 20th century, i believe.
John Updike's "Rabbit" series. And John McPhee for his nonfiction analysis of just about anything.
so, so many books......
Last edited by Bekologist; 07-14-06 at 09:24 AM.
#14
Live Deliberately.
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Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.
Celestine Prophecy.
Catcher in the Rye.
but one's that I haven't seen posted yet?
The simple living Guide by Janet Luhrs
Your money or your life.
Celestine Prophecy.
Catcher in the Rye.
but one's that I haven't seen posted yet?
The simple living Guide by Janet Luhrs
Your money or your life.
#15
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Originally Posted by davidmcowan
Your money or your life.
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
#16
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
the man who planted trees, i forgot about that one....nice. oh, of course, robert pirsig's zen motorcycle musings. How about Saint-Exupery's classic 'le petit prince'? stellar. Johnathan Livingston Seagull, and most of Richard Bach in all his pithy sappiness, was pretty dang telling. what is it with pilots anyways?
i got a lot out of Ginsberg's "America" and Kerouac, and Brautigan in his whimsy. Keller's "Catch-22" has got to be one of the most brilliant contemporary political satiries of the 20th century... of course, Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" would rank up in the shortlist of best satires of the 20th century, i believe.
John Updike's "Rabbit" series. And John McPhee for his nonfiction analysis of just about anything.
so, so many books......
i got a lot out of Ginsberg's "America" and Kerouac, and Brautigan in his whimsy. Keller's "Catch-22" has got to be one of the most brilliant contemporary political satiries of the 20th century... of course, Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" would rank up in the shortlist of best satires of the 20th century, i believe.
John Updike's "Rabbit" series. And John McPhee for his nonfiction analysis of just about anything.
so, so many books......
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
#17
Pedaled too far.
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Tao Te Ching by LaoTsu translation by Gia-Fu Feng,Jane English
Bunkhouse Logic by Ben Stein (Yes that Ben Stein.)
An English bicycling book in the late 60's that introduced me to touring, derailleurs and cadence.
Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner
Curious George Rides a Bike by H.A. Rey (It had directions on how to fold a paper boat, skills which eventually lead me to a bronze medal in Aerobatics at the 2nd Great International Paper Airplane Contest. It was the first book I ever checked out of the library as a technical reference and it inspired me to borrow a friend's bike and teach myself to ride at age 5.)
Here is Your Hobby Car Customizing by Henry Gregor Felsen
Principles of Interactive Computer Graphics, Second Edition, by W. Newman and R. Sproull.
The Official Blender 2.0 Guide by Ton Roosendaal and Carsten Wartmann
Richards Bicycle Book by Richard Ballantine
The Art of War by Sun Tsu.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein
The Drifters by James A. Michener
Between My Legs by Chaim Sil
Limits to Growth by Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jørgen Randers, and William W. Behrens III
The Population Bomb by Paul Ehrlich
The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin
Bunkhouse Logic by Ben Stein (Yes that Ben Stein.)
An English bicycling book in the late 60's that introduced me to touring, derailleurs and cadence.
Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner
Curious George Rides a Bike by H.A. Rey (It had directions on how to fold a paper boat, skills which eventually lead me to a bronze medal in Aerobatics at the 2nd Great International Paper Airplane Contest. It was the first book I ever checked out of the library as a technical reference and it inspired me to borrow a friend's bike and teach myself to ride at age 5.)
Here is Your Hobby Car Customizing by Henry Gregor Felsen
Principles of Interactive Computer Graphics, Second Edition, by W. Newman and R. Sproull.
The Official Blender 2.0 Guide by Ton Roosendaal and Carsten Wartmann
Richards Bicycle Book by Richard Ballantine
The Art of War by Sun Tsu.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein
The Drifters by James A. Michener
Between My Legs by Chaim Sil
Limits to Growth by Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jørgen Randers, and William W. Behrens III
The Population Bomb by Paul Ehrlich
The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin
Last edited by Artkansas; 07-15-06 at 08:50 AM.
#18
totally louche
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no, no i like snyder, but found him a bit pre-self obsessed or something..... kind of hard to pin down..... really did appreciate a lot of his stuff.
his firewatching writings are more succinct than Kerouacs... i really romanticize those fellas out there, all beatdown in their towers, lighting dancing st elmos in the lookout while the watchers perched atop elephantine glass insulators to avoid electrocution.....
his firewatching writings are more succinct than Kerouacs... i really romanticize those fellas out there, all beatdown in their towers, lighting dancing st elmos in the lookout while the watchers perched atop elephantine glass insulators to avoid electrocution.....
Last edited by Bekologist; 07-14-06 at 09:54 AM.
#19
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
no, no i like snyder, but found him a bit pre-self obsessed or something..... kind of hard to pin down..... really did appreciate a lot of his stuff.
my favorite snyder:
stay together
learn the flowers
go light
from "For the Children"
Gary Snyder
Turtle Island
Back OT:
Lost Language of Plants
Anything with Andy Goldsworthy's work depicted...
__________________
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
So long. Been nice knowing you BF.... to all the friends I've made here and in real life... its been great. But this place needs an enema.
#20
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The Immortal Class : Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power by Travis Culley "THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN MAN AND MACHINE when I mount a bike like this one..."
#21
totally louche
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Artkansas' suggestions of Paul Erlich's writings and 'the limits of growth' were very instrumental to me as well.... any perspectives gleaned on futurism after the first Club of Rome meetings on the subject really caused me to alter my lifestyle to be more in touch with the global citizen and reduce my footprint, before 'reducing my footprint' even had resonancy in meaning.
Last edited by Bekologist; 07-14-06 at 11:01 AM.
#22
winter is comming
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Didn't necessarilly change my life, but here are some books that made an impression on me
The Tracker - Tom Brown
The Power Of Now - Eckhart Tolle
The last hours of ancient sunlight - Thom Hartmann
The Tracker - Tom Brown
The Power Of Now - Eckhart Tolle
The last hours of ancient sunlight - Thom Hartmann
#23
1. e4 Nf6
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All of these books have had an influence on the way I look at things, for better or worse:
Narcissus and Goldmund and Demian - Hermann Hesse
Steps and The Painted Bird - Jerzy Kosinski
Candide - Voltaire
Harpo Speaks! - Harpo Marx
Surely, You're Joking Mr Feynman! and What do YOU Care What Other People Think? - Richard Feynman
The Tyranny of Words- Stuart Chase
Language in Thought and Action - SI Hayakawa
The Moon and Sixpence, The Razor's Edge, The Painted Veil, and various short stories - W. Somerset Maugham
Noa Noa: The Tahitian Journals - Paul Gauguin
The Blue of Capricorn - Eugene Burdick
Desert Solitaire - Edward Abbey
Smoking in Bed: Conversations with Bruce Robinson - Alistair Owen and Bruce Robinson
Going Solo and My Uncle Oswald (probably my favorite written comedy) - Roald Dahl
The Dhammapada - Buddha
The Great Pianists - Harold C Schonberg
Music, the Brain, and Ecstacy - Robert Jourdain
and...
I love Barbara Tuchman. March of Folly is excellent, same with Proud Tower, Guns of August, and Distant Mirror.
Narcissus and Goldmund and Demian - Hermann Hesse
Steps and The Painted Bird - Jerzy Kosinski
Candide - Voltaire
Harpo Speaks! - Harpo Marx
Surely, You're Joking Mr Feynman! and What do YOU Care What Other People Think? - Richard Feynman
The Tyranny of Words- Stuart Chase
Language in Thought and Action - SI Hayakawa
The Moon and Sixpence, The Razor's Edge, The Painted Veil, and various short stories - W. Somerset Maugham
Noa Noa: The Tahitian Journals - Paul Gauguin
The Blue of Capricorn - Eugene Burdick
Desert Solitaire - Edward Abbey
Smoking in Bed: Conversations with Bruce Robinson - Alistair Owen and Bruce Robinson
Going Solo and My Uncle Oswald (probably my favorite written comedy) - Roald Dahl
The Dhammapada - Buddha
The Great Pianists - Harold C Schonberg
Music, the Brain, and Ecstacy - Robert Jourdain
and...
Originally Posted by cooker
The March of Folly and several other works by Barbara Tuchman
I love Barbara Tuchman. March of Folly is excellent, same with Proud Tower, Guns of August, and Distant Mirror.
Last edited by Alekhine; 07-14-06 at 02:45 PM.
#24
bragi
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"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"
"The Gospel According to Jesus (translation by Stephen Mitchell)
Rilke's poetry
Most influential for me: "Collapse" by Jared Diamond; this is perhaps the most important book written in the last decade; everyone should read it.
IPCC's reports, available online
"The Gospel According to Jesus (translation by Stephen Mitchell)
Rilke's poetry
Most influential for me: "Collapse" by Jared Diamond; this is perhaps the most important book written in the last decade; everyone should read it.
IPCC's reports, available online
#25
GATC