The One Book
I’ve seen this crop up a few places. No one actually asked me to chime in, but then no one asked me to blog. So there we are. I couldn’t manage to fit in Lord of the Rings or Song of Ice & Fire, mostly becuase they’d be in 4 categories each.
1. One book that changed your life.
Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson. I have a long list of books that have expanded my worldview and made my life better, but Prometheus Rising and related ideas in Wilson’s other work (especially Quantum Psychology and the mind-boggling Illuminatus!) are a lasting touchstone. RAW is a truly wonderful author.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
Dune by Frank Herbert. I almost never read books twice, but I’ve been through each of the first four Dune books three times, plus a fourth reading of the original. Each time I tease out a new level of meaning or a slight little tidbit I’d never noticed before. Each time I’m every bit as engrossed as I was at age 15 when I first picked it up.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
Ulysses by James Joyce. Assuming a long enough stay on said island, I might finally be able to dedicate enough time to the endeavor to fully comprehend the whole thing. Does my island allow Cliffs Notes or some selected scholarship as well?
4. One book that made you laugh:
Focault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. (Amazon seems to think it’s out of print. scandalous!) A nearly perfect book that could have fit in several places on this list. “There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics…”
5. One book that made you cry:
Searching For The Sound by Phil Lesh. Yes, I cry reading books, and since I usually read on my lunch hours, I can occasionally be seen crying by myself in the middle of Godfather’s or Wendy’s. It must be a ridiculous sight. I told my wife that I cried when Lesh got to the part where Jerry died, and she pointed out to me that it wasn’t as if I didn’t know it was coming.
6. One book that you wish had been written:
I’d like to see some in-depth, Bob-Woodward-style behind the scenes coverage of business of major league sports. Maybe I just haven’t looked hard enough.
7. One book that you wish had never been written:
Try as I might, I can’t think of one. The world is better off with more ideas rather than fewer.
8. One book you’re currently reading:
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Proof that believing scientific explanations of life doesn’t have to diminish the wonder you feel about existence.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan. It’s been recommended to me enough times by enough people that I will eventually have to submit to it.
10. Now tag five people:
Honestly, I’d just be happy if I got any responses.
August 12th, 2006 - Posted in Books | |
