Required Reading/Viewing?

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I've just finished watching American History X for the 4th or 5th time of my life and I'm left wondering. I think everyone who has seen the film will agree it's a powerful story that incites thought in the viewer. The reason for this thread is to ask you what film, TV programme, book, magazine, quote etc you would force people to take a look at if you had the chance. What has had an impact on you, forced you to think about something you'd never thought of before or think differently about something you already had a strong opinion of? What's made you want to tell it to everyone as soon as possible? Try to limit yourself to a small number of things please, I don't want scribes of stuff to go through. If you could, please provide a small summary of the things you choose and explain what made you choose them.
 
Easy choice: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand.

Reason: No book has had a greater impact on my life and my thinking than that book, and I think a few other GTP members will say the same. I am who I am today because of that book.
 
Dare I say...the Bible?

One of, if not the, most produced book in the world? The number one book translated into the most languages (if I am correct, if not, then very near the top)

Also a book that has done so much to world history and people who choose to believe in it.

I'm not saying you have to believe in it by reading it. At least read it for the sake as to why it's always been so popular.

Don't take my word for it though (even though the change it's had in my life is by far amazing) :)
 
I read the Bible (my parents are Lutheran), and throughout the years I spent going to church, I still don't feel God there. I turned Agnostic, which was hard for my mother, because she's worried I might go to the wrong place when I pass. But, dare I ask questions of the Bible and get ridiculed by Christian's on this forum? I think not. It's not worth trying to explain logic to the hardcore religious, because in the end, it all boils down to everyone's own belief and I don't dare try and tell someone that what they believe in is a farse. It's just unethical and sometimes quite rude.

But, I do see the Bible as a good "story", per say. Much like the Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, it has a great plot and overall directive. Some portions could use some editing, but I won't get into that either.

I'd have to say that if I were to select a single literary interest, it'd have to be The Car by Gary Paulsen. It was probably the most influential piece of writing I read as a kid. A story of determination and overcoming the odds, it truly meant something to me. And the fact that it was based on a kit car, didn't hurt anything either. ;)
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Fight Club.

As violent and offending as it is, I think it shows the world in a new light.

There really isn't aone particular book or movie that I can come up with that fits the bill of life altering or eye opening. Sure there are documentaries that come across as all enlightening, but many are skewed to a particular train of thought.

After all, Super Size Me should have put millions of lawsuits in gear and McD's out of business. All it really did was put salads on the menu and take the Super SIze cups off.
 
If I were the Minister for Education, I'd force children across the nation to read 'The Blind Watchmaker' by Richard Dawkins. It is an excellent and accessible book which explains simply and clearly how evolution works, in a modern/up-to-date way. Dawkins is not just a good scientist, he is also a great communicator of science - he renders the more difficult concepts easy to understand by the clever use of relevant analogies, and in areas where controversy or differences of opinion exists, he argues his case very effectively with clear reasoning and simple language.
 
Delirious Adria
Dare I say...the Bible?
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Dare I also say the Koran or the Torah? :sly:

I've read most of the bible, some of the Koran, but I've yet to get hold of the Torah - I'm not religeous though. I was Just curious to see what the fuss was with them. As for books in general, I hate 'em!

Its strange, that nobody has mentioned required listening, so I'll be the first. If you get the chance, everyone should listen to 'Whats Going On?' by Marvin Gaye. Its an awesome album, which talks about war, drug addiction, poverty, religeon, destruction of the planet, despair and counters it all with hope. The whole album is barely 35 minutes long, but it packs a powerful and very relevant message even today - almost 30 years after it was produced. If you get the chance, listen and learn! 👍
 
magburner
I've read most of the bible, some of the Koran, but I've yet to get hold of the Torah - I'm not religeous though.
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Torah = Old Testament. Unless you speak and read Hebrew, it's far more accessible, and weighs less too (take it from some one who's hoisted one and walked around a room with it a few times).

Along the same route, the book "What the Buddah Taught" was not only a nice introduction to Buddhism; it ironically (some might argue paradoxically)led me down the path of athiesm. I have to credit it for a number of other things; to be less judgemental, to be less foolish and careless, to learn to meditate on things they are, among other things.
 
Pupik
Torah = Old Testament. Unless you speak and read Hebrew, it's far more accessible, and weighs less too (take it from some one who's hoisted one and walked around a room with it a few times).
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So the Torah is identical to the old testament in my good news bible? If it is, then I've read that too. :sly:
 
Only three books have had a profound affect on me.
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Actually, no. Only the first two.
 
toyomatt84
I'd have to say that if I were to select a single literary interest, it'd have to be The Car by Gary Paulsen. It was probably the most influential piece of writing I read as a kid. A story of determination and overcoming the odds, it truly meant something to me. And the fact that it was based on a kit car, didn't hurt anything either. ;)
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Heh, I read that book back in gr 9. Great book.Very inspiring story, I also loved the part where he installed a turbo on the car.:)

I'd also nominate the movie Forrest Gump, also a very intriguing story.
 
This is a good topic, and I look forward to reading the replies. Myself, I am going to have to think about this one for a bit.
 
I'm really looking forward to this...

You may have already seen the two-part documentary that was shown on Channel 4 recently (which was a precursor to the release of this book), called "The Root of All Evil?", which saw Dawkins launch a broadside against religious fundamentalists of all descriptions... If that was essential viewing, then this book is essential reading... 👍
 
magburner
So the Torah is identical to the old testament in my good news bible? If it is, then I've read that too. :sly:
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No the Tenakh is the old testament, the Torah is a book of the Tenakh.


The two books which have changed my life are; "The Buddah and his Teachings" and "The Essentials of Buddhism", due to the fact that Buddhism has no official be and end all text there are a wide range of Buddhist texts some of them very good indeed. Those two books changed my life in the way that Pupik described and due to the fact that they were given to me free by a team of monks who also insisted on cooking me and some friends a brilliant curry they taught me that despite not having the intricate knowledge of Kung Fu I expected them to Buddhist monks are very cool guys.

Oh, I almost forgot, the other book which changed my life was the fifth Harry Potter book, I read it after seeing it in the bestsellers list and since then I have not given a damn about whats in the bestsellers list, the book taught me that most people are morons.
 
Flame-returns
Oh, I almost forgot, the other book which changed my life was the fifth Harry Potter book, I read it after seeing it in the bestsellers list and since then I have not given a damn about whats in the bestsellers list, the book taught me that most people are morons.
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The masses are asses. :sly:

But anyway, read Love Thy Neighbor by Peter Maas. It is a brutally truthful and sometimes vulgar. A very good read.
 
Doesn't the Torah refer to the first five books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy? Those are the books traditionally credited to Moses.


KM.
 
I'd say for film, The Butterfly Effect, kinda puts across the point of "Everything happens for a reason" kind of thing and that instead of dwelling in the past, look forward to the future, as that's the only thing you can change.

As for books, erm... 1984 was pretty good.
 
Touring Mars
I'm really looking forward to this...

You may have already seen the two-part documentary that was shown on Channel 4 recently (which was a precursor to the release of this book), called "The Root of All Evil?", which saw Dawkins launch a broadside against religious fundamentalists of all descriptions... If that was essential viewing, then this book is essential reading... 👍
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I'm surprised that you would think Dawkins essential reading. He's a popular scientist and easy on the science.

Oliver Sacks' Awakenings is an awesome film, and a better book, although the book is very hard to read. Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven is very thought-provoking.
 
If you're interested in having a deeper understanding of biological evolution, then Dawkins is your man. He's got a natural talent for making you feel smart by explaining obscure and/or abstract ideas to do with evolution and the history of life that you didn't understand before.

However, he's not recommended reading for people with strong religious beliefs. He has a tendency to lay the anti-religious stuff on a bit thick at times. I probably agree with his religious beliefs but I can understand how a lot of religious people wouldn't enjoy his constant anti-God pontificating.

BUT, if you ignore the philosophy and religion, you'll enjoy some magnificent writing on the diversity and history of life on Earth. He does have a natural talent for explaining complex science to lay people. I've read The Selfish Gene, River Out Of Eden, Climbing Mount Improbable and The Blind Watchmaker and I'm currently halfway through The Ancestor's Tale. And I'd recommend all of them if a good laymans understand of evollution is what you're after.

I'd also recommend books by Carl Sagan and Richard Feynman if you're a non-scientist who's interested in getting a good grasp of the scientific method and for an insight into skepticap thinking. Both of them have written some great books that any non-scientists should enjoy reading.

P.S., if you're a Young Earth Creationist, then you're beyond help. :dopey:


KM.
 

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