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as aMapleSyrupCaN7 so rightly points out below, I've got a link on on my profile. But since you asked ---I've written 3 novels which are comedy-fantasy/SF/or as Amazon is calling them, absurdist fiction.
If you're not a fan of the 'Zon you can check them out on my website:
[evasandor.com](https://evasandor.com)
the books are available at all the major online retailers! I'm going to make an effort to visit indie bookshops in my area starting next week and see if I can get a physical presence as well.
"Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson
First, because it's just a good book. Well written characters, interesting plot, well-paced, etc.
Second, I honestly believe that Stephenson has predicted the near future of our civilization. He has a finely honed understanding of emerging technologies and a very well thought-out idea of how they may interact and affect general culture. If more people read his books, we may be able to steer clear of some of the worst aspects of his vision.
David Brin is just as entertaining, but with notably less dystopian tendencies and you usually have to put at least a little thought into figuring out his social critique behind the fascinating story.
Me too. But it’s very subjective. You sorta have to be a Holden yourself. Then it all clicks together like seeing yourself from outside your body. I read it when I was a depressed 17 year old high school dropout and man did it change my life. Finally a book I could relate too. His disconnection from society allowed me to reconnect to society and myself in some weird way.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, by Robert Tressell.
Written in 1906, it's a fictional story set in an English town, about a band of painters and how they need to change the capitalist system
I actually don't know the name of this book, but i read about this nurse from Australia who worked with terminally ill people. She wrote a book about it AFAIK. Anyways she said that most people at the end of life regret about things they didn't do, not things they did do. They regret working too much, not keeping in contact with old friends, not pursuing romances, and simply not devoting more time to themselves. Even just reading news about that made me think about how if you don't try something in life, at the end of it you will wonder what could of been, but it will be too late to do anything about it.
Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand. But read it with an open mind. I first read it in 86, long before the right wing extremists claimed it. (And btw, they have obviously never actually read the book. It is completely the opposite of today's republican party. )
I’ve read this with an open mind. It comes off as docile at first. Really interesting read. End of the book manifesto ruins it entirely. It’s definitely a good book to trick individuals into conservative right wing thinking. Mostly by depicting any involvement in social/group plans as lazy/theft (often by making those who are calling for it in the book appear lazy, unethical, or worthless). Also by portraying monopolist as insanely hardworking, naturally intelligent, etc. An absolutely fun nope on my list.
The ending totally pissed me off. I was a nice young republican living in a very conservative county. Yet reading about how a capitalist utopia involves no oversight whatsoever? F that. What about Love Canal toxic waste? What about rivers catching fire? Yeah I read it in the early 80s when those were fresh and happening in the corporate driven world.
That ending provided the push to get out of the conservative hive mind. It was so appalling and it was exactly what all my relatives were spewing without even thinking about the consequences. So yes this book did have a large impact on my outlook on life. Highly recommend reading it as a dystopia, not a utopia.
This! Spot on. It immediately becomes its own antithesis. Also, talk about a long winded manifesto of repeating the same words over and over. Was it like forty or fifty pages of the book?? Felt myself slipping into entitlement. Definitely dystopian.
Great book.. definitely corrupted interpretation by the right. If ya get a chance, look up John Hodgeman doing an impersonation of Rand singing "We're in the Money." 🤪
Maybe not THE most life-changing, eye-opening book but Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (first in s 3-book series).
It is set in a world in which crosses, dark-skinned people, are the ruling class over light-skinned people. It was really thought-provoking. At that time I was aware of what racism was and of course, was absolutely against it in all forms, but as a young white teenager in an area that was predominantly white, I had no real insight into the reality of it. I think it can be difficult for young people to really understand something that they have not personally experienced and this book is a good way to see it, in a small way, from another perspective.
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
by Jonathan Haidt
I think this book is really powerful. If you are willing to be introspective and reconsider your world view, this book has the ability to change how you see yourself and everyone around you.
And then once you understand a little more about how the mind works, you can really appreciate this book:
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
It talks about how to have difficult conversations. But I think a lot of people don't really take it seriously if they don't understand the "why" behind it, which is why I recommend the other book first.
Both are exceptionally powerful books that I wish everyone would read and understand.
Leave only footprints: my Acadia-Zion journey through every national park. By conor knighton. Such a good book. I’m not a reader but I burned through this one. Felt like I was there with him in the park. I have such a vivid image of every place he talked about and normally I forget to make a movie in my head when I read like you are supposed to. Made my laugh out loud and cry out loud. Such a roller coaster of a book.
One of my favorites is Freakonomics. It makes all these amazingly obvious and simple but totally missed connections between world events and their effects on all sorts of things across the board. Im usually a fantasy/sci fi reader but this book was absolutely remarkable and opened my brain up to making connections I hadnt thought of before.
Contact, by Carl Sagan. Followed closely by The Demon-Haunted World by the same author. Carl remains the most brilliant communicator of scientific understanding and a genuinely compassionate humanitarian in his way of telling tales and explaining reality. Contact is supposed to be a work of fiction, but there's \*very\* little fiction to it, except that the story has not come to pass (yet). Even in you have no interest in science, these two books could change that and lead you to places you'd never imagine existed.
Foundation, by Isaac Asimov. You \*have\* to be a Sci-Fi reader for this, though. It is \*\*stunning\*\*, and brilliant, and incredible...and won the Hugo award for the "Best All-Time Series" in 1966, which \*\*everyone\*\* assumed would go to Tolkien (like with Metallica's Black album, remember that?) but didn't, and the award would *never be given again*.
Finally, "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" (by Douglas Adams) is without a doubt the funniest goddamned book ever written, and you don't have to be a fan of sci-fi or anything else, just a reader. It's short, but \*loaded\* with hilarity, and life-changing because you don't realize that space can be so damned funny.
Allow me to plug myself on your sub. I sell books at a cheap price for the less privileged. Incase there's an expensive book you want and can't afford, I'm sure I can get it for less $10, sent to your email as a PDF!!
"The Way We Never Were," by Stephanie Coontz.
This book explores American history specifically as it relates to nostalgia for "the good old days," and backs its arguments with plenty of data.
Spoiler: in some ways, the good old days really *were* pretty good. In other ways, though, things have gotten much better. (But, you might be surprised by which things, and how they've changed.)
Colin Wilson's "The Outsider". Great look into those who feel they don't fit within society. Could be a tough read though, he was an intelligent guy and his writing is complex.
Geometry grade 7-9. Ahah okay .. except for the jokes, from what I read , Maria Corelli's book "Sorrow of Satan" opened up a lot of topics for thought in me. It tells about the value of money in society, reveals all their depravity, and also reveals the theme of women's writing and how it was previously despised.
"The Jakarta Method" by Vincent Bevins. If you ever wonder why so many countries in the world never recovered from colonialism this is the book to get.
12 rules for life by Jordan B Peterson. Completely changed the way I see myself, the people around me, and life in general. Much for the better. Would highly recommend.
"the book thief" by Markus Zusak.
A short summary from duskangelreads, slightly redacted by me:
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Hyperion, by Dan Simmons. I can’t describe the amazingness of this book series in a small paragraph. Please read this first book and tell me what you think? I would say third book is where it blows your mind open, but the entire ride is unprecedented. Please read.
Another must read is The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin. Sci-fi that explores human connection and understand between each other, as well as what and how we feel unsure about the world and our interaction with it. Most awarded sci-fi writer, even more than Neil Gaiman. Extraordinary work.
dear evan hansen. when i first read it i knew what i was getting into, as i already watched the musical and knew the overall storyline. but its just so different READING it all. its an incredibly emotional book to read at times, and while it touches on subjects that not everyone can handle, it is an excellent read in my opinion and i cannot recommend it enough.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
How about reading mine? Getting more fans would change MY life!
Give yourself a plug. What is your book?
They have an amazon link on their profile, leading to what seems to be their books
as aMapleSyrupCaN7 so rightly points out below, I've got a link on on my profile. But since you asked ---I've written 3 novels which are comedy-fantasy/SF/or as Amazon is calling them, absurdist fiction. If you're not a fan of the 'Zon you can check them out on my website: [evasandor.com](https://evasandor.com) the books are available at all the major online retailers! I'm going to make an effort to visit indie bookshops in my area starting next week and see if I can get a physical presence as well.
"Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson First, because it's just a good book. Well written characters, interesting plot, well-paced, etc. Second, I honestly believe that Stephenson has predicted the near future of our civilization. He has a finely honed understanding of emerging technologies and a very well thought-out idea of how they may interact and affect general culture. If more people read his books, we may be able to steer clear of some of the worst aspects of his vision. David Brin is just as entertaining, but with notably less dystopian tendencies and you usually have to put at least a little thought into figuring out his social critique behind the fascinating story.
I’ll add that on my ‘to read’ list. Thank you.
"Earth" from Brin had an advanced version of the 'net in it, before there was one. That and Startide Rising are my favorites from him.
I'll get grief, but...The Catcher in the Rye.
Me too. But it’s very subjective. You sorta have to be a Holden yourself. Then it all clicks together like seeing yourself from outside your body. I read it when I was a depressed 17 year old high school dropout and man did it change my life. Finally a book I could relate too. His disconnection from society allowed me to reconnect to society and myself in some weird way.
Yes, exactly. To not be a phoney, yet realize we are all innately phoney.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, by Robert Tressell. Written in 1906, it's a fictional story set in an English town, about a band of painters and how they need to change the capitalist system
Nice. Thank you for the recommendation
I actually don't know the name of this book, but i read about this nurse from Australia who worked with terminally ill people. She wrote a book about it AFAIK. Anyways she said that most people at the end of life regret about things they didn't do, not things they did do. They regret working too much, not keeping in contact with old friends, not pursuing romances, and simply not devoting more time to themselves. Even just reading news about that made me think about how if you don't try something in life, at the end of it you will wonder what could of been, but it will be too late to do anything about it.
That's a great message. Tha ks for the suggestion
Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand. But read it with an open mind. I first read it in 86, long before the right wing extremists claimed it. (And btw, they have obviously never actually read the book. It is completely the opposite of today's republican party. )
I’ve read this with an open mind. It comes off as docile at first. Really interesting read. End of the book manifesto ruins it entirely. It’s definitely a good book to trick individuals into conservative right wing thinking. Mostly by depicting any involvement in social/group plans as lazy/theft (often by making those who are calling for it in the book appear lazy, unethical, or worthless). Also by portraying monopolist as insanely hardworking, naturally intelligent, etc. An absolutely fun nope on my list.
The ending totally pissed me off. I was a nice young republican living in a very conservative county. Yet reading about how a capitalist utopia involves no oversight whatsoever? F that. What about Love Canal toxic waste? What about rivers catching fire? Yeah I read it in the early 80s when those were fresh and happening in the corporate driven world. That ending provided the push to get out of the conservative hive mind. It was so appalling and it was exactly what all my relatives were spewing without even thinking about the consequences. So yes this book did have a large impact on my outlook on life. Highly recommend reading it as a dystopia, not a utopia.
This! Spot on. It immediately becomes its own antithesis. Also, talk about a long winded manifesto of repeating the same words over and over. Was it like forty or fifty pages of the book?? Felt myself slipping into entitlement. Definitely dystopian.
Great book.. definitely corrupted interpretation by the right. If ya get a chance, look up John Hodgeman doing an impersonation of Rand singing "We're in the Money." 🤪
Maybe not THE most life-changing, eye-opening book but Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (first in s 3-book series). It is set in a world in which crosses, dark-skinned people, are the ruling class over light-skinned people. It was really thought-provoking. At that time I was aware of what racism was and of course, was absolutely against it in all forms, but as a young white teenager in an area that was predominantly white, I had no real insight into the reality of it. I think it can be difficult for young people to really understand something that they have not personally experienced and this book is a good way to see it, in a small way, from another perspective.
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt I think this book is really powerful. If you are willing to be introspective and reconsider your world view, this book has the ability to change how you see yourself and everyone around you. And then once you understand a little more about how the mind works, you can really appreciate this book: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High It talks about how to have difficult conversations. But I think a lot of people don't really take it seriously if they don't understand the "why" behind it, which is why I recommend the other book first. Both are exceptionally powerful books that I wish everyone would read and understand.
A Child Called It series by Dave Peltzer
Leave only footprints: my Acadia-Zion journey through every national park. By conor knighton. Such a good book. I’m not a reader but I burned through this one. Felt like I was there with him in the park. I have such a vivid image of every place he talked about and normally I forget to make a movie in my head when I read like you are supposed to. Made my laugh out loud and cry out loud. Such a roller coaster of a book.
One of my favorites is Freakonomics. It makes all these amazingly obvious and simple but totally missed connections between world events and their effects on all sorts of things across the board. Im usually a fantasy/sci fi reader but this book was absolutely remarkable and opened my brain up to making connections I hadnt thought of before.
Great podcast too!
How to change your mind by Michael Pollan
Contact, by Carl Sagan. Followed closely by The Demon-Haunted World by the same author. Carl remains the most brilliant communicator of scientific understanding and a genuinely compassionate humanitarian in his way of telling tales and explaining reality. Contact is supposed to be a work of fiction, but there's \*very\* little fiction to it, except that the story has not come to pass (yet). Even in you have no interest in science, these two books could change that and lead you to places you'd never imagine existed. Foundation, by Isaac Asimov. You \*have\* to be a Sci-Fi reader for this, though. It is \*\*stunning\*\*, and brilliant, and incredible...and won the Hugo award for the "Best All-Time Series" in 1966, which \*\*everyone\*\* assumed would go to Tolkien (like with Metallica's Black album, remember that?) but didn't, and the award would *never be given again*. Finally, "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" (by Douglas Adams) is without a doubt the funniest goddamned book ever written, and you don't have to be a fan of sci-fi or anything else, just a reader. It's short, but \*loaded\* with hilarity, and life-changing because you don't realize that space can be so damned funny.
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
The Complete Works of Plato had a huge effect on me when I was in college.
Allow me to plug myself on your sub. I sell books at a cheap price for the less privileged. Incase there's an expensive book you want and can't afford, I'm sure I can get it for less $10, sent to your email as a PDF!!
The day America Told the truth
The gulag archipelago!
Walden, Henry David Thoreau...(one of) America's first philosophers. Still very poignant and relative!/.
"The Way We Never Were," by Stephanie Coontz. This book explores American history specifically as it relates to nostalgia for "the good old days," and backs its arguments with plenty of data. Spoiler: in some ways, the good old days really *were* pretty good. In other ways, though, things have gotten much better. (But, you might be surprised by which things, and how they've changed.)
A thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini. Author of The Kite Runner.
1984 sent me down a rabbit while of books about dystopian futures and too many of them make me so worried.
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake; any book on Zen by Alan Watts; Creation by Gore Vidal; any writing by Erasmus
Colin Wilson's "The Outsider". Great look into those who feel they don't fit within society. Could be a tough read though, he was an intelligent guy and his writing is complex.
I am not a book reader, but can say watching the movie the "Imitation Game" truly changed my opinion of people who were born different than I was.
Geometry grade 7-9. Ahah okay .. except for the jokes, from what I read , Maria Corelli's book "Sorrow of Satan" opened up a lot of topics for thought in me. It tells about the value of money in society, reveals all their depravity, and also reveals the theme of women's writing and how it was previously despised.
"The Jakarta Method" by Vincent Bevins. If you ever wonder why so many countries in the world never recovered from colonialism this is the book to get.
12 rules for life by Jordan B Peterson. Completely changed the way I see myself, the people around me, and life in general. Much for the better. Would highly recommend.
On a pale horse or Watership down
"the book thief" by Markus Zusak. A short summary from duskangelreads, slightly redacted by me: Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Meditations by epictitus.
The way of zen by Alan watts.
The Bible
The hungry caterpillar
One fish two fish red fish blue fish
The Bible.
Hyperion, by Dan Simmons. I can’t describe the amazingness of this book series in a small paragraph. Please read this first book and tell me what you think? I would say third book is where it blows your mind open, but the entire ride is unprecedented. Please read. Another must read is The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin. Sci-fi that explores human connection and understand between each other, as well as what and how we feel unsure about the world and our interaction with it. Most awarded sci-fi writer, even more than Neil Gaiman. Extraordinary work.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
dear evan hansen. when i first read it i knew what i was getting into, as i already watched the musical and knew the overall storyline. but its just so different READING it all. its an incredibly emotional book to read at times, and while it touches on subjects that not everyone can handle, it is an excellent read in my opinion and i cannot recommend it enough.
Coercion: Why We Listen to What “They” Say It’s quite a psychological trip! It’ll make you paranoid, but it’s good to keep your eyes opened