I love all of Wendell Berry's novels. What beautiful writing and rich character development. They take me deeply into another place and time. It's remarkable that his first novel was written when he was 27 years old. Each one builds on the previous one with many familiar characters and a span of decades. I believe the most recent one he wrote when he was in his 70s.
I cannot imagine a world without books nor, especially, my beloved library card! One book that changed my life, Pearl Bucks, The Good Earth....from other cultures that led me to anthropology to tea drinking.....
Further back in the past - Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. One of the first faith-centered books that I remember that really centered on the idea of love at the core of the divine's work in the world and that maybe that ancient story is about more than just a "conversion" experience but about all of our transformation into people of love, acceptance, and welcome. It also started me on a deeper appreciation of the beauty of art.
Most recently - The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (the incredible interconnectedness and intelligence of all living things, especially plants), Most anything by Richard Rohr, and Hope: A User's Manual by MaryAnn McKibben Dana.
I could go on, but its really dangerous to ask an Enneagram 5 about books they've read...
So hard to choose...some favorites are Grandma Gatewood's Walk, an inspiring true story, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the Book Thief, Women Who Run with the Wolves, Sue Bender's book, Plain and Simple, and Factfulness, by Hans Rosling, a wonderful book with insight about understanding the world we live in and how to think about the iinformation we're given.
Yes, at the age of 26, having just moved to San Francisco for my first professional job, I encountered "Ecotopia" by Ernest Callenbach in the AFSC bookstore. It laid out a vision of an ecologically-based society that focused my dreams and activism right up to the present day.
What a challenge to decide what influence books have-- so many to choose from. Most recent eye opening books were from Octavia Butler- Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Amazing how fiction predicts aspects of the future as so many have. Also a book that really opened up my eyes was Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. By using that example of caste systems, it helped me understand more of how society places us into roles, and now being more aware of what is occurring around me. So many great authors people have recommend, knowing some and not others-- will have to explore some of them. One author that I have enjoyed is Ivan Doig, with interesting life stories and observations in his books. For science fiction many authors, but Orson Scott Card series from Enders Game is very good and much more than the 1st book and the series really explores misunderstanding about others and how that changes by getting to know others and where they are culturally and socially, will help in changing that misunderstanding. Sounds familiar to our current lives.
So many books and authors...Ray Bradbury opened me up to science fiction and short stories. Louise Penny helped me see the value of a mystery series where the characters become friends and companions on the journey. Louise Erdrich expanded and challenged me to know more about native people and that humor can be part of the story!
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran was probably the first…though I have read many of these listed and take a bit from each. As a young teenage girl, The Prophet, some of my soul and heart in its vision of life. Perhaps the first book that acknowledged my perspective rather than the expectations of my environment.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was the beginning of a mind and heart opening journey for me. I read it as a young adult and since Maya Angelou was a hero. I cannot actually verbalize why it was responsible for a valuable change in me. I just know it opened my eyes, my heart and my world. I am forever grateful.
I'm going to second the John O'Donohue! "To Bless the Space Between Us" changed my life — and the trajectory of my life — in deep ways. I also really appreciate Rachel Naomi Remen. I'm excited to come to your concert here in Chicago on Sunday, Carrie! 💛🌈
I am loving all these books, titles and stories. Some of them I already know and I’m not in my head in agreement… Siddhartha, demon copperhead, anything by John O’Donohue! I’m also making a list of mini the books you’re mentioning that I haven’t read yet.
You will not be surprised that I read all sorts of things and am always reading or re-reading something. But books that influenced my view of the world? Not quite along the lines of many choices others mention, but still... Back when I was small, the Fireside Book of Folk Songs, which was on the family bookshelf, and a few years later a Christmas gift I asked for and still remember how happy I was to receive, Folk Songs of North America by Alan Lomax. Didn't know where either of those would take me, just knew I loved them and the people, places, and stories in them. Still do.
I love all of Wendell Berry's novels. What beautiful writing and rich character development. They take me deeply into another place and time. It's remarkable that his first novel was written when he was 27 years old. Each one builds on the previous one with many familiar characters and a span of decades. I believe the most recent one he wrote when he was in his 70s.
I cannot imagine a world without books nor, especially, my beloved library card! One book that changed my life, Pearl Bucks, The Good Earth....from other cultures that led me to anthropology to tea drinking.....
East of Eden, by Steinbeck for the presence of good amidst evil
Further back in the past - Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. One of the first faith-centered books that I remember that really centered on the idea of love at the core of the divine's work in the world and that maybe that ancient story is about more than just a "conversion" experience but about all of our transformation into people of love, acceptance, and welcome. It also started me on a deeper appreciation of the beauty of art.
Most recently - The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (the incredible interconnectedness and intelligence of all living things, especially plants), Most anything by Richard Rohr, and Hope: A User's Manual by MaryAnn McKibben Dana.
I could go on, but its really dangerous to ask an Enneagram 5 about books they've read...
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer truly touched my heart and mind. It contains so many thoughtful truths it is life changing.
So hard to choose...some favorites are Grandma Gatewood's Walk, an inspiring true story, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the Book Thief, Women Who Run with the Wolves, Sue Bender's book, Plain and Simple, and Factfulness, by Hans Rosling, a wonderful book with insight about understanding the world we live in and how to think about the iinformation we're given.
So happy that I have read a lot of them.
Yes, at the age of 26, having just moved to San Francisco for my first professional job, I encountered "Ecotopia" by Ernest Callenbach in the AFSC bookstore. It laid out a vision of an ecologically-based society that focused my dreams and activism right up to the present day.
What a challenge to decide what influence books have-- so many to choose from. Most recent eye opening books were from Octavia Butler- Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. Amazing how fiction predicts aspects of the future as so many have. Also a book that really opened up my eyes was Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. By using that example of caste systems, it helped me understand more of how society places us into roles, and now being more aware of what is occurring around me. So many great authors people have recommend, knowing some and not others-- will have to explore some of them. One author that I have enjoyed is Ivan Doig, with interesting life stories and observations in his books. For science fiction many authors, but Orson Scott Card series from Enders Game is very good and much more than the 1st book and the series really explores misunderstanding about others and how that changes by getting to know others and where they are culturally and socially, will help in changing that misunderstanding. Sounds familiar to our current lives.
So many books and authors...Ray Bradbury opened me up to science fiction and short stories. Louise Penny helped me see the value of a mystery series where the characters become friends and companions on the journey. Louise Erdrich expanded and challenged me to know more about native people and that humor can be part of the story!
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran was probably the first…though I have read many of these listed and take a bit from each. As a young teenage girl, The Prophet, some of my soul and heart in its vision of life. Perhaps the first book that acknowledged my perspective rather than the expectations of my environment.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was the beginning of a mind and heart opening journey for me. I read it as a young adult and since Maya Angelou was a hero. I cannot actually verbalize why it was responsible for a valuable change in me. I just know it opened my eyes, my heart and my world. I am forever grateful.
Thank you!!
I'm going to second the John O'Donohue! "To Bless the Space Between Us" changed my life — and the trajectory of my life — in deep ways. I also really appreciate Rachel Naomi Remen. I'm excited to come to your concert here in Chicago on Sunday, Carrie! 💛🌈
I am loving all these books, titles and stories. Some of them I already know and I’m not in my head in agreement… Siddhartha, demon copperhead, anything by John O’Donohue! I’m also making a list of mini the books you’re mentioning that I haven’t read yet.
You will not be surprised that I read all sorts of things and am always reading or re-reading something. But books that influenced my view of the world? Not quite along the lines of many choices others mention, but still... Back when I was small, the Fireside Book of Folk Songs, which was on the family bookshelf, and a few years later a Christmas gift I asked for and still remember how happy I was to receive, Folk Songs of North America by Alan Lomax. Didn't know where either of those would take me, just knew I loved them and the people, places, and stories in them. Still do.