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Your Top 3 Books

I could probably list a hundred but the first three that come to mind are:

Catch-22
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

I really didnt enjoy Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I know people who loved it but it was at best meh for me
 
I really didnt enjoy Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I know people who loved it but it was at best meh for me

I can see that. I read it at a time in my then young life when I was overburdened with things that had to get done and did most of them half assed just in the name of getting them done. It spoke to me about the value of doing things right - for the sake of doing them right, and deriving satisfaction from that - in a way that I needed to hear.

As well I've always dreamt of making Prisig's motorcycle trip with my son. We're planning to do so early next year, though he wants to spend two weeks touring the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
 
A fictional world without parallel, a compelling story, every word/sentence/paragraph fits the tone perfectly; in fact, I daresay it could be used as a better bible. It is ultimately about the truest of human aspirations: honor, duty, the necessity of right action regardless of cost, of discovering hidden strength. The ultimate display of beauty in the fall.
Youve just described Frank Herbert's Dune. Well done. :mrgreen:
 
Where do I begin? I can't do just three!

Perhaps the one book that most strongly influenced my life was "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya - it was required reading in high school.

After that, probably James Clavell's "Tai-Pan" - it was a grand treatise on the importance of honor, courage, integrity, and understanding of humanity and culture...and how "different" is not synonymous with "wrong". It sometimes feels as if I've lived (if to a much smaller scale) the life of his main character.

And not having a dad around the house, third place goes to Heinlein's books in general, which, like Clavell's, taught me more than I suspected about honor, courage, and integrity...and a bit of common sense.

Then there's the usual suspects - Tolkien's LOTR books (all of them), and hundreds of sci-fi and fantasy books.
 
If you like historical fiction, I recommend anything by Bernard Cornwell. He has 4 or 5 different series' available. My personal favorite is the Sharp series about the Napoleonic Wars, but they are all good. If you want to try one as a sample, I'd recommend 'Agincourt'. Gives you a great idea what life and war was like in the 15th century.
 
Depends on what type we are talking about. Judging from the direction the thread is going I will assume we are going with entertaining reads. I definitely agree with "The Martian" and "Harry Potter" but those have already been taken. So I will say, off the top of my head:

"It" - I absolutely love Stephen King. I know some book snobs turn their nose up at him because he is "popular" but **** them. The man can tell a story and "It" is my favorite of his stories. I am currently reading it for the third time in about 30 years.
"Ender's Game" - The series didn't hold my attention but the first book is just perfect as a stand alone and is a classic for a reason.
"Replay" - by Ken Grimwood. Likely the least known of my three. It is about a man who dies at the age of 43 and then wakes up in the past at 18 years old, with a chance to live his life again with the knowledge of what is to come. When he hits 43 years old again the same thing happens! This happens again and again. Really fun book. I think I read it straight through in a day.

The book sucked, mostly because the short story was so great by comparison. It was nothing but Ender and how he won the war. None of the sturm and drang soap opera crapola that got added to the book, just a kid being turned into a weapon.
 
I can see that. I read it at a time in my then young life when I was overburdened with things that had to get done and did most of them half assed just in the name of getting them done. It spoke to me about the value of doing things right - for the sake of doing them right, and deriving satisfaction from that - in a way that I needed to hear.

As well I've always dreamt of making Prisig's motorcycle trip with my son. We're planning to do so early next year, though he wants to spend two weeks touring the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

I guess I just expected more motorcycle mechanics in it not just some silly ramblings of an rather boring guy riding a motorcycle.
The idea of going on a bike trip with my son sounds nice, perhaps one day Ill be able to do that as well.
 
If you like historical fiction, I recommend anything by Bernard Cornwell. He has 4 or 5 different series' available. My personal favorite is the Sharp series about the Napoleonic Wars, but they are all good. If you want to try one as a sample, I'd recommend 'Agincourt'. Gives you a great idea what life and war was like in the 15th century.

I like Ken Follet for historical novels, been reading him lately, Pillars of the Earth and the Century series.
 
Youve just described Frank Herbert's Dune. Well done. :mrgreen:

Oh, I did love Dune. Haven't read the others
 
  1. The Thief of Always
  2. The Forbidden Zone
  3. The Hammer and the Cross
 
I can see that. I read it at a time in my then young life when I was overburdened with things that had to get done and did most of them half assed just in the name of getting them done. It spoke to me about the value of doing things right - for the sake of doing them right, and deriving satisfaction from that - in a way that I needed to hear.

As well I've always dreamt of making Prisig's motorcycle trip with my son. We're planning to do so early next year, though he wants to spend two weeks touring the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Similar, just missed my top 3. For me it was a lifesaver during a time when I was under great stress, and had pretty nobody in my life, as a young man. I had since a young boy been adamant that I was going to do things right. I was found here wavering, wondering why not do things (to include thinking) half assed like seemingly most everybody else. Sure seemed easier. And I dont like being a chump.
 
The book sucked, mostly because the short story was so great by comparison. It was nothing but Ender and how he won the war. None of the sturm and drang soap opera crapola that got added to the book, just a kid being turned into a weapon.

Yeah I read the short story first as well and I concur with you, it was better
 
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