OK, apart for m the bible/koran/torah/bhagvigida, etc, what books inspire you and excite your mind and spirit?

I'm currently chewing through the "Conversations with God" series by Neale Donald Walsh.

Also "The Gnostics" by Tobias Churton.

"1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Science" by James Trefil

and "The Great Transformation" by Karen Armstrong.



So, whats in your library?

Hey bro did you get my PM'S?

The Case For Christ
The Case For Faith
The Case For Creation - All by Lee Strobel

The Land That Time Forgot Trilogy - Edgar Rice Burroughs

TCP/IP For Dummies
SQL For Dummies

"Writers of the Future, Volume 1," a science fiction anthology, edited by L. Ron Hubbard.
"Tales From the Vulgar Unicorn," also a science fiction anthology, edited by Robert Asprin.
"Shade of the Tree," a science fiction novel by Piers Anthony.
"Hithhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," Douglas Adams.
All of the above bought from the used book store down the street.

On checkout from the library right now:
"God, the Devil, and Darwin, A Critique of Intelligent Design Theory," Niall Shanks.
"The God Gene, How Faith Is Hardwired Into Our Genes," Dean Hamer.
"The Youngest Minds, Parenting and Genes in the Development of Intellect and Emotion," Ann B. Barnet, M.D., and Richard J. Barnet.
"Carl Jung and Christian Spirituality," Edited by Robert L. Moore.

LOL, I've got ADD, I don't normally read just one book at a time, although I can if it's really good and I've got the time. I'll spend the next few weeks digesting the above, a couple chapters at a time.

Some all-time favorites:
"The Collector," Don't remember the author. John something?
"The House Next Door," Anne Siddons, I think.
"Planet of the Apes," A classic, don't know author.
"Lord of the Flies," Author?
"The Mothman Prophecies," John A. Keel.
"The Witching Hour," Anne Rice.
"The Thief of Nothing," Clive Barker.
"The Shining," Stephen King.
"The Clan of the Cave Bear," A series, author?
"How to Deal with Difficult People, and What to Do When You Can't Avoid Them," A great book about personality types that I got at the grocery store, it's one of the best I've ever read on the subject. Author?
"Dolphin Island," Or something like that. "Island of the Blue Dolphin?" I don't remember. It's a childrens' book, still good, I borrowed it from my daughter, I like to see what the children are reading, and I got sucked into it. Author?
Edit: I don't know how I forgot this one: "The Martian Chronicles," Ray Bradbury. I knew there was a biggie that I wasn't thinking of.

One of my favorite short stories, ever:
"Crouch End Row," Stephen King.


Ooh, a lot of others that I just can't remember right now. I like historical biographies, horror, true paranormal stories, and science fiction the best.

Lenore by Edgar Allen Poe I always felt was inspiring in the beautiful imagery presented,

Nietzsches Gay Science and Thus Spake Zarathustra and Also Spake Zarathustra were inspiring in the way they discussed quite simple concepts.

Platos The Republic is a beautiful story told in an incredible way.

Lastly I always found the works of Tolkien to be quite interesting and the detail that he went to was incredible.

for some strange reason "men are from mars, women are from venus" has always been my choice read when i'm feeling crappy (usually because my b/f is in a mood).

id have to agree "conversations with god" is quite inspiring, although i cant seem to read it for more than 30 min in a sitting.
fabvourite of all time (present time that is) definatley the dark tower series by Stephen King

Most of the books that excite my spirit have to do with writing.

THe Tao of Pooh is very good too

The Art of Peace- Morihei Ueshiba

"The world will continue to change dramatically, but fighting and war can destroy us utterly. What we need now are techniques of harmony, not those of contention. The Art of Peace is required, not the Art of War."

Great topic JM,

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Purpose Drive Life by Rick Warren

Any Star Trek novel by Diane Duane

The War Against the Chtorr Series by David Gerrold

Walt Disney: The Triumph of The American Imagination by Neal Gabler (Currently reading this one)

The whole Brotherhood of War Series by W.E.B. Griffin

The whole World War Series by Harry Turtledove

The Integral Trees by Larry Niven

Every book and short story by Robert A. Heinlen

Leading at a Higher Level by Ken Blanchard (Currently reading this one)

Every book written by Harold Coyle


Like heather, I am usually reading at least three books some magazine articles and all kinds of stuff online.

Anything by John Steinbeck
The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger
Inventing America, can't remember the authors!
Anything by Russell Banks, but especially Rule the Bone, and Trailer Park
One Man's Wilderness: an Alaskan Odyssey by Richard Proenneke also a documentary film Alone in the Wilderness
Anything by Kurt Vonnegut
The Physics of Star Trek (currently working on this one) yes, I'm a trekkie!
A Map of the World ---???? Jaimie something or other
Lots of other inspiring authors, but I have an awful memory!

I hope someone else mentions them so I can remember!

The Antichrist
The Gay Science
Thus Spake Zarathustra(All three parts)
Ecce Homo
Beyond Good and Evil
Human, All too Human
On the Genealogy of Morals
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Civilization and It's Discontents - Sigmund Freud

The Sociopath Next Door - Martha Stout

<.<...

Yes, I own all of those(and more).

Currently reading:
"ideas and opinions" indirectly written by Einstein, but more of a compilation of his stance on things in general. It's quite interesting.. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Einstein.
C++ for dummies. (Only started that one.. I hate studying things with books though..)
Treasure island by Robert louis stevenson

Also have "kidnapped" by him and I'll probably read that after Treasure Island I guess.

A most excellent read.

In the past couple of weeks I have finished The Dharma of Star Wars, and King Solomon's Mines both excellent books.

William Gibson's books have been a constant source of inspiration to me musically. Named my second band after the bar in Bridge City.

Salvatore's Drizzt books are pretty inspirational to me as well.

Hey Joey I sent you another PM.

Most of the works of "Harry Turtledove".
Most any science fiction.

I agree. Those books were quite remarkable. I only recentally discovered Salvatore but I must say that his books are remarkable.

The Bhagavad Gita! It is a treasure that has shed so much light on the darknessthat surrounds me.

psssst! BNW,,,, I mentioned the BG in my initial post.....

My, my so you did ok a book other than the Gita that inspires me.........I thought "Children of Dune" was quite inspiring

^Just in the middle of reading that right now, bnw. It has some most interesting propositions, and really focuses on the religion of Muad'dib (or more correctly the political situation surrouding the religion of Muad'dib). I'll let you know more when I've finished reading it.

I always find the writings of D.B Knox to be inspirational. He'll often say something about the Bible and I think "hang on, that's not right, how can that be biblical", and then I go to the Bible to prove him wrong, but it's usually him who proves me wrong

J.I Packer and John Chapman are also fantastic writers taht i enjoy.

I love how Muad'Dib comes back as "The Preacher".

Indeed, the issues that everyone's favorite drow faces in the course of his adventures are quite pertinent in the real world.

My favs.

1.) The Tibetian Book of Living and Dying by Ripoche

2.) The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Soulcraft, Walt Whitmann poetry calms the nerves.