What are some mind opening books?

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I am reading "The Monkey Wrench Gang" by Edward Abbey - Very interesting. Kind of an eye opening book. Tell me what books have made a profound impact on your life. I am well aware of the BIBLE and am looking for more recent works. No offense to anyone.

-- bill (bill@bill.com), January 07, 2002

Answers

I know, Bill, this is not the answer you want but the Bible has had a more profound effect on my life than all the other books put together. Just can't get around it. No offense meant.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 07, 2002.

What's the book you're reading about The Monkey Wrench Gang? What do you want your eyes opened to?

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

Hi Bill, Years ago I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintance. Truly life changing. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

Three sci-fi pieces. The Man Who Used the Universe , Farmer in the Sky and The Talisman.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 07, 2002.

Ishmael and The Story of B both by Daniel Quinn.

-- Jim (nosacredcows@yahoo.com), January 07, 2002.


Other than the Bible, Hitchiker's Guide, Scanner Darkly.....there are a bunch. Are you looking for world systems, historicals, philosophicals, just plain great entertainment or what exactly? I'm kind of trying to figure out which avenue you are interested in exploring. Thanks!!!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), January 07, 2002.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The funniest radio comedy I ever saw. It was a serial on NPR, many years ago. It was so funny, I perty near died laughing.

I missed too many of the serials, though, so I read all three Hitchhiker's books, by Douglas Adams, I think. Richard Adams?

The radio show is about a hundred times as good as the books, but at least I could figure out what was going on on the radio program after reading the books.

I wonder where a person could get a tape, or CD of the radio series?

-- joj (jump@off.c), January 07, 2002.


How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne.

-- Jim (nosacredcows@yahoo.com), January 07, 2002.

The Seth Material is at the top of my list. Also the Carlos Casteneda books.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 07, 2002.

This is not necessarily a recent work but when I read your question the one book that came to mind was "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti. It had a profound impact on my life even though I had been a Christian for many years before I read it. It's also gripping fiction.

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), January 07, 2002.


Hello Bill,

If there was any book I would recommend for everyone to read it would be The Hirum Key! This is an exhaustive study of the origins of the Freemasons. It opened my eyes to many of the deceptive practises of world religions. It is not pro-freemason either! The authors focus on translations of ancient languages and how many present day interptations of what we "thought" the bible, Koran, etc meant were evolved from completely different meanings. The research that was involved in producing such a wonderful book must of require decades of work. The authors (one is Jewish, the other was Freemason) were in no way discrimitory of any religion but, did point out the authencity of much debated interptations of Christianity, Muslim, Freemasonery, Judism and other major religions. If one can be open minded and set his on personal beliefs to the side and read this book, I am sure he would re-think his views on his own personal religion and how it affected the world as we know it today.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), January 08, 2002.


Any book by Ayn Rand--Atlas Shrugged is awesome.

-- monkeyface (not@thistime.com), January 08, 2002.

Just a word of caution:

"Don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out.) Unknown

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), January 09, 2002.


Heh heh, I heard that quote somewhere before. The key is being open- minded, but not so much so that you believe everything that comes along. Yes, there are lots of interesting things out there to learn, but also (pardon my French) a lot of BS. The trick is learning to tell the difference.

As for books, I need to get some new ones, So far the extent of my intellectual sitimulation has been reading this forum (among others).

-- Nexar (Arax7@mvn.net), January 10, 2002.


http://www.easycart.net/ecarts/bib-arch/Archaeology_and_Bible_I- II.html

-- Kevin (kevinmail@earthlink.net), January 10, 2002.


Kevin, that link doesn't work...want to try again???

Joj, I don't know where to get the radio show of Hitchiker's Guide, I have never heard it. I absolutely love the Trilogy (all 5 books) and it just makes me smile to even think about it. Ahhh, the fjords of Slartibartfast!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), January 10, 2002.


Don't forget your towel!!

Right now I'm reading the poetry of Rumi. He was a mystic whose work and life led to the founding of Sufism.(Whirling Dervishes) If his stuff doesn't move you, I don't know what can! Also try The Dancing Wu Li Masters or any book by Gary Zukav. Good stuff, if a little chewy.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 11, 2002.


Peter Ruckman the Penescola Pope wrote a book called science and philosphy. It is caustic but it will change your mind about so many things that you thought to be true but are not. Where these philosophys originated from. And how we are brain washed with vain philosphy.

-- John Stergios (jackstergios@aol.com), January 12, 2002.

King of the Gyspys

Joey:Autobiography of a kiler

Circle of 300

New World Order:The End

EndTime (Christian based but still relavent to eye opening)

Tears of a Wizard (not christian based written about 1878)

1984

Please be warned BILL there is a verse in the Bible that seems approiate here "He who increases knowledge Increases sorrow" Since I read over a 100 books a year I can attest to the validity of the statement.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.


Dear Friends,

I'm new to this but this is my dilemma. I am seeking information on the New World Order, Secret Societies (i.e. Bilderberg Society, Skull and Bones, Trilateral Commission, Etc.), and on George Bush (daddy) and son's voting history over the years. Can you please help me find out more info on these topics?

Thank You!

Sincerely, e

-- E.Ramos (Oasis32857@aol.com), September 27, 2002.


I believed in god up until I was 15 years old. At this age I read "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins which basically rubber stamps Darwins theory of 'evolution'.

For reasons im not going into, I don't really believe evolution alone is the full reason we have came to be. Im all up in arms about it again now! I am 27.

"He who increases knowledge Increases sorrow" this is interesting because also in the bible, from the very beginning, god tells Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge. This makes the basic statement that if you tell someone not to do something they will do it.

God flooded the earth because of this! Because Adam became knowledgable, to know good and evil and so on.

Of course I dont believe in god as the bible makes him/her out to be but I do certainly believe that the bible has a lot of simple truths to it and is a great influence in that way but I don't but I dont buy the way it describes our creation.

-- Ric (tellmethings@hotmail.com), December 02, 2003.


When one uses these self help books of so called opened mindedness, (ENLIGHTENMENT ) they close off their own unique creativity . I find that when large ammounts of people read these limited available books , it ends up being a MONO - type collective thinking placed in our society .

Who's to say what's being open minded ? And what's being closed minded ?

I meet people who believe they are open minded and find , they are limited to their mono opinionated mind as they think they are open minded and judge themself to be above others by their closed minded opinionated standards.

Evryone is just an IDIOT .

-- Steve (unreal@home.com), December 03, 2003.


Stop depending on these stupid books and LEARN to use your own mind .

The only ones who benifit from these books , are the people who make a cash profit from them .

We all have a mind of our own , why fill it with second hand thoughts that belong to another ?

-- Steve (unreal@home.com), December 03, 2003.


For those who still want to open their minds , there's a good book comming out soon that can help .

It's author ; George W. Bush

Titled : How to be , Just as smart as me .

It's only 25 pages long and written in a 3rd grade reading level .

Should be out by the first of next year .

If this book doesn't open your mind to a 'HIGHER " understanding of the universe , nothing will

-- Steve (unreal@home.com), December 03, 2003.


If you want to have your eyes opened, maybe by books, but I suggest the internet, look at all the investigations the below people bring to light...

David Icke (davidicke.com/net/org) Reveals the biggest secret, the satanic agenda and manipulation of humanity over thousands of years (never more so than in 2004).

Alex Jones - American Activist, shows us all the evidence that this satanic agenda does indeed rule us all in one way or another (infowars.com, prisonplanet.com)

Michael Moore - See fahrenheit911.com for a trailer of the film "Fahrenheit 911". Moore does not touch the satanic side of it for some reason, its as if he is some kind of unwitting dupe, to distract us from the satanic agenda/secret societies/bloodlines.

Greg Palast - Has tracked the Bush family for decades, explains how bush stole the election and family ties with the Bin Laden's.

Michael Ruppert - Ex CIA narcotics agent - tells us what the CIA is really doing, all in the name of protection of course.

Myron Fagan - Did an expose on the Council on Foreign Relations and the illuminati way back in 1967. tells us about the satanic nature of out rulers, I mean hey, we might as well call them 'gods' I guess but very very very very very evil gods you must understand, out to enslave us all and hooked on the secret satanic status they have and dont care, they cremate their care at Bohemien Grove.

John Stockwell - Former weapons inspector, tells us that Iraq had been 100% disarmed by 1998 and had no capability of launching any kind of attack on even its closest neighbors - again, Iraq was 100% disarmed by 1998.

John Pilger - did a great show for ITV about how its WRONG for 3000 innocent American humans to die but RIGHT for 10,000 innocent Iraqi humans to die. Makes people in high places go red and basically admit "Yes we ARE f**cking the world over". What we have really is another incarnation of the Roman empire, but run covertly with intelligence agancies and commitees set up to do the exact opposite of what they say, using the so called 'liberation' of Iraq when in fact they are KILLING HUMANS YET AGAIN just like the red indians, just like aboriginies.

Me - I have a website, www.look.bz, there is all the links you need.

-- RicD (tellmethings@hotmail.com), June 18, 2004.


I know it seems a strange suggestion (I'm not even sure why I picked it up in the first place) but the book Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife is probably the most interesting non- fiction book yet written. Yes, it's about a number, but oh the history of that number (or lack of number). It isn't a mathematics text or anything, you won't have to solve any story problems and it is very approachable. I'm not even a math person (my BA degree's in philosophy and I'm pursuing a MA in English) and I suggest the book to everyone I can. It covers a large swath of world history from the Babylonians to the Greeks to the Hindus and on through the western modern age. It touchs so many disciplines (philosophy, religion, genetics, cosmology, astronomy, and, of course, mathematics) it's almost a primer in modern thought. It really is amazing and I hope you'll give it a try. This is not a dry read. In sincerity- ryan

-- ryan (week15@yahoo.com), June 19, 2004.

Oh and by the way... Steve- I'd suggest when you call everyone an idiot, you use three "e"s. I mean, I suppose it proves your point, but watch for typographical errors.

-- ryan (week15@yahoo.com), June 19, 2004.

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