Freethought & Rationalism Archive

fromtheright · 01-28-2003, 04:12 PM

Similar to vixstile's question, but not quite:

What 5--10 books were instrumental in shaping or changing your political/philosophical views? I'll have to list my own after I get home from work.

trunks2k · 01-28-2003, 04:14 PM

I can't think of 5 more more books right now. But the one book that stands out in my mind as having the biggest effect on my life was "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail". Well, actually it's a play, but I read it in English class a few years ago. Many of the things said in that book just made things very clear for me, it was the straw that broke the camels back and I gave up christianity entirely and became a non-theist.

Hedwig · 01-28-2003, 04:37 PM

Right off the top of my head I remember being very influenced by the short essay, "A Visit to Newgate", by Charles Dickens. It's no great secret that Dickens had a problem with the prison and justice systems of his day, seeing as how his father was sent to debtor's prison, etc. But "A Visit to Newgate" was easily the most influential as far as my interest in the justice system of our day.

Friar Bellows · 01-28-2003, 05:23 PM

The most influential book for me was A Book of Planets for You by Franklyn Branley.

Followed by Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain.

philechat · 01-28-2003, 06:31 PM

Can't think of earlier influences now. But these are books that affected my philosophical views the past 1-2 years

On the Geneology of Morals ~Nietzsche

Myths to Live By~Joseph Campbell

Critique of Philosophy and Religion~Walter Kaufmann

Minima Ethnographica~Michael Jackson (okay, the author)

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire~Giddon

The Metamorphoses~Ovid

And most recently, the poems of Shelley

Grad Student Humanist · 01-28-2003, 07:17 PM

Albert Camus - The Myth of Sisyphus

J.P. Sartre - "Existentialism is a Humanism" (essay)

Arthur Schopenhauer - The World as Will and Idea

Bertrand Russell - Why I Am Not a Xtian and Wisdom of the West

Michel Foucault - The Foucault Reader

John Rawls - A Theory of Justice

J.P. Lyotard - The Postmodern Condition

Orestes · 01-28-2003, 07:27 PM

Myths to Live By, Hero with A Thousand Faces, and The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

The Age of Reason and The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine

Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan

and various books about Dinosaurs and Space that I read as a child.

Straight Hate · 01-28-2003, 07:48 PM

The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell - Very interesting, and in my case, provided a good platform for religious tolerance towards believers.

A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking - Armed with highschool chemistry and physics, I was able to unlock a much larger world with this book.

Treatise of Civil Government, John Locke - I had to read this for a introductory political science course, and I'm glad I did. I was blown away by Locke's clear and simplistic manner of taking nothing and turning into a full-blown economic and political system. An eye-opener for sure, even if I'm not a die-hard classical liberal.

No Logo, Naomi Klein - I'm no activist, but it was very shocking to learn the other side of the 'truth' about branding.

Unfortunately, that's about it for now... I've neglected my reading duties and opted mostly for the books everyone else had been buzzing over.

August Spies · 01-28-2003, 09:11 PM

man there are tons of fiction books that I adore but.... really not many that shaped my political/philosophical views. So this will be mostly non-fiction

Society of the Spectacle - Guy Debord
1984 - Orwell (my one fiction book)
Days of War, Nights of Love - Crimethinc. collective
The People's History of the United States - Zinn
The Joy of Revolution - Ken Knabb

currently im doing some in depth studying of Nietzsche (Zarathursta, Tragedy and Geneology) which is changing my views. But ill wait till the end to add him.

Although I haven't read it yet... im farily positive Horkhiemer and Adorno will be added to my list.

and lastly, although I take a lot from existentialism... I can't really think of a single book ive read that really influenced me.

August Spies · 01-28-2003, 09:16 PM

oh and my collection of Robert G. Ingersoll essays was essiential in developing my agnosticism.

01-28-2003, 04:12 PM	#1
fromtheright Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 633	Books that most influenced you Similar to vixstile's question, but not quite: What 5--10 books were instrumental in shaping or changing your political/philosophical views? I'll have to list my own after I get home from work.

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01-28-2003, 04:14 PM	#2
trunks2k Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 6,997	I can't think of 5 more more books right now. But the one book that stands out in my mind as having the biggest effect on my life was "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail". Well, actually it's a play, but I read it in English class a few years ago. Many of the things said in that book just made things very clear for me, it was the straw that broke the camels back and I gave up christianity entirely and became a non-theist.

01-28-2003, 04:37 PM	#3
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	Right off the top of my head I remember being very influenced by the short essay, "A Visit to Newgate", by Charles Dickens. It's no great secret that Dickens had a problem with the prison and justice systems of his day, seeing as how his father was sent to debtor's prison, etc. But "A Visit to Newgate" was easily the most influential as far as my interest in the justice system of our day.

01-28-2003, 05:23 PM	#4
Friar Bellows Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: arse-end of the world Posts: 2,305	The most influential book for me was A Book of Planets for You by Franklyn Branley. Followed by Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain.

01-28-2003, 06:31 PM	#5
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	Can't think of earlier influences now. But these are books that affected my philosophical views the past 1-2 years On the Geneology of Morals ~Nietzsche Myths to Live By~Joseph Campbell Critique of Philosophy and Religion~Walter Kaufmann Minima Ethnographica~Michael Jackson (okay, the author) Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire~Giddon The Metamorphoses~Ovid And most recently, the poems of Shelley

01-28-2003, 07:17 PM	#6
Grad Student Humanist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melrose, MA Posts: 961	Albert Camus - The Myth of Sisyphus J.P. Sartre - "Existentialism is a Humanism" (essay) Arthur Schopenhauer - The World as Will and Idea Bertrand Russell - Why I Am Not a Xtian and Wisdom of the West Michel Foucault - The Foucault Reader John Rawls - A Theory of Justice J.P. Lyotard - The Postmodern Condition

01-28-2003, 07:27 PM	#7
Orestes Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 349	Myths to Live By, Hero with A Thousand Faces, and The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell The Age of Reason and The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan and various books about Dinosaurs and Space that I read as a child.

01-28-2003, 07:48 PM	#8
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell - Very interesting, and in my case, provided a good platform for religious tolerance towards believers. A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking - Armed with highschool chemistry and physics, I was able to unlock a much larger world with this book. Treatise of Civil Government, John Locke - I had to read this for a introductory political science course, and I'm glad I did. I was blown away by Locke's clear and simplistic manner of taking nothing and turning into a full-blown economic and political system. An eye-opener for sure, even if I'm not a die-hard classical liberal. No Logo, Naomi Klein - I'm no activist, but it was very shocking to learn the other side of the 'truth' about branding. Unfortunately, that's about it for now... I've neglected my reading duties and opted mostly for the books everyone else had been buzzing over.

01-28-2003, 09:11 PM	#9
August Spies Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Vine Posts: 12,950	man there are tons of fiction books that I adore but.... really not many that shaped my political/philosophical views. So this will be mostly non-fiction Society of the Spectacle - Guy Debord 1984 - Orwell (my one fiction book) Days of War, Nights of Love - Crimethinc. collective The People's History of the United States - Zinn The Joy of Revolution - Ken Knabb currently im doing some in depth studying of Nietzsche (Zarathursta, Tragedy and Geneology) which is changing my views. But ill wait till the end to add him. Although I haven't read it yet... im farily positive Horkhiemer and Adorno will be added to my list. and lastly, although I take a lot from existentialism... I can't really think of a single book ive read that really influenced me.

01-28-2003, 09:16 PM	#10
August Spies Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Vine Posts: 12,950	oh and my collection of Robert G. Ingersoll essays was essiential in developing my agnosticism.

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