What book influenced you the most?

[Lefty]

I have read so many books, I don't even know what books influenced me the most. However, I know some.

The Lorax and Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss- Two of my favorite books as a child, and The Lorax probably was the first leftist book I read.

The "Goosebumps" series by R.L. Stine- This is the series that started my reading career. I own every single one, and have them all memorized. Sure, they all suck, but still, their influence on me is undeniable.

The Old Man and the Sea- I first read this in the 3rd grade, and it spoke volumes to me. Hemingway's short, descriptive sentences actually took me to Cuba and followed Santiago through his epic, symbolic battle with the fish... man, Hemingway sure could write.

The Catcher in the Rye- Probably my favorite book. Everytime I read it, I feel like Holden Caulfield is actually sitting across from me, relating his journey. J.D. Salinger's talent for writing in such a way that you can completely relate to his characters is uncanny.

1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell- I first read these in 7th grade, and they were probably the first books that actually made me think about politics. This, combined with a leftist English/Reading teacher, made my 7th grade the first time I started thinking in a leftist manner.

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut- Vonnegut's dry sense of humor and social commentary changed the way I look at the world.

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx- Nothing needs to be said here. Changed my political ideology forever.

And probably a bunch of other books that I forgot. It's too late for memory.

[truthaddict11]

Live From Death Row-Mumia Abu-Jamal
The Autobiography of Malcom X-as told to Alex Haley
Fahrenhiet 451 -Ray Bradbury
1984- George Orwell

[Umoja]

I'd say "Man Child in the Promised Land" By Claude Brown, it had little up-lifting of the Black community in it, but it rather identified the problems, in a logical manner. Add to the fact that some things were so sad (11 y/o boys trying to masturbate or cooking shrimp in hair grease) that they were darkly humorous. It's a recommended book for anyone who wants to understand how the Ghetto can effect ones mindset.

[MJM]

The first book that influenced me heavily was 'Black Like Me'.
It changed me from a confused isolated teenager into an openminded humanist.

[man in the red suit]

the che bio (Jon lee)

the giver

a day no pigs would die

bullet

the wringer

lovely bones

I don't know why these books changed my life but in some way they did and ever since then I have never been quite the same. I always tend to look at things from a multitude of perspectives ever since.

[Umoja]

My English class that year was Half-Black and Half-White when we read "Black Like Me". I didn't like it to much, because the author seemed to have some racism built in. He talked about Black people like animals saying "The Negro does this" and "The Negro does that". It's like watching "Nature" on PBS, the special Black people hunting episode.

[Lefty]

I forgot "The Wringer." Brilliant commentary on peer pressure and animal cruelty.

[mentalbunny]

Books that influenced me, for good or bad:

Junk by Melvin Burgess-opened my eyes to the pain in the world, took the glamour away from heroin.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice-introduced me to the fact that humans are really imperfect.

1984 by George Orwell-scared the shit out of me, woke up my political side.

There's more but nothing so major that I can remember it off the top of my head. Sorry!

[MJM]

Quote: from Umoja on 1:55 pm on Dec. 23, 2002
My English class that year was Half-Black and Half-White when we read "Black Like Me". I didn't like it to much, because the author seemed to have some racism built in. He talked about Black people like animals saying "The Negro does this" and "The Negro does that". It's like watching "Nature" on PBS, the special Black people hunting episode.


Unforunately a lot of white people have racism 'built in' by society so you're probably correct in what you say. This goes back to the discussion about whether racism is learned, which it is. So you have a middle aged white man from the south of US, odds are high he'll have racists tendencies to some degree.
What the book did for me was show how stupid racism is and how badly black US people are treated. Like I said I was a teenager when I read it so it really opened my eyes.

I didn't read it in school so don't have any perspective on the effect in a group situation- did you find it offensive and divisive to the class?
I've always thought every teenager should read it, because of the effect it had on me personally.

[Umoja]

My school district pushed, and still does push, contreversy. So, it wasn't as bad as one would think, even though one white girl had an aversion to saying "black people" so she'd say "Negro" instead, which got a fair amount of chuckles.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

What's all this fuss about in the US about the word "Negro". I don't use it myself, because I don't mind peoples race.

[Socialist Pig]

The World war series by Harry Turtle Dove (Also the "darkness" series)
1984
Animal Farm
911 - Noam Chomsky

All great books.

[Umoja]

Negro is just an outdated word, it doesn't really offend anyone but generally only older people use, since it's an older word.

[Pete]

Brave New World
The Redwall Series (yahoo for animal communes in the forest)
The World War Series (turtledove)
Owl Magazine (as a kid of course)
Of Fortune and Men's Eyes (one the Canadian prison system of the early 1950's a play)
Cry, The Beloved Country (1946 south africa)
The Wheel of Time Series (jaques~ two rivers pre-lord perrin)
Farinhiet 451
1984 (slit wrists make me shiver)
Che-Lives Newswire (cheers comrades)
Toronto Star
I think I should stop because I read so much I could keep going for ever.
12th Planet (interesting....)
I used to read alot of star wars books...so they all count. BUT I SAID STOP

[ComradeJunichi]

Animal Farm - Got me interested into history, which later got me interested into politics and economics

1984 - Scary, enjoyable, lots of sex.

Catcher in the Rye - One of my favorites. I can relate to this book on every single page. When Holden talks to that chick about running away, I seriously thought I was reading my conversation I had with a friend all over again.

Communist Manifesto - Obviously.

[Lefty]

HOWLY SHIT! I forgot Redwall! Jesus, I love Brian Jacques. CP, have you read The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman? I got it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down, Jacques is such a great storyteller.

[synthesis]

I spent second grade charging through the Lord of the Rings trilogy, then spent all of third grade attempting to puzzle out the Silmarillion.

I never needed anything to wake up my political side, it's always been there. Tolkien woke up the nerd in me, and I love the guy for it.

[Pete]

I've only ever read the RedWall series! Actually I gave one of them to my friend who recently immigrated from Korea because we wanted to learn english better through reading. I wanted to get that book though when I saw it in A & P.

The Similiron!!!!! That rocked!! I read a lot of the 'mythology' books. The book of lost tales. The Lost road. So many.

[kurt cobain]

1.Che(Jon Lee Anderson)
2.The Autobiography of Malcom X-as told to Alex Haley
3.No logo(Naomi Klein)

(Edited by kurt cobain at 3:44 pm on Jan. 2, 2003)

[Lefty]

The lord of the rings didnt really influence me, but Tolkien was truly a genius. I really find it fascinating how involved he got with the world he created. He like made up fucking launguages for the races, and mythology, and history, and everything. And look how much the world has been changed because of it. I mean, the entire fantasy genre was created by him, and people still take up reading because of his genius.

[sin miedo]

The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols.