Your Bible?
- Thread starter newuseforvintage
- Start date
"Common Errors in English Usage."
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
Great website, great book.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
Great website, great book.
Michelangelo has written some really amazing things, lots of which (unfortunately) haven't been fully translated form their original Italian yet. It's ridiculous how far ahead of his time he was. Da Vinci too, but Michelangelo tended to write about more easily relatable things. He was a genius, but you don't have to be a genius to read his writings.
Also the Bartender's Black Book is great.
Also the Bartender's Black Book is great.
Mine didn't change my life so much as it does summarize my angle on life.
The Art of War - Sun Tzu
The Art of War - Sun Tzu
Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. They really made me a better, more thoughtful and wise person. I found I learned more from the thoughts of an honest, tangible, often flawed man, who knew and lamented his flaws, than I ever did from more dogmatic, idealised approaches to philosophy, which can sometimes be...removed from reality.
Well, I make a big study of martial arts and similar self-improvement practices, and i gotta say, the sections with the water-dancer from Braavos in George R R Martin's A Game Of Thrones really spoke to me. Not so much a defining text as a good view on body-soul-environment connectivity.
"FATHER! THE SLEEPER....HAS AWOKEN!!!!!" (I'm aware that's not the litany against fear, but I figured someone had to quote David Lynch's shitty Dune movie)DeathSnipa1992 said:
To the OP: I actually use many different books as my 'Bible'. For example, Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy and the Prince pretty clearly defines how I view the political realm. Hunter S. Thompson's work, especially "Better then Sex: The Confessions of a Political Junkie" also plays a huge role in the way I view politics. For philosophy, I've read through the Republic, but honestly everything beyond Plato's concepts of the 'realm of forms' and philosopher-kings didn't sit that well with me. Most of my philosophy comes from my own beliefs growing up, but they were largely enforced by many of Ayn Rand's works, especially We The Living and The Fountainhead. Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies" was a real eye-opener to me too, his analysis of the emergence of Caucasian Western dominance is brilliant.
I need to get some Nietzsche under my belt too, I just haven't had the time.
The Holy Bible, being literal is a beautiful thing.
Then again, it is my belief that books always, always influence our lives whether we gain a new understanding of an aspect of society, reflect on a character's personal problems or are simply inspired by the daring and imagination that went into the books themselves. In that case I guess I'm forced to cite everything from the very hungry caterpillar to Going Solo.
Then again, it is my belief that books always, always influence our lives whether we gain a new understanding of an aspect of society, reflect on a character's personal problems or are simply inspired by the daring and imagination that went into the books themselves. In that case I guess I'm forced to cite everything from the very hungry caterpillar to Going Solo.
There isn't a single piece of literature that I could point to, that I could reference as a primary source of useful material; more so such a work would need to be the epitome of any written document, past, present, and future, for it to be of any use across such a broad horizon.
That said, the best that I can respond with is an eclectic melange of life experiences, thoughts gathered from various places, a spectrum of literature, and perhaps the most important thing: Listening.
That said, the best that I can respond with is an eclectic melange of life experiences, thoughts gathered from various places, a spectrum of literature, and perhaps the most important thing: Listening.
Totally. It's basically got everything you'd learn in the first year or two of any college science or math course you could possibly take and everything prior. It all in a nice, easy, manageable format, full of tables and charts and all sorts of neat science-y wizardry. They are incredibly handy to have.Ephraim J. Witchwood said:
To Kill a Mockingbird, despite being read by me a little late in life to influence my character, is (or at least would be) a wonderful book outlining basic moral code; to judge a character by who they are and nothing else.
"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." -Scout
"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." -Scout
I haven't met a book that I could consider "My Bible" even though I have a lovely relationship with the pile of James Patterson, Jean Plaidy, and Philippa Gregory novels that sit next to my bed.
But if I had to pick, it would be the FIRST Harry Potter, just because on the inside cover it says "To Christina: May your heart stay pure so that you can see the magic in the world around you. Love, forever and always, your father." It was a Christmas gift to me the year came out, so I guess I kinda cling to it for all that it's worth.
But if I had to pick, it would be the FIRST Harry Potter, just because on the inside cover it says "To Christina: May your heart stay pure so that you can see the magic in the world around you. Love, forever and always, your father." It was a Christmas gift to me the year came out, so I guess I kinda cling to it for all that it's worth.
Pfff, that's a hard one. I used to read HEAPS, not so much these days. My favourite book'd be an easier question, but one I live by the words of? Dunno.
Yes Man, by Danny Wallace.
About a man who stops saying no for several months and decides to say yes to everything instead. Reading this book showed me how optimism and getting out there really can make a difference, instead of just sitting on my ass all day. Seriously a good read, I enjoyed it quite thoroughly.
About a man who stops saying no for several months and decides to say yes to everything instead. Reading this book showed me how optimism and getting out there really can make a difference, instead of just sitting on my ass all day. Seriously a good read, I enjoyed it quite thoroughly.
Sorry I have to do this!
But my book is Mein Kampf
Naaah, just kidding.
Well, there is no "book" which I follow but there is a musical piece well, two of them.
Here they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGRglp6tvs
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PtIHBCuR-Q&feature=related
Each and every time I've had to do some soul search, then I've listened to that.
But my book is Mein Kampf
Naaah, just kidding.
Well, there is no "book" which I follow but there is a musical piece well, two of them.
Here they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGRglp6tvs
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PtIHBCuR-Q&feature=related
Each and every time I've had to do some soul search, then I've listened to that.