5 Books Everybody Should Read

[Utah]

I tried to like In Cold Blood and I simply hated the book and found it torturous to read and I gave up after about 100 pages. I really wanted to like the book and I just couldnt. The book moves at such an incredibly slow pace and I kept waiting for there to be some payoff..some buildup or something worthwhile. I can't think of another book that I didnt finish.

I mean this is all seriousness - what is so good about this book?

funny - I asked Mrs. Utah if this post sounded stupid and she confessed that she couldn't make it through the book either.

[pokerspite]

[ QUOTE ]
I tried to like In Cold Blood and I simply hated the book and found it torturous to read and I gave up after about 100 pages. I really wanted to like the book and I just couldnt. The book moves at such an incredibly slow pace and I kept waiting for there to be some payoff..some buildup or something worthwhile. I can't think of another book that I didnt finish.

I mean this is all seriousness - what is so good about this book?

funny - I asked Mrs. Utah if this post sounded stupid and she confessed that she couldn't make it through the book either.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was greatly dissapointed, also. As far as true crime goes, Helter Skelter is light-years better.

[jws43yale]

The Bible

[lozen]

[ QUOTE ]
The Bible

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed a great peice of fiction

alchemist is a must

[Tonding]

The Magic Mountain - Thomas Mann (Greatest writer of the 20th century)
The Capital - Karl Marx (Influenced one of the systems for society)
Faust - Goethe (The most important piece of fiction ever written)
The Bible (That's were Western culture is build on. A must read even for atheists.)
The Art of War - Sun Tzu (This is how you deal with everybody in society)

[tdarko]

Utah- I love the way Truman Capote writes and I am not in the minority here, this doesn't mean you have to though and there is nothing wrong with not liking ICB. I can't stand Ayn Rand and it seems that everybody and their brother worships the ground she walks on, this is fine as art is impartial. As for "In Cold Blood," the first time I read it I found myself completely attached to sociopaths and murderers and finding it within myself to have feelings for these cretins, b/c of Capote. I loved the relationship between Truman and the killers and the effects and changes you see amongst everyone in the book. I never found this book to be boring and found it very emotional to be honest, I read it a second time and felt the same way.

Lets see your list!

pokerspite- That is your opinion but I just can't see how that can be correct, even if you think it is better there is no way it is "light years" better, could you maybe exaggerating a little bit? I obviously don't think "Helter Skelter" is as good as ICB but we all have our interests.

Give us your list as well!

[pokerspite]

tdarko,
I've been known to use a bit of hyperbole.

Anyhow, though Bugliosi certainly isn't the writer that Capote is, his story is just way (maybe not light years) more interesting. For that genre, I just think its a much better book. This certainly is a matter of opinion and not fact.

I'll submit my list manana. It's getting late.

[KaneKungFu123]

Paulo Coelho

This guy has a gigantic section in the book store. Ive picked up a couple of them and they have all looked terrible.

[tdarko]

KKF,

Usually you should read the book before making the judgement but just so you know typical inspirational and books with bits of wisdom sprinkled throughout are the exact types of books I usually hate and stay away from. This book is different, it isn't forceful or cheesy, it is extremely well-written and applies to many walks of life. I have read a couple of his other books b/c of "The Alchemist" and they are good as well but not even remotely as good as "The Alchemist." It is a quick read and well worth it. It is the only "inspirational" and/or book that many claim as "life-changing" (I think people saying books change their lives is kind of weird) that I have ever liked.

~td

[Utah]

[ QUOTE ]
Lets see your list!

[/ QUOTE ]The humor in the book I chose just struck me as I was about to write this.

My favorite book of all-times is High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. I thought the book was brilliantly written, very entertaining, gripping, and had valuable things to say. I can't think of another book off the top of my head that meets all those qualities. I can think of books that meet some of these criteria (e.g., "Into Thin Air", and "of Mice and Men") but not all.

The book is centered around lists - which I thought was funny because this is a thread about lists [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] So, if you like lists then this is a great book. Of course, the lists are simply a vehicle to convey something much deeper.

The book starts:

"My desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable split-ups, in chronological order:

1. Alison Ashworth
2. Penny Hardwick
3. Jackie Allen
4. Charlie Nicholson
5. Sarah Kendrew

These were the ones that really hurt.......