Nine Books
From starving_cynic.
1. One book that changed your life
Rebel Sell (aka "Nation of Rebels"), by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter (summary). Destroyed my thinking of modern society as divided between "alternative culture" which fought against "the system" and a corporate "mainstream". Everything operates within the (free market) system, "alternative culture" being a matter of choosing to consume different products rather than a different fundamental philosophy. Finishing this book felt like I had delivered the death-blow to my adolescence. Now I am just a cynical adult and the world is much less fun.
2. One book you have read more than once
Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger. Cliche, I know, but it's interesting how I interpret Holden Caulfield's actions differently as I get older.
3. One book you would want on a desert island
How to Escape Desert Islands for Dummies
4. One book that made you laugh
Riotous Assembly by Tom Sharpe. Not read it for years, but I fondly remember almost passing out with laughter.
5. One book that made you cry
A Spy in the House of Love by Anais Nin
6. One book you wish had been written
E2 Visa Backdoors and Shortcuts - US Immigration in 30 Days or Less :(
7. One book you wish had never been written
Tempted to say The Bible due to the terrible things which have been and continue to be done in it's name. But it is beautifully written, some of it's philosophies at face value are pretty decent and removing it would only leave a void which would only be filled by an equivalent book.
Any book which is important enough to eradicate would cause such huge changes in the way the world is now that it may not be such a great idea to remove it from history, leaving only the insignificant books which aren't worth vaporising anyway.
I'll probably go along with Lindsay's answer of Dianetics by L Ron Hubbard. If it never existed then a significant number of people would have better lives, no-one would have a worse life, and the world wouldn't be missing any great literature. As an organisation the Church of Scientology is aggressive enough for Dianetics to cease to be an insignificant text in the coming decades (possibly centuries), and then it really will cause some terrible things to happen.
8. One book you are currently reading
The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas Stanley and William Danko
9. One book you have been meaning to read
33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene. Military strategy isn't something I'm really interested in, but Robert Greene's previous books (48 Laws of Power, and The Art of Seduction) are two of my favourite books ever so I'm sure it'll be a good read.
1. One book that changed your life
Rebel Sell (aka "Nation of Rebels"), by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter (summary). Destroyed my thinking of modern society as divided between "alternative culture" which fought against "the system" and a corporate "mainstream". Everything operates within the (free market) system, "alternative culture" being a matter of choosing to consume different products rather than a different fundamental philosophy. Finishing this book felt like I had delivered the death-blow to my adolescence. Now I am just a cynical adult and the world is much less fun.
2. One book you have read more than once
Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger. Cliche, I know, but it's interesting how I interpret Holden Caulfield's actions differently as I get older.
3. One book you would want on a desert island
How to Escape Desert Islands for Dummies
4. One book that made you laugh
Riotous Assembly by Tom Sharpe. Not read it for years, but I fondly remember almost passing out with laughter.
5. One book that made you cry
A Spy in the House of Love by Anais Nin
6. One book you wish had been written
E2 Visa Backdoors and Shortcuts - US Immigration in 30 Days or Less :(
7. One book you wish had never been written
Tempted to say The Bible due to the terrible things which have been and continue to be done in it's name. But it is beautifully written, some of it's philosophies at face value are pretty decent and removing it would only leave a void which would only be filled by an equivalent book.
Any book which is important enough to eradicate would cause such huge changes in the way the world is now that it may not be such a great idea to remove it from history, leaving only the insignificant books which aren't worth vaporising anyway.
I'll probably go along with Lindsay's answer of Dianetics by L Ron Hubbard. If it never existed then a significant number of people would have better lives, no-one would have a worse life, and the world wouldn't be missing any great literature. As an organisation the Church of Scientology is aggressive enough for Dianetics to cease to be an insignificant text in the coming decades (possibly centuries), and then it really will cause some terrible things to happen.
8. One book you are currently reading
The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas Stanley and William Danko
9. One book you have been meaning to read
33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene. Military strategy isn't something I'm really interested in, but Robert Greene's previous books (48 Laws of Power, and The Art of Seduction) are two of my favourite books ever so I'm sure it'll be a good read.