Books that Changed the Way You View Life

Every now and then, a book really opens the mind, changes perceptions, launches visions, etc. There have been some books in my life that have influenced my world-view and my life philosophy. I am curious to see books that others have found life changing. Non-fiction, fiction, anything . . .
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17

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18

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19

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20

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21

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 725,783 ratings
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22

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23

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24

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25

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26

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27

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4.19 avg rating — 604,077 ratings
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28

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29

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30

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31

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32

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33

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34

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35

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36

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37

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38

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39

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40

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41

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42

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43

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44

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45

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46

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47

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48

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49

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50

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51

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52

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53

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54

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55

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56

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57

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58

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59

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60

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61

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62

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63

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64

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65

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 146,164 ratings
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66

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67

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68

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69

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70

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71

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72

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76

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78

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81

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82

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83

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84

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86

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89

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91

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92

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93

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94

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95

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96

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97

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98

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99

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100

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9,250 books · 5,502 voters · list created December 15th, 2008 by Liaken (votes) .
20 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Liaken 1613 books
12 friends
Pam 333 books
38 friends
Devon 167 books
52 friends
Nancy 5 books
0 friends
Lisa 466 books
33 friends
Lindsay 710 books
51 friends
Craig 3725 books
277 friends
Lindsey 1202 books
19 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)

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message 1: by Yasmeen (new)

Yasmeen Catcher in the Rye? Seriously?


message 2: by Carielyn (new)

Carielyn Mills Yasmine wrote: "Catcher in the Rye? Seriously?"

that was my reaction as well


message 3: by Raven (new)

Raven Black Down to the bone! What the fuck that was the most unrealistic book that I have ever read.


message 4: by Alfred (new)

Alfred Bates It still doesn't deserve to be on there.
I had to f'ing ADD of Human Bondage
AND Thus Spoke Zarathustra
AND The Picture of Dorian Grey.
SERIOUSLY


message 5: by Xenophon (new)

Xenophon Hendrix Different people are going to find different things mind expanding. At lot depends on encountering an idea at just the right time in one's life to encounter it.


message 6: by Liaken (new)

Liaken I think the most interesting books start at about number 25 and further when there are four or fewer people who vote for the book. Then you really get a sense of individual taste and experience of books that change the way you view life, rather than books that get voted to the top of a list by a group of people with a similar mindset.


message 7: by Elesha (new)

Elesha O. i know everyone loves hunger games (NOT INCLUDING MYSELF)but it has no reason to be on this list...just saying


message 8: by Krissquared (new)

Krissquared My vote goes to Life of Pi


message 9: by Annie (last edited Sep 19, 2011 08:35AM) (new)

Annie Hill The true meaning of life lies in our inner being. I love music. When I feel the inner sound of Om, my whole body thrills. I don't know why. This is the book helps me to experience that mysterious wonderful sensations feelings.

OM Chanting and Meditation


message 10: by Maureen (new)

Maureen Annie wrote: "The true meaning of life lies in our inner being. I love music. When I feel the inner sound of Om, my whole body thrills. I don't know why. This is the book helps me to experience that mysterious w..."

That's beautiful. Good for you.


╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

So very disrespectful. Your opinion differs from others but it doesn't make theirs wrong. Same with the Catcher in the Rye and all other books on this list.

It isn't really up to one person how and which books change which people's lives. :) Be respectful.


message 12: by [deleted user] (new)

Xenophon wrote: "Different people are going to find different things mind expanding. At lot depends on encountering an idea at just the right time in one's life to encounter it."

That is so true. Most books that really influenced me much I read when I was young.


message 13: by Audrey (new)

Audrey Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

Cymonian wrote: "catcher in the rye has more reason to be here than book of mormon"

not if you are one of the 14 million Mormons.


message 14: by Audrey (last edited Aug 08, 2012 08:58PM) (new)

Audrey Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

Seriously??? "all these crazy Mormons"????? Substitute the word "Jews" for Mormons and see if you can get away with the same bigotry. You wouldn't dare.


message 15: by Asha (new)

Asha Seth How does this one Twilight (Twilight, #1) by Stephenie Meyer help me change how I view my life??


message 16: by Alice (new)

Alice The list was fine... until I reached the Hunger Games. Okay, I get that it's a good YA book, but it most definitely did not change my life at all.


message 17: by Loveliest Evaris (new)

Loveliest Evaris In reality, there are NO fictional that have changed the way I view life. That's what nonfiction for. Facts and previously unknown information you acquire through reading nonfiction books should be how you change the way you view life. Unless it's a thinly veiled allegory or satire on history or real life, like Animal Farm or Lord of the Flies... You are entertained by a fictional book, you are taught and mentored by a nonfiction book.

Also, The Hunger Games? Really? What did you POSSIBLY learn from The Hunger Games? How "cool" archery is? How emotionally stunted Katniss is? How the Capitol "is exactally liek our govermint nao u guyz!!!!!!!!! " Seriously. Give me a break.


message 18: by Evangeline (new)

Evangeline Elesha wrote: "i know everyone loves hunger games (NOT INCLUDING MYSELF)but it has no reason to be on this list...just saying"

VERY true, thank you!


message 19: by Tiffany (new)

Tiffany Silverberg The book that changed MY life was "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Brian Weiss. I know it's somewhat of an older book (1988), but it remains a powerful influence on how I view life and death.


message 22: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 20 duplicates. I was cheered to find a link of this sort that isn't broken.


message 23: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 2 duplicates.


message 24: by Vicki (new)

Vicki This is a really interesting list.


message 25: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 21 duplicates.


message 26: by Alisha (new)

Alisha I Yasmine wrote: "Catcher in the Rye? Seriously?"

Agreed, couldn’t finish it myself.


message 27: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 10 duplicates.


message 28: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

~☆~Autumn The Yellow Wallpaper is here twice as I just encountered it again at 1588 with several votes!


message 29: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

~☆~Autumn ╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ wrote: "Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

So very disrespectful. Your opinion differs from others but it doesn't make theirs wrong. Same with the Catcher in the Rye and all oth..."


Good advice!


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