What book has made such a difference in your life that you made lasting changes in perspective or behavior?

I have so many books that effect me just by flipping through their pages and having them near by. One of the books I loved reading was "Joshua" by Joseph Girzone. It gave me a new and very loving perspective of Jesus and his life. Since I come from a Jewish background but consider myself Spiritual and open to wherever God is found, it gave me a sense of connection to my Christian brothers and sisters. It opened the door to further study and exploration. I also like the Beverly Lewis books about the Mennonites.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Lebak on March 25, 2012 at 10:31am

"Saint Michael And The Angels" published by TAN, no author given except "compiled from approved sources." That book was a total game-changer for me. It was like the sky opened up over my head when I realized just what amazing things were going on right here, right now, and I couldn't sense them. That night I said thank you to my guardian angel and had a dream about him, and nothing has been the same since.

"The Optimistic Child" by Martin Seligman. Premise of the book is that it's possible to inoculate your child against depression. I read it when my son was 2 hoping that he wouldn't endure the same depression I had from age 16 onward. He was too young to do the exercises with at that point, but I did them all myself. A year later, my daughter died, and I waited for the depression to crash in on me -- and it didn't happen, just a healthy grieving depression. And for years after, no depression. I re-read the book when my son was 8, and I realized I'd put all Seligman's teaching into practice in my own life, and that's why I was no longer depressed!

Yes, I've written Dr. Seligman fan mail. :-) He even wrote back. **fangirl giggle**

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on March 25, 2012 at 10:50am

Thank you so much for sharing such an inspiring response. I am so sorry you lost a child, there are no words to describe that grief. But what a blessing that you were able to see how certain changes could help you survive and and thrive. I am considering creating a reading list from all the wonderful responses I am sure we will receive with this discussion. You are a strong and special woman and I am sure you helped Dr. Seligman feel wonderful about his own life's work. Blessings, Deborah

Permalink Reply by Jane Lebak on March 25, 2012 at 10:55am

I think Dr. Seligman probably gets 50000 emails a week. ;-) But it really was a gift that I ended up with that book when I did.

Actually, a third book that changed my life was The Birth Book, by William Sears. It showed me that I didn't have to be manipulated, ignored, belittled and mistreated during labor, and there were rational, reasonable and safe alternatives to the way I'd been abused by the medical staff during my first labor. (I'm not bashing all hospital birth, BTW, but I was treated horribly, and that book empowered me to change my subsequent births.)

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on March 25, 2012 at 10:51am

WOW!!! Truly life changing.

I am sorry for your loss. Hugs.

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on March 25, 2012 at 11:02am

I am winding my way through a book called Hadewijch The Complete Works. It is published by the Classics of Western Spirituality and is about a woman from the 13th century. She was not a nun. She was a "Wise Woman" and not much is known about her life other than what her writings give to us which is very little. She lived in France and the only reason her writings are preserved is because a priest preserved them in a monastery. The works were translated by a nun - Mother Columba Hart, O.S.B - she lives in a convent in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Her degrees in college and post grad qualify her immensely to translate 1300 writing in French and English.

Hadewijch's writings could be summed up in one word "Love." They are so rich, they are slow reading for me because I am savoring them. Even the cover art which at first appears dark is truly amazing when you study it. Hadewijch sees spiritual growth as an inverted tree. We start our spiritual journey as a leaf and grow until we hopefully reach the roots. I feel like I am only a stem holding the leaf onto the tree - but I have high hopes to get into the dirt someday. :)

The cover art was done by a nun from the same convent in Bethlehem, Connecticut.

Permalink Reply by Jane Lebak on March 25, 2012 at 11:04am

Wow, that sounds like a fascinating book! I love those books where you just can't plow through them but have to take them slowly and let them dissolve a little bit at a time in your heart.

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on March 25, 2012 at 11:09am

I can tell you are a writer. Love the phrase "let them dissolve a little bit at a time in your heart."

Yes - you caught the feelings I have over this book. It is empowering from the stand point that I have similar gifts from God that Hadewijch had and she is teaching me how to use them.

She is very encouraging to me.

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herman on March 25, 2012 at 11:09am

Thank you Jan. Sounds amazing. Looking forward to hearing more about it. As always, thank you for being such a special part of WAENet. Deb

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on March 25, 2012 at 11:12am

I think a list of books from this discussion would be good. I keep a reading list and sometimes I actually check off more than one from the list. GRIN

Thanks Deb for this topic.

Permalink Reply by Dan T. Davis on March 27, 2012 at 9:28pm

Ok, this one will be strange, but the works of Robert Heinlein, especially Stranger in a Strange Land, made a great difference in my life. It made lasting changes in my perspective and behavior.

I was always an outcast, a nerdy kid picked last for every Phys Ed event. Although SiaSL came out in 1962, I think I read it in 1969, at twelve. The concepts of acceptance of differences, the strong concept of being a "fair witness" (which I actually used just tonight - over 40 years later), the idea of a church GIVING OUT money versus taking it in (so loaves and fishes), the whole book just changed me.

Now, that said, the free love concept probably just went over my head at the time, but I still think of Michael Valentine Smith lying at the bottom of the swimming pool thinking. I've even done that, but in my case, with scuba gear.

Permalink Reply by John Ray on April 29, 2012 at 10:09pm

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad. A look into a small, close society of often lonely men with lots of time to think and lots of time to consider the motivations that lead to success or failure, the character sources of strength or weakness. When they meet at rare intervals, they may take endless exacting pains to examine each other and their friends, to see how they will persevere if they can, or give up if they must. So I was launched into looking for such actively concerned society. Like Marcello Mastroianni says to the sea monster at the end of La Dolce Vita, "and you too, you're still looking."

Permalink Reply by Liz Gwyn on May 1, 2012 at 8:44am