CliffsNotes Don't Count
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - CHALLENGES
We are all sitting on the story carpet in third grade when Lucy Hines (the brat with the braids) squeals, "That snake is gonna eat him!" Heck, yeah, I think. This is getting good. My teacher, Ms. Franklin, is reading Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, and I am hooked.
Most of us have read a few books (otherwise known as "what we did before the Internet") that move us profoundly ... so much so that we gush about them to our friends with a "Your-life-will-not-be-complete-unless-you-read-this" stamp of approval.
What five books should everyone read—and why?
1. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Dr. Paul Farmer steals supplies and meds from Harvard Medical School. He will eradicate TB and AIDS in third-world countries or die trying.
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Reading these poems = listening to They Might Be Giants. Did we also mention that Silverstein did his own illustrations?
3. Netherland by Joseph O’Neill. There has never been a more perfect post-9/11 novel about isolation and being a man in this new world. Oh, and you learn about cricket.
4. Crazy Mad Libs. Hey, it counts; it has pages. And it's hours of (adjective) fun.
5. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Young Persian girl flees to France with her family, listens to punk rock, questions her faith, and shows us what freedom's all about.
:: Well-read list by David Precht. Well-balanced imagery by Tommy Hans.
The Bible by God's ghost writers: I believe that atheists and Christians alike should read this book. Obvious reasons for the Christian but for the atheist it will help them gain a better understanding of the belief system Christians adhere to. There's nothing better that going right to the source to get information. Plus the moral code you might learn is an added bonus.
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut: Witty and philosophical. This anti-war science fiction will have you rethinking what it all means.
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin: Not an autobiography of his life but rather of his stand up career. Quite funny.
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler: The historical value of this book is a good enough reason to read it. However, this book should be read to gain a clear understanding of how hate can spread and to better understand the Holocaust. (Please note I suggest this only for it's historical value, NOT for it's message of hate)
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss: What's not to like about this classic? It teaches children to love new foods! (It may also carry with it a message about discrimination)
Everyone is a lot of people! But I'm going for it. Drawing from what I have read so far in this lifetime, I would recommend that Everyone read:
1. The Bhagavad Gita translated by Juan Mascaro, because the Upanishads are the milk from the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita is the butter made from that milk, or something like that. And Juan Mascaro is a wonderful translator.
2. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, because it is about love and contains some clues to American goodness. (Every place has something special to offer, right?)
3. Coming of Age in the Milky Way by Timothy Ferris, because it is possible for everyone to enjoy astronomy and physics this way.
4. And Grandma Said... Iroquois Teachings as passed down through the oral tradition by Tom Porter (Sakokwenionkwas) because Native American wisdom could probably come in handy right about now. And this is a great read.
5. The Tao Te Ching, a pocket size edition so you can carry it with you and refer to it as you move through your day to bring you to a peaceful and centered restfulness. Jonathan Star did a wonderful translation.
1. Harry Potter (All 7 of 'em! - bet you can't read just one!) by J.K. Rowling
2. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (or ANY of her other books!)
3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
5. Sidney and Norman: A Tale of Two Pigs by Phil Vischer
*honorable mentions:
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
1. Anna Karenina, Tolstoy - Tolstoy captures the events of everyday life that I could never put into words
2. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Eggars - Beautiful and unique autobiographical story, full of life
3. Culture Jam, Lasn - A great book on the massive media and the way they have infiltrated our lives, completely changed the way I consumed goods and my view on the world
4. A Movable Feast, Hemingway - An autobiographical work of Hemingway's time in Paris
5. Anything by the poet Rumi
@coconutlove hm i read a farewell to arms by hemingway and i didn't really like it. it wasn't that interesting to me. I understand it was moving in some parts, but it just ended soo abruptly. maybe it just wasn't the book for me.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee. Contrary to what I first thought, it is not a how-to book. It's so easy to read and has a great message. I want my future husband to be like Atticus
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- J.K Rowling Once again, really easy to read and it's all about friendship, which I love.
3. The World According to Clarkson- Jeremy Clarkson. It's the funniest thing I've read. Who doesn't love grumpy, old Englishmen talking about what annoys them?
4. P.S I love You- Cecelia Ahern. It's so sad, so happy and so brilliant
5. The Bible. Because it's amazing, inspiring, truthful, helpful and so many other things
The Giver ( for reasons already stated)
the whale rider ( just an all around amazing story.. i know people say this all the time but much much better than the movie)
catcher in the rye (for resoasons that everyone has said)
the alchemist ( i am AMAZED that nobody has mentioned this one yet. seriously flabbergasted. this book taught me so much about purpose)
There are to many amazing and life changing books out there, so I am just going to have to list five books that I love. I am sixteen and have discovered that the best way to discover the world is through reading.
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns ~ Khaled Hosseini
2. Joshua ~ Joseph F. Girzone
3. The Long Walk ~ Slavomir Rawicz
4. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee ~ Dee Brown
5. Centennial ~ James A. Michener
- LIFE's BIG QUESTIONS
- ATTACK A CHALLENGE
@JustindeLeon
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there is a download of John O'Donohue on this website you may like...I did