What book has had an unexpectedly big impact on you?

Question

Millie Marie · Answer

Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (Olga Khazan): This book deeply changed me as a person. And continues to help me in my aspirations to become a better person a little bit each day.

Jeanine Nault · Answer

Barbarian Days: Charming, romantic, thrilling, but told in the most matter-of-fact voice. How incredible it is that someone who just happened to surf some of the most iconic waves in the world also just happens to be a writer of this caliber! This memoir did to me what great art always does to me—made me feel more alive.

Rocky · Answer

Madness, Rack, and Honey (Mary Ruefle): This collection of lectures Mary Ruefle gave to her poetry students. This book changed my life because it made me want to think (and consider, and wonder, and mull over, and investigate, and articulate myself) in new ways, and I think it helped change my brain's pathways for the better. It changed the way I think of the moon and I've re-read her piece "My Emily Dickinson" many times and every time I gasp aloud at a certain part.

If your library doesn't have it, try interlibrary loan!

Elena · Answer

Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers: Two short stories which together tell of a human rethinking their purpose and what brings them fulfillment, and a wild robot learning about humans needs.

Even with such thoughtful subject matter, the book stays refreshingly grounded and light and leaves you feeling buoyed. A hopeful and illuminating balm for the sensitive soul that paints a beautiful picture of what life could be like if we opt to take real care of the living world around us.

Ashton Norris · Answer

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance: This

Your bro knows ball

Sealligator · Answer

Sula: I first read it as an eighteen year old who didn’t plan to ever go to college but who worked at a book store and it upset me so much when I was reading it in the lunchroom one day that I had to put it down and physically walk away for several minutes.

Before that moment, books had brought me comfort and delight, but I’d had no idea of their raw power.

Eric F · Answer

2001: A Space Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke) 🪐: After seeing the film for the first time, it was so beautiful and profound, I had to dive deeper into the story. This novel fills in the gaps the film leaves open, and further explores its themes of evolution, space capitalism, AI, aliens, and our place in the universe. Still very relevant.

Aidan · Answer

Another Country (James Baldwin): Uuuuhh helll yeahhh

Clara G · Answer

woman in the dunes - kobo Abe: Great book to read when you feel trapped or like running away or starting over. Gross and human and unexpected.

Summary: An insect collector shovels sand out of a hole.

This book kept me from dropping out of hs - helped reframe the claustrophobia of existing.

JV · Answer

The Alchemist, Always: This is a book that is supposed to have an impact & so I thought surely it won’t but then it actually did.

MrCJMJ · Answer

King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa: Knew this was going to be heavy going in, but it floored my anyway. Truly a horror story of humanity's ability to inflict absolute oppression, subjugation, and pain on others.

Davis · Answer

Our Band Could Be Your Life - Michael Azerrad: If you want to make something, you don't have to wait for someone else to say it's okay.

Amanda Christenbury · Answer

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: I recommend this book as often as I can - and I say this as a person who is not a runner. I love it for his trademarked sparse prose and how it’s not so much about running (even though it is!) but about finding motivation for things that matter to you even when you’re tired or in a rut.

Kate · Answer

East of Eden: I literally sobbed at the ending—so beautiful. Lee is my all-time favorite character.

Cameron · Answer

i who have never known men: This book will stay with me forever.

Eda · Answer

Dance of anger: I can now see the dynamics and patterns in relationships at home, at work, between friends…

Ashlie · Answer

Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from... (Bill Perkins): Went in with zero expectations and came out a changed person.  It shifted my focus on aging, living in the present, retirement and planning for my kids future in one fell swoop. Highly recommend.

Steve M · Answer

It's OK That You're Not OK (Megan Devine): This has probably been the best resource that I've read so far in helping me process my grief. Depending on what stage in the early grieving process you are now it could be a difficult read but the book is structured in a way where you can jump around to only the portions that is currently applicable.

The hardest part of grief, for me at least, was the frustration in how people treated me and wanted me to move on and go back to where I was as quickly as possible. The book does a good job of describing how ineffective our culture is at describing grief and how we need to stop treating it like a sickness and instead of a thing that is now part of our day-to-day. It also has plenty of resources and advice for not just people who are grieving, but for people who want to help those who are grieving.

Steve M · Answer

Flowers for Algernon: I haven't gone back to read this in years but this was the first book I ever remember reading in my adolescence that made me realize that books could make me cry. I can't say how well it holds up now into my adulthood but it's now a core memory.