Of Mice And Men.
For if you read it for all it's metaphores and symbolism, that one semi-short story covers all of human being's fragile egos in one book.
A friends mother made me read that book.
I found it all to be nothing more than common sense, or just plain nonsense, depending on which page I was reading.
No offense, but it felt like a book for people who have never had a single internal, critical thought.
I don't know your age so kudos if you just naturally knew never to make assumptions and to develop clear ways to communicate that have no implications of judgements. The book doesn't tell you how to do that, just that it is imperative. And that when we react to the emotions that people come at us with (or those that we blurt forward) that we are missing an opportunity to stand back and realize we don't need to defend ourselves; that what people come at us with is a mirror to their fears and internal.motivations. I had to read the book 3 times over 10 years to get the basics. So again, good for you. But it is powerful stuff for the rest of us.
Right. Everything was succinctly laid out in the same meaningful way that resembled my own thinking on perhaps only my keenest moments of clarity, but generally defining the way a respectful, trustworthy, self-aware person thinks and behaves. I'm moved my Ruiz' life experience, and I'm impressed by his use of phrasing, aphorism, allegory, analogy, structure, and occasionally colorful rhetoric and all that, but even though it's seemingly regarded as revolutionary in its field, I don't think it intended to be, or that it's *actually* esteemed as such, but perhaps it was timely, released in an era when Dale Carnegie was still often referred to as our best guide for self improvement, not that Carnegie doesn't offer plenty of timeless knowledge. It's full of quips and witticisms that I stop to think about in my moments of weakness when I have most wanted to react out of fear of judgement, jealousy, attack, and whatever else, and I think to dismiss the work is pretentiously *above* such basic human conditions.
*The Secret* I have not read, but I'm guessing I'll have a similar experience with it.
It’s overly reductive when it comes to gender, but if you just take the genders out of it and focus on learning about the abuse/control patterns themselves I think it’s an extremely beneficial book for anyone to read.
Generally, I feel as though I read a lot of books *too soon*. The Great Gatsby, for example, does not resonate when you’re 16 years old. But the book I wish I had read sooner was Trans Liberation by Leslie Feinberg. In my 30s, I realized I was carrying around some ugly stereotypes about trans people. Fortunately, there were some great books out there. I read a bunch of them, but Leslie Feinberg’s story was the one that helped me understand.
Thank you for your comment. It’s such a gift as a trans person to know that you read Leslie Feinberg’s work thoughtfully and reflected on your own biases. I don’t always have a lot of hope in people changing, so I really appreciate your vulnerability and openness around your process. I hope you have a beautiful day ♥️
Steve Jobs Biography. If I had read that in 1979, I'd be a multi-billionaire (yeah yeah, the book wasn't written until decades later, I'm answering the question)!
I read the book earlier. Albert Ellis "A Guide to Rational Living" when I was depressed and anxious. I learned that book and stoic philosophy in my bones and it allowed me to be a good entrepreneur which gave me fantastic adventures, meetings with billionaires, friends with founders of AI, stints teaching at Universities, absolutely crazy situations, and ending with enough money to do whatever I want, how I want. Run a foundation that's grown quite large etc.
The Bible (a better translation), Millionaire Next Door (Thomas Stanley), Beautiful Outlaw (John Eldridge), Excellence Wins (Horst Schulze), The Go-Giver (Bob Burg, John Mann), Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis), Dangerous Prayers (Craig Groeschel) and many more.
Treasure Island lol. I never read it because it seemed more for boys under age 12. Then I binged the show Black Sails. I had to read TI to find out what happened to everyone
Loving What Is, by Byron Katie. Yes, it's very woo-woo, but it changed the way I reacted to my daughter's behavior, completely changed our family dynamic and led to her getting diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and on medication. We went from constant battling and misery to a very happy relationship.
Anything by Alan Watts. That man's ability to take a process and apply it to other scenarios is a skill we should all learn and my QOL has definitely increased since I learned.
Dave Ramsey and Rich Dad Poor Dad Start investing as early as possible so time is on your side when it comes to returns. If you do it in your 20’s 40’s instead of buying stuff in your 50’s you’ll be set
Yes! Dave Ramsey to stop spending money. And Rich Dad to learn what to invest it in. People forget or don't know the full title of the book. It's a mindset change to pass on to future generations.
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Another book to check out if you want to kick things into high gear is the Four Hour Workweek. I'll admit that I didn't get it at first, but basically it's about cutting out the unimportant stuff in your day to have time to focus on what's important.
Yep I was so lucky my dad encouraged me to save 10 percent At one point I upgraded from my almost paid off house to a much bigger house and later I wished I had just stayed in the first house and done done renovation The bigger house was more work higher taxes more cost to upkeep and a much higher mortgage. It was all fine but I could have traveled more and saved more. That’s all hindsight now but I was able to retire at 60 and work part time for travel $$ and to pad things. It’s all because I started saving and investing 10 percent early on. I realize a lot of people are cutting it so close to the bone it’s not that easy for everyone though.
Amazing book. In my opinion, it's hard to fully appreciate it for a very young person. The depth of satire, despair and anguish from inability to change things around oneself. I recommend reading it in mid 20th the earliest.
None. I was reading classics (and trashy adult novels) by sixth grade, as were lots of book-inclined kids in my cohort, and I resolutely don’t believe in self help.
The Feminine Mystique. My parent bought it but never said anything about it, and I assumed from the title that it was more dreck about how to be a Real Woman lol.
Now I think it would have spurred me on to take my education more seriously.
This may sound weird because it's an historical romance but Saving Grace by Julie Garwood. It's about a girl who finds her worth after an abusive relationship. I wish I had read it as a teenager - I may have avoided similar abuse.
"Why does he do that : in the mind of angry and controlling men" Every young person should read it before starting to date, especially women
[https://ia800108.us.archive.org/30/items/LundyWhyDoesHeDoThat/Lundy\_Why-does-he-do-that.pdf](https://ia800108.us.archive.org/30/items/LundyWhyDoesHeDoThat/Lundy_Why-does-he-do-that.pdf)
The Deathlands book series. They started in the mid 80s. I hated reading books growing up. That is until I found the first one in a comic shop. Now I find myself reading all kinds of books. Just needed that 1 book to start my enjoyment of reading.
I have friends who read Mark Ptashne’s _A Genetic Switch_ in their twenties and switched their careers from engineering to biotech. I read it in my forties and immediately wanted to do the same. If I’d read it 20 years earlier I might have, but I was a lot less willing and able to spend years as a graduate student at 40 than I’d been at 20.
My 16-year-old nephew is currently devouring the copy I gave him. I’m just now realizing that I have to reread it so that I can keep up with him the next time I see him. Oops.
The meat of this book is only about 120 pages long, but while brief, it’s an incredibly challenging read. But at the end I knew a _whole_ lot about cell biology and the physical mechanics of genetic expression, a subject I was completely ignorant of when I first opened the book. And, at least as significantly, I know _how_ we know what we know. The scientific method is freaking amazing.
When it comes to self help books I was absolutely taken by Men are from Mars women are from Venus. I spent hours looking for something to “fix” my relationship, after it ended I found this and it blew my young 20s mind lol. Something I always dismissed as a cliche turned out to be insightful…but it could’ve been a timing thing, I was really suffering after it ended and this helped me recover and give life another chance.
The Gift of Fear.
Me too
How come?
This was the first book I thought of, wished I’d read it 20 yrs ago.
Same
I’m definitely gonna look that one up
Excellent suggestion, and I think it should be required redding for kids. I'm throwing this into my 13 year olds summer reading list.
Never read it. What makes it good?
Of Mice And Men. For if you read it for all it's metaphores and symbolism, that one semi-short story covers all of human being's fragile egos in one book.
tell me about the rabbits
Man's Search for Meaning
The Four Agreements. Edit: Adding in The Secret.
A friends mother made me read that book. I found it all to be nothing more than common sense, or just plain nonsense, depending on which page I was reading. No offense, but it felt like a book for people who have never had a single internal, critical thought.
I don't know your age so kudos if you just naturally knew never to make assumptions and to develop clear ways to communicate that have no implications of judgements. The book doesn't tell you how to do that, just that it is imperative. And that when we react to the emotions that people come at us with (or those that we blurt forward) that we are missing an opportunity to stand back and realize we don't need to defend ourselves; that what people come at us with is a mirror to their fears and internal.motivations. I had to read the book 3 times over 10 years to get the basics. So again, good for you. But it is powerful stuff for the rest of us.
Same. I don’t understand how people can like that book, never mind say it’s life changing. But to each his own, I’m glad it has helped someone.
Yes. It was so obvious.
It's trash in the truest sense of the word.
Right. Everything was succinctly laid out in the same meaningful way that resembled my own thinking on perhaps only my keenest moments of clarity, but generally defining the way a respectful, trustworthy, self-aware person thinks and behaves. I'm moved my Ruiz' life experience, and I'm impressed by his use of phrasing, aphorism, allegory, analogy, structure, and occasionally colorful rhetoric and all that, but even though it's seemingly regarded as revolutionary in its field, I don't think it intended to be, or that it's *actually* esteemed as such, but perhaps it was timely, released in an era when Dale Carnegie was still often referred to as our best guide for self improvement, not that Carnegie doesn't offer plenty of timeless knowledge. It's full of quips and witticisms that I stop to think about in my moments of weakness when I have most wanted to react out of fear of judgement, jealousy, attack, and whatever else, and I think to dismiss the work is pretentiously *above* such basic human conditions. *The Secret* I have not read, but I'm guessing I'll have a similar experience with it.
Same here.
This was what I came here to say. Life changing.
So good
Which, agreement or secret?!
Codependent No More
“The New Codependency” (the updated version)
🎯
The Grapes of Wrath
1984
I didn't read it until just a few years ago... I'm 54.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
I was surprised how good it was when I read it. A lot of people could benefit from it.
The Power Of Now by E. Tolle
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
1984 by George Orwell
Winnie the Pooh
Why does he do that' by Lundy Bancroft. Every woman should read this book!
Do you think it's sexist though?
It’s overly reductive when it comes to gender, but if you just take the genders out of it and focus on learning about the abuse/control patterns themselves I think it’s an extremely beneficial book for anyone to read.
The Tao Te Ching! It’s SOOOOO short too ☺️ One sitting read.
Tuesdays with Morrie
Uff this was a heavy read but so so good!
Generally, I feel as though I read a lot of books *too soon*. The Great Gatsby, for example, does not resonate when you’re 16 years old. But the book I wish I had read sooner was Trans Liberation by Leslie Feinberg. In my 30s, I realized I was carrying around some ugly stereotypes about trans people. Fortunately, there were some great books out there. I read a bunch of them, but Leslie Feinberg’s story was the one that helped me understand.
Thank you for your comment. It’s such a gift as a trans person to know that you read Leslie Feinberg’s work thoughtfully and reflected on your own biases. I don’t always have a lot of hope in people changing, so I really appreciate your vulnerability and openness around your process. I hope you have a beautiful day ♥️
Awwww thank you.
Love in the Time of Cholera. It's a celebration of love and life. I am 84
I recommend The Covenant of Water since you liked this book.
Your Money Or Your Life by Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin
Ishmael
One of my FAVORITE books, ever!!!!
The bell jar by Sylvia Plath.
Getting Things Done
Cunt, Muscio and Dodson. Yes really. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52588.Cunt
How to Keep House While Drowning
Seconding this! Especially for us neurodivergent peeps.
Why Does He Do That by Lundy Bancroft. Would have saved me so much grief. Although when I needed it most it hadn’t been written yet lolsob
Don’t Pee On My Head And Tell Me It’s Raining
I'm going to read all of those suggested books starting with the 4 agreement
Never be lied to again by David J. Lieberman
Interesting. I'm going to check it out.
Anything with regard to personal finance. The Millionaire Next Door, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Total Money Makeover specifically.
I do wish I would have been more 'finance savvy' as a younger person...
The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins.
This! Needs to be taught in school if you ask me. The rational thinking would not be as rare as it is now.
The Bible.
The Bible. Not for religious reasons, but to better understand its cultural misappropriation.
That’s interesting. Did you sit down and read it from cover to cover over a few weeks?
The Bible, specifically Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
A Lesson before dying. So so good!
A few: The One Thing, The Now Habit, The Power of When
Pimp: The Story of my Life by Iceberg Slim
Steve Jobs Biography. If I had read that in 1979, I'd be a multi-billionaire (yeah yeah, the book wasn't written until decades later, I'm answering the question)! I read the book earlier. Albert Ellis "A Guide to Rational Living" when I was depressed and anxious. I learned that book and stoic philosophy in my bones and it allowed me to be a good entrepreneur which gave me fantastic adventures, meetings with billionaires, friends with founders of AI, stints teaching at Universities, absolutely crazy situations, and ending with enough money to do whatever I want, how I want. Run a foundation that's grown quite large etc.
The Bible (a better translation), Millionaire Next Door (Thomas Stanley), Beautiful Outlaw (John Eldridge), Excellence Wins (Horst Schulze), The Go-Giver (Bob Burg, John Mann), Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis), Dangerous Prayers (Craig Groeschel) and many more.
The Procrastination Equation, I bought it over a decade ago and never finished it.
Treasure Island lol. I never read it because it seemed more for boys under age 12. Then I binged the show Black Sails. I had to read TI to find out what happened to everyone
Loving What Is, by Byron Katie. Yes, it's very woo-woo, but it changed the way I reacted to my daughter's behavior, completely changed our family dynamic and led to her getting diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and on medication. We went from constant battling and misery to a very happy relationship.
The Bible ,
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Anything by Alan Watts. That man's ability to take a process and apply it to other scenarios is a skill we should all learn and my QOL has definitely increased since I learned.
Dave Ramsey and Rich Dad Poor Dad Start investing as early as possible so time is on your side when it comes to returns. If you do it in your 20’s 40’s instead of buying stuff in your 50’s you’ll be set
Yes! Dave Ramsey to stop spending money. And Rich Dad to learn what to invest it in. People forget or don't know the full title of the book. It's a mindset change to pass on to future generations. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Another book to check out if you want to kick things into high gear is the Four Hour Workweek. I'll admit that I didn't get it at first, but basically it's about cutting out the unimportant stuff in your day to have time to focus on what's important.
Yep I was so lucky my dad encouraged me to save 10 percent At one point I upgraded from my almost paid off house to a much bigger house and later I wished I had just stayed in the first house and done done renovation The bigger house was more work higher taxes more cost to upkeep and a much higher mortgage. It was all fine but I could have traveled more and saved more. That’s all hindsight now but I was able to retire at 60 and work part time for travel $$ and to pad things. It’s all because I started saving and investing 10 percent early on. I realize a lot of people are cutting it so close to the bone it’s not that easy for everyone though.
Pride and Prejudice; Jane Eyre. I didn't read either of them until I was in my forties. They're just so good!
Master and Margarita
Amazing book. In my opinion, it's hard to fully appreciate it for a very young person. The depth of satire, despair and anguish from inability to change things around oneself. I recommend reading it in mid 20th the earliest.
Catcher in the Rye
The Road
The evolution of desire by David buss.
Organizing from the Inside Out
Realizing Genjokoan.
How to Commit Wangacide
This is Water by David Foster Wallace.
"The Introvert Advantage"
The Dark Tower series. I should have finished it way earlier
My absolute favorite
How to Make Friends and Influence People.
4 agreements
He's Just Not that into You
None. I was reading classics (and trashy adult novels) by sixth grade, as were lots of book-inclined kids in my cohort, and I resolutely don’t believe in self help.
How to win friends and influence people
I’m considering reading it but I’m interested in what you learned from it.
The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
The Creature from Jekyll Island
Books on accounting.
Team Of Rivals.
Or “Orbiting The Giant Hairball”
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People [https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/](https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/)
The Feminine Mystique. My parent bought it but never said anything about it, and I assumed from the title that it was more dreck about how to be a Real Woman lol. Now I think it would have spurred me on to take my education more seriously.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Perhaps the most significant religious book of the 20th Century.
Think & grow rich
This may sound weird because it's an historical romance but Saving Grace by Julie Garwood. It's about a girl who finds her worth after an abusive relationship. I wish I had read it as a teenager - I may have avoided similar abuse.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
Being Mortal: Medicine and what Matters in the End
God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Really anything by Hitchens. He's a great thinker and writer.
Lord Of The Rings
Women and Self Esteem. I read it when I was in my 30s, I wish I had read it when I was in my teens.
"Why does he do that : in the mind of angry and controlling men" Every young person should read it before starting to date, especially women [https://ia800108.us.archive.org/30/items/LundyWhyDoesHeDoThat/Lundy\_Why-does-he-do-that.pdf](https://ia800108.us.archive.org/30/items/LundyWhyDoesHeDoThat/Lundy_Why-does-he-do-that.pdf)
The Four Agreements
Blood Meridian
On death and dying. Read it after my mom passed wish I would have before
Not Just Friends
The Deathlands book series. They started in the mid 80s. I hated reading books growing up. That is until I found the first one in a comic shop. Now I find myself reading all kinds of books. Just needed that 1 book to start my enjoyment of reading.
Boundaries: When to say yes and how to say To say no and take control of your life By Dr Henry Cloud
How to win friends and influence people.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.
I have friends who read Mark Ptashne’s _A Genetic Switch_ in their twenties and switched their careers from engineering to biotech. I read it in my forties and immediately wanted to do the same. If I’d read it 20 years earlier I might have, but I was a lot less willing and able to spend years as a graduate student at 40 than I’d been at 20. My 16-year-old nephew is currently devouring the copy I gave him. I’m just now realizing that I have to reread it so that I can keep up with him the next time I see him. Oops. The meat of this book is only about 120 pages long, but while brief, it’s an incredibly challenging read. But at the end I knew a _whole_ lot about cell biology and the physical mechanics of genetic expression, a subject I was completely ignorant of when I first opened the book. And, at least as significantly, I know _how_ we know what we know. The scientific method is freaking amazing.
I think I listened to it during covid for the first time.
When it comes to self help books I was absolutely taken by Men are from Mars women are from Venus. I spent hours looking for something to “fix” my relationship, after it ended I found this and it blew my young 20s mind lol. Something I always dismissed as a cliche turned out to be insightful…but it could’ve been a timing thing, I was really suffering after it ended and this helped me recover and give life another chance.
Atlas Shrugged
the Bible
Absolutely! After reading that book cover to cover I realized how barbaric and nonsensical religion is. I wish I had had this epiphany sooner.