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Original poster

What book changed your life/way if thinking?

82 replies

topsyandtimison · 08/03/2018 20:33

Anyone have a book that changed their life? It's a cliche but I read 'The Secret' and OMG it was like a huge lightbulb went on. Looking for another inspirational book....

OP posts:
Brokenbiscuit · 21/03/2018 06:34

Great idea for a thread!

AdelicaArundel · 20/03/2018 22:27

The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama

At a very difficult time, this was recommended to me.
I thought the recommender was being very "right on" and worthy.
I read it (slowly) and it is fabulous. It's not a read over the course of 10days book...more of a read a chapter and practice how to use it in daily life.
I'm not great at using the lessons- but I know that when I try, my life is much lighter and happier, although my external circumstances haven't changed.

I sound a bit worthy myself don't I? Blush

FellOutOfBed2wice · 20/03/2018 21:56

A recent one was How Not to be a Boy by Robert Webb. Made me really think about gender identity and toxic masculinity.

Wineloffa · 20/03/2018 21:53

I also loved the Power of Now and have lent my copy to several friends.

Mrsmomo · 20/03/2018 21:49

Starting with the power of now, thanks.

Mrsmomo · 20/03/2018 21:48

Great thread, will be adding some of these to my reading list.

cakegoblin · 20/03/2018 21:43

Threads like these are why I love Mumsnet!
Reading Sapiens right now after a lifetime of interest in evolution, social history and environmental issues. The piecemeal picture I had of the past and the history of our species, the way things were and the way things are now has just been blown apart and rebuilt, almost from scratch, it's like seeing clearly for the first time.

seabase · 20/03/2018 21:41

@Rubyslippers7780 snap ... definitely a good one!

blue25 · 20/03/2018 21:37

Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligmann
Another vote for The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Wineloffa · 20/03/2018 21:33

exclaiming - silly phone!!

Wineloffa · 20/03/2018 21:32

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I read it when I was 21 and it absolutely blew me away. I remember reading the last page and exclaimunf 'WOW!!' It changed how I viewed human evolution and the eternal looping of time. Definitely a life-changing book that everyone should read.

throwawayagain · 20/03/2018 21:14

The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

justanotheruser18 · 20/03/2018 19:59

Most books by Louise Hay, Linda Fields and Susan Jeffers.

fearfultrill · 13/03/2018 17:39

The Notebook by Agota Kristof.

Amazing amazing book. There's a foreword by Zizek on I think The Guardian(?) website.

YesILikeItToo · 12/03/2018 22:18

Stumbling Upon Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. Main insight is that people are very poor at predicting what will make them happy. Greatly influenced my decision to go ahead and have a baby. Which has made me very happy!

Lobsterquadrille2 · 12/03/2018 20:36

I mean The Big Book. Smile

Lobsterquadrille2 · 12/03/2018 20:35

Alcoholics Anonymous.

Basseting · 12/03/2018 20:12

placematting for later (sorry)

lljkk · 11/03/2018 20:50

The road less travelled (Peck).

The year of living biblically. You will never hear fundie religious people the same.

WeAreGerbil · 11/03/2018 07:16

I couldn't finish The Power of Now. I think I found his tone a bit too lecturing. I've already read / listened to a lot of that sort of stuff though so maybe it was just not anything new to me. I was a bit disappointed with myself though!

Vitalogy · 11/03/2018 05:52

The Power of Now audio book is on YouTube too, narrated by Eckhart, his voice is so relaxing to listen to.

Original poster
topsyandtimison · 10/03/2018 21:24

Wow, I've just read some reviews of 'The Power of Now' on amazon and some other book review website, pretty much everyone saying the book completely changes your life and someone finished it and started reading it again straight away as they loved it so much! It sounds so I interesting and thought provoking. I think I fancy this one, I'm intrigued..

OP posts:
WeAreGerbil · 10/03/2018 17:30

The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk. Helped me realise how traumatic my childhood had been and to understand that it wasn't my fault I couldn't get over some of the effects.

And The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

Timefortea99 · 10/03/2018 17:24

@Annandale - I agree. This is an unforgettable book.

Original poster
topsyandtimison · 10/03/2018 14:45

This is a cliche but men are from mars and women are from Venus is surprisingly accurate

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