Has a book ever changed your life?

Too many to list, really. But of particular interest to ATS people might be High Rise by JG Ballard. It is an excellent metaphoric presentation of the mechanics of social decay and decline. Another big personal eye opener was The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin. Less quirky but no less powerful influences include War and Peace,Vonnegut's stuff, and Orwell, of course...Oh yes, Cormac McCarthy, especially Blood Meridian.

This book changed my life. I was given a copy for the Yuletide while living in Scotland, and after reading it, the concept that science and spirituality can exist in a complimentary fashion was no longer a problem for me.
It's a pretty good read and there is an excellent reference biblio included.

reply to post by CosmosKid


That good? Glad to hear it, because a few weeks ago, when my mom was cleaning house, she gave me a bunch of old books she didn't want anymore, and this was one of them; same edition even, because that's the same cover. I'll have to check it out soon.