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Wow... too many to list :) The Hyperion novels, by Dan Simmons Retire Young, Retire Rich by Kiyosaki and Letcher (and other books of theirs as well) Principl

Wow... too many to list :) The Hyperion novels, by Dan Simmons Retire Young, Retire Rich by Kiyosaki and Letcher (and other books of theirs as well) Principles of Effortless Power by Peter Ralston (martial artist) A lot of stuff by John-Roger (spiritual author) - helped me decide that I'm here to serve the people around me, as best I can Intro to the Theory of Computation, by Mike Sipser Many of the physics books I've read over the years (though now a hacker I be, I started as a scientist... still am at heart). Not one in particular, except maybe Modern Quantum Mechanics by Sakurai, and Structure and Interpretation of Classical Mechanics by Sussman & Wisdom The Lord of the Rings trilogy Role-playing game manuals, especially D&D 2nd edition (just the current edition at the time, when I was a kid) You know, just making this list reminds me of how grateful I am to be here in this time and place. My life has been so uplifted by reading. I cannot imagine what it would be like without.

ovi256 18y ago
I am wondering what you found life changing? As for me, it was the Consul: the exquisite diplomat and adventurer, but also a Renaissance Man that can play excellent Bach on his organ. I long to be like him.
- redsymbol 18y ago
  What I found life changing about the Hyperion Cantos, you mean? Well... the story line itself. I didn't identify a lot with specific characters; there was a process much larger than all their little lives unfolding, that they were caught up in. Fundamentally it works just like any fiction: it starts by capturing your imagination, perhaps moving into your mind and emotions. If it's really good, it can touch even deeper than that. Hyperion did that to me. And I don't know the mechanism. After reading it, my world was just bigger. Tremendously so. And I mean the real life world, not just the world of imagination and emotion we all go in to when reading great fiction. [ed: nonfiction too.] Something about it forever changed how I move through the world, how I treat myself and others, even my goals for this lifetime. Call it inspiration. It's the same with all the other books on my list. That's why I put them there.

ovi256 18y ago

I am wondering what you found life changing? As for me, it was the Consul: the exquisite diplomat and adventurer, but also a Renaissance Man that can play excellent Bach on his organ. I long to be like him.

redsymbol 18y ago
What I found life changing about the Hyperion Cantos, you mean? Well... the story line itself. I didn't identify a lot with specific characters; there was a process much larger than all their little lives unfolding, that they were caught up in. Fundamentally it works just like any fiction: it starts by capturing your imagination, perhaps moving into your mind and emotions. If it's really good, it can touch even deeper than that. Hyperion did that to me. And I don't know the mechanism. After reading it, my world was just bigger. Tremendously so. And I mean the real life world, not just the world of imagination and emotion we all go in to when reading great fiction. [ed: nonfiction too.] Something about it forever changed how I move through the world, how I treat myself and others, even my goals for this lifetime. Call it inspiration. It's the same with all the other books on my list. That's why I put them there.