Paul's Pages
What books changed the way you view the world and why?
Wow, what an excellent question, Ian Fyffe!
In order of appearance:
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
learning to change the self in order to change one's circumstance
ex. smiling more, taking an interest in others (genuinely), etc.
[I began to experience success with trying out and taking on these suggestions -
began to note that most of the effective suggestions had a basis in the teachings of the great religions.]
2. The Old Testament: the first part - The Pentateuch
(The Books of Moses) - for some time I had decided that since
both the Jews and Christians believed in this part of the Bible,
I should start my studies here, and as a result of trying to follow the
laws of Leviticus, I realized since that I had become a Jew for a while... ;)
A few years later, in reading the Proverbs and Psalms of David
I realized that the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament were not
so new / different from the Old Testament. I became a Christian again. :)
3. Born For Love - Leo Buscaglia - the name says it all
Check out the summary I made of the book.
4. The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peale ditto -
this author also not only convinced me of the importance and benefit of prayers,
but managed to suggest practical methods to make it a practice in my life
5. Silva Mind Control - Very powerful methods of meditation and visualization.
It was a huge realization to know that our output is so much more if we can calm and control our brain.
6. Erroneous Zones - Wayne W. Dyer Learn that one way we come closer and closer to truth
or to move ahead is to continually become aware of our errors and to discard / overcome them
7. Learning Methods - A Debate between practitioners of the Alexander Technique and David Gorman
As a result of this intensive read, I learned a lot about the Alexander Technique:
physiology, health and healing, and philosophy -
a lot of the Technique is related to philosophy -
I realized that a 3rd party to help you with feedback is extremely useful physically,
because we are not always aware of the errors we make, or the ruts we are stuck in -
the same applies in other areas
8. The Bhagavad-gita - Krishna: Hinduism yet Monotheistic
- perhaps it should suffice to let you know that
Ghandi would often say that this Book
was the source of his inspiration.
It is titled, "the gem of the East" for a reason.
Began to understand a lot more about the world, the people in it,
and spiritual reality. I became a Hindu (though still Christian).
9. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh - matchless. I became a Bahá'i.
Also, this Book motivated me to learn the Qur'an (and, in consequence, to learn Arabic).
10. The Secret of Divine Civilization - 'Abdu'l-Bahá - gained a perspective of the world much more in line with the facts - ie, learned about the glorious Islamic civilization that was the torch-bearer for humanity between 500 and 1500 C.E. (Common Era). The Christian West has tried to overlook this, but even the renoun French scholar William Draper said a century ago, that there was no reason for this other than "religious rancor."
11. The Book of Certitude - Bahá'u'lláh - it is the “Book” referred to by Daniel", "remarkably lucid, both cogent in argument and matchless in its irresistible eloquence," wherein are "disclosed the meaning of the “words” destined to remain “closed up” till the “time of the end.”"
My spirit, once warm, became a blazing fire. My 'belief', or 'faith', was then based on knowledge. It became Certitude.
12. The Dawnbreakers - Nabil-i-Azam - the stories of these heroes are absolutely transforming, awe inspiring, empowering, and confirming.