If someone was only going to read one book in their entire lifetime (excluding the Bible which I think may be an obvious choice), which would you recommend?
wow. That would be alot of different ones for me. I am not sure if I could pick just one. I am a big book reader. That is a good question though. I am in between reading Dean Koontz's book the husband and also I am finishing another book.
I feel this is an impossible question to answer. I don't think just any old fiction book would do. I think I'd want to read something educational. . . Probably a history book of some sort.
thanks Laure I might just check that one out. I like keats and books on poetry. That really speaks to me, maybe because thats what i am into and that includes all kinds, but I also liked Edgar Allen Poe books. and the Bible of course is first choice on my list, but that's an every day thing. thanks you all for the info
Only one book? Ouch! An incredibly difficult decision for an inveterate reader like me. But if I must restrict my choice to one book or only one author it would have to be Thomas Merton.
SOmeone posed this question to Marilyn von Savant, the smartest woman in the world and her response was The History of Philosophy (which technically is a series of books) but i agree with her!
I think that probably the most important book (timing-wise) of the twentieth century was Friedrich A. Hayek's 'The Road to Serfdom' -- because he was so prophetic in what would happen to Western "democracies." I believe it was published in 1945 (or '46); I have an old hard-cover version with a torn jacket. In the fiction realm, my favorite (most important) would be Ray Bradbury's 'The Martian Chronicles.' Ray is from Illinois and his images are so brilliant you can almost taste them!
Well I've read so many books it's hard to say, but my favorite so far is "Taken" by Dean Koontz. A very awesome read, I would highly recommend it, it's a whole different insight into what heaven and hell would be like, I couldn't put it down until I was finished!!
Diane, what translation do you have? The one I had in college was almost unreadable. Please don't say you read it in Greek. :)
If I were forced to pick one it would probably be Anna Karenina. Could I get away with Balzac's entire Comedie Humaine? The Magic Mountain would be right up there too. Oh dear, this is turning into a list. Sorry
Only one and not the Bible? Got to be Epictetus' Encheiridion... Beautiful part with that one is, it's so short, you'd have it memorized after a while, and then you could just spend the rest of your life contemplating it.
I'd pick the most comprehensive history of western civilization that I could find. I toyed with The Robe by Lloyd C Douglas and Dr. Zhivago, but then there is Wuthering Heights and Walden and Tale of Two Cities. Can't pick just one book of fiction, so it must be History of Western Civilization.
I'd have to say Illusions by Richard Bach. For me it was a thought-provoking, magical read about a modern-day messiah who befriends a barn-storming pilot that has questions about spirituality.
Please provide details below to help Gather review this content. If it is found to be inappropriate and in violation of the Gather Terms of Service, action will be taken.
Please select the part of the post you are reporting.
Please select why you are reporting this content.
Please enter a description.
You have successfully submitted a report for this post.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 25
The Seven Storey Mountain!
If I were forced to pick one it would probably be Anna Karenina. Could I get away with Balzac's entire Comedie Humaine? The Magic Mountain would be right up there too. Oh dear, this is turning into a list. Sorry