This is the second contest on Prolific Living. We had heaps of fun and participation from the first contest on photography in October 2009. For me, the reward was the spirit of engaging you, my readers, and the sheer joy of giving prizes away after building so much energy and anticipation. So I decided to do it again with a new theme. I have full confidence any one of you can participate in this contest because at some point or another, we have all been touched by a book in our lives.You may have noticed one of the most prolific(!) categories on this blog is the In Print with 72 reviews of books I have read in the past 4 years. When I realized how much I had missed out on reading in the years past, I decided to make up for lost time and it’s been a fantastic journey of discovery and learning. My selfish purpose in running this particular contest is simple: I want to encourage and inspire you to read more books. Read classics. Read history. Read memoirs and biographies. Read fiction. Read more classics, but read often. It is the best exercise for an active mind and a meditation for the soul.
Now it’s time to get off my soap box and set the game rules for you.
Contest Objective: The objective is quite simple. Tell me the name and author of one book that has touched you deeply. Perhaps this book has even inspired you to change, to grow, to transform, to gain a new perspective or to just feel incredible joy and pleasure for having read it. It can be any book, and I mean any book, even your childhood books. Describe this effect in your contest entry.
How to enter: The description should be submitted below as a comment. Your description can be short or long but with a maximum of 250 words. If you use Microsoft Word, word count is displayed at the bottom. If you use Open office, select Tools then select Word Count and it will display your word count. You can just copy/paste your text into a comment below. When you enter a comment, it will ask for your name, email and a website if you have one. Your email is never displayed and it is only used for spam-protection purposes.
Dates for Contest: I plan to run the contest for 15 days. We are starting on the first day of February and will end on the day after Valentine’s Day, February 1st-15th. The winner will be announced by February 20th at the latest.
Who is Judging: Prolific Living will have 3 judges to make it a fair and impartial contest. We will pick the single best rating. Yours truly will be one of the judges. My IT genius behind-the-scenes of Prolific Living and also my brother, Sina Bahram, will be the other judge. (You can read a book interview with Sina on the science fiction book by Robert J. Sawyer, to which he had contributed!!). My rock and ultimate critique, my husband, Andy Brock, who was looking for a way to get out of playing the contest and luckily found a loophole, is the third judge.
Judging Criteria: We are going to look for genuine writing and heart-felt expressions of the book’s impact on you and your life. This is an exercise in writing and in self-expression so indulge in it and give it your best shot. Be authentic! Be unique! Be original! Be truthful! Use this as an opportunity to pay tribute to the book and the author for whom you feel most gratitude. Oh, I must add that I will look for polished and clean use of the English language so no grammar or spelling faux-pas please!
Prize : There will be a single winner in this contest. I would like to send the winner any Amazon book of your choice up to $20 in value (not including shipping which I will cover). I will have it shipped to your home wherever you may be.
So that’s it. Let our contest begin! Enjoy the entry process and best of luck to you. Thank you for participating and for sharing your perspective!
Feb 17 Update: Winner and Contest results are announced here!!
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One of my all-time favorite books: The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver. This book took my breath away and almost literally left me gasping! The voices of four young girls living in Africa with their missionary father weave an unforgettable tale. Their voices are all unique, and we see the land and people through distinct eyes. I couldn’t put it down and was sad to see it end–I wanted to keep reading forever!
If given the choice of pleasure or pain most people will choose pleasure. I’m no different. I choose comfort over discomfort, the sunny day to the rainy and the shorter path to the longer. That was my modus operandi until I read the book Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson.
Johnson points out that life can be seen as a series of peaks and valleys. The peaks are typically associated with the happy or high points of your life while the valleys would be the low points. It’s no surprise that people prefer peaks to valleys. Johnson crafts a narrative that reads like the much celebrated Who Moved My Cheese that he pinned in 1998. This time the characters are more mature and less plucky.
After reading this book you will look at peaks and valleys in your life differently. You will realize that there is a relationship between peaks and valleys. Sometimes you create a valley while you are on the peak. Not all valleys are the same. Some are good for you.
Many times you will have to cross a valley to get to the next peak. Peaks can offer great views but you can’t live on the peak without the life supporting resources found in the valley. Whether you are on a peak or valley, good can come from both.
After reading Peaks and Valleys I found myself being willing to suffer a bit to find gain. I no longer fear what the valley has to offer.
Mine is The Old Man and The Sea. I loved all Hemingway books but this one really touched me. It’s about how to survive your own success, it’s about how to be alone in front of much bigger forces and still stay there, doing what you have to do and it’s also a great metaphor of the journey, not the destination.
Not to mention the fact that it is a wonderful story too.
I will keep my description shorter than 250 words as all I want is to make this contest pick up a little bit. Reading is evolving
Thanks for the idea and best of luck with it!
“My dear Jean-Christophe,
You know, Farnoosh of Prolific Living has announced a contest on her blog, about the most inspiring book people have read, and naturally I first thought of you. But you see, I was thinking how I can introduce you as merely a book written by Romain Rolland while you were way more than that for me…
You became much more than a fictional German musician and a genius composer. I befriended you as a teenager, and for a long time you were my hero, my inspiration, my role model. Your passion, your big soul that sometimes was way bigger than your body, your deep respect and care for your friends, and your novelty in creation, even if the others couldn’t understand your pieces. Your inner spiritual struggles, the challenges you faced in the outside world with the necessities and limitations of the society, and your constant effort in balancing what you loved and what you had to do, made me feel so close to you… As if you were a more creative passionate strong independent me, only in a fictional world. You were my imaginary friend, who was much more real than many of my virtual ones. For your very existence I am thankful to Mr. Rolland who made you so real, and for the opportunity to introduce you to the others, I thank Farnoosh with her contest.
Your faithful reader,
N.”
It was 1972 or sometime there about. I was about 11 or 12. I had wept through To Kill a Mockingbird, the Scottsboro Boy(s), and a book about a slave girl and her brother writhing through slavery, promising never again to touch another book that stirred that much pain in me, but left me without hope. And then I picked up I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
I don’t recall if I cried, though ever since I’ve stayed in tremendous amazement of a story that filled me with inspiration. A story that left me with as many questions as it provided answers. The first story I read that included a troubling ending to an awe-inspiring beginning that filled me with hope.
Oh my, my favorite book.. there are so many!
I would have to say Anne of Green Gables. I grew up in a very sheltered family life, the oldest of nine children and we weren’t well off. When I first was introduced to Anne by my Aunt, I fell in love with the orphan and her imagination.
I remember dreaming about Green Gables and wishing I could go to visit. I could taste the crunch of apples and see the beautiful colors of the fall-touched leaves. I remember laughing so hard when Diana gets drunk and crying when Matthew dies..not just a few tears, honest, heart-wrenching, from the gut crying.
Even to this day I still go back to Green Gables whenever I’m feeling stress or unhappy with life in general. Anne taught me to use my imagination and I think that’s the greatest gift that was given to me as a child.
My book nomination is “The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer. This is one of those rare books that you will want to share with everyone. I have purchased 20 or more of these books to give as gifts to my friends and colleagues.
After reading this book, I was inspired to start my business and leave the corporate world five years ago. I have referred back to the book many times when faced with life’s challenges, and what I like about the book is that it points out the ways that you can create joy and a positive outlook in your life and surround yourself with the people who will help you on your journey.
It’s not one of those esoteric books like “The Secret” which was just a set of quotes and stories on the power of focusing your mind on positive thoughts and what you want. The Success Principles gives practical information such as the steps to form a Mastermind Group (Chapter 46), the ways to speak impeccably (Chapter 51) and options to give back to the community (Chapter 62).
In fact, I am so keen on this book, that I will donate this book to your award winner. So in addition to the $20.00 gift from Amazon, I will send a copy of this book to your book winner! In my humble opinion, it is that good and worth sharing!
We have 8 entries and only 4 full days into the contest – AND thanks to Naomi, now we have another gift for the winner in addition to the contest prize. I am very excited for all of you and wish you the best.
Let’s see the rest of participation come through!!! Thank you to all your creative entries.
I have read many amazing books over the years; books that have opened my eyes to new worlds, changed my perspective on various situations, and conjured up an array of emotions. However, none have chilled me to the bones the way “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hossieni did. It is the only book I have read twice. It is the only book that has made me cry. I was hooked from the moment I began reading. All of my life, I believed people became who they are due to a series of life events. However, after reading this book, I realized that there are a large number of us who are defined by one incident in our lives. Though no one should be defined by one moment alone, sadly, some people allow just one moment to rule their lives. Such was the case for Amir, the narrator of this incredible story. I bonded with Amir on a very emotional level. He left his native Afghanistan at a young age. Upon returning to his homeland years later, he was enveloped with mixed emotions. This book only intensified my yearning to visit my native Iran, which I left at the age of 2. Both Amir and I grew up with tales of our native lands; nostalgic tales of streets we may never walk down, people we may never meet. But those tales are ours and sometimes I feel as if those tales are all I will ever have.
I first read The Fountainhead as a senior in high school. I was skeptical about such a large book. However, after reading it, I could not stop talking about the intense philosophy Ayn Rand introduces with Howard Roark. The idea of Objectivism, essentially the glorification of individual man’s prominence, is intriguing and worthy of consideration. I love the character of Howard Roark because he is the perfect example of a man who becomes successful despite the restraining presence of a society bent on the normal. Our greatest historical thinkers were Howard Roarks: Galileo, Einstein, Davinci, and the list goes on and on. This book taught me that mankind has the desire to move forward regardless of other people. I see Roark not as a depressed and pitiful weakling who blames society for the downfall of man, but as a true hero among men. He stands out because he does not fold under the pressure of the majority; he does not bail out on the obvious answer when he knows a deeper meaning exists. Now, I am reading the book again, and I find myself underlining most parts of the book. The story line is filled with true-to-life situations; social darwinism, society v. man, revenge, desire, and lust. The Fountainhead is truly more than a classic, and it is worth reading time and time again. The more it is read, the more the reader knows about the idea of Objectivism and how accurately it pertains to the life of mankind.
Hi Farnoosh!
My absolute favorite book is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s one I found only a few months ago as I was struggling to unleash my creative self. She speaks to the reader as if in personal conversation and reminds us that we’re all creative – we have been created, therefore it’s simply a natural desire for us to want to create. She breaks down the concept of what an artist is – not just a painter or one who desires a frivolous lifestyle that doesn’t conform to social norms. The inspiration is magical and spiritual and I can’t recommend it highly enough – it is for everyone. Wonderful idea for a contest and I love your book reviews (well, and everything about Prolific Living!)
My favourite classic is Little Woman.
I love that book and the movies as well and I look forward
to watching every Christmas.
A super duper giveaway and I would love to win.
I would say my personal favorite would be the book “Flesh and Blood” by the Pulitzer-awarded author Michael Cunningham. It is a family saga that touches on lives of four generations of a Greek-American family and many questions life brings our way. Why are we here? How do we deal with change? Where is the world going to (and is it necessarily bad?) and were our parents just as wicked as they tell us we are? Finally, is the concept of an American family more than just a white picket fence? And once I am done reading this book, I feel so inspired and perceptive I want to jump out of my skin. If only my views of the world were always as if I’ve just read Flesh and Blood…
I am a self-confessed book worm. I remember spending hours curled up in my bedroom away from the rest of the busy house, with my nose in a book. I devoured paperback pre-teen novels at such an alarming rate that my father threw up the warning flags. He did not want to tell me “no” as I stood in front of him at the bookstore with a tall stack of books in my arms & a pleading look on my face, but these were luxuries that we could not afford, at least not in such abundance. So my father, a teacher and patient motivator, offered a compromise. For every “classic” from the bookcase that I would read, he would buy me ten paperbacks. I thought that I was getting the better end of this deal, so I agreed, not realizing that he’d gotten one over on me!
The first classic that I chose from the set of matching green-bound books was “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. From the moment that I opened the book and began to turn the soft, yellowing pages I was captivated. For the first time I was immersed into another world, one with real depth and emotion. I felt every joy and heartbreak of the March sisters. The paperback novels paled in comparison and were quickly abandoned. “Little Women” changed my life and started me on a literary journey that has taken me to many amazing places.
One book that has had a profound effect on me is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The story in and of itself is simple, but the ideas presented speak volumes. Coelho tells the story of a shepherd boy who has a dream of finding riches in Egypt. Even though it would be safer to stay with his herd, he decides to go out and realize this dream. Along the way he meets spiritual messengers who guide him as he learns incredible life lessons.
I am usually someone who will keep it safe and stick with what’s comfortable. This story helped me to realize that there is more out there than what we can even imagine. Not only that, we can have it all if we just do it, if we go out and take the risk and get out of our comfort zone.
I am not always the best at this, but this new perspective has honestly helped me to the point I am at right now, in law school (where I never thought I’d be in a million years) and doing those things that are hard instead of settling for what’s easier. I really want to help the world and affect change for good and I can actually do that, I know it. I also know that anyone can do that, even a simple shepherd boy.
I might be cheating with this entry, as it references a book that was made into a movie. Fight Club, a 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk, was released as a successful Hollywood movie in 1999. I have to admit that I read the book only after watching the movie many times over; the movie touched me as the novel did not. The impact of the film in my life can be found in a few memorable phrases.
The sentence, “This is your life, and it’s ending one minute at a time.” from Chapter 3 resonates loudly with me. As an atheist, I don’t believe there’s an afterlife to look forward to. This is my life, this is all I get, so I’d better do my best with it. I already knew this, but it was good to have a reminder. I came away from the 1999 film infused with a sense of urgency, a kick in the butt that, in part, led me to make a pretty serious new millennium resolution: On the first business day of the year 2000, I quit a good, secure job working for a successful consulting firm and started my own company. This new millennium resolution has been one of the most positive business moves I’ve made in my life.
Another key phrase (albeit one only found in the screenplay) that continues to guide me is, “The things you own end up owning you.” Not to get all hippy-trippy on you, but here goes: Our consumerist middle-class culture makes the treadmill of “work, buy stuff, work more, buy more stuff” the normal mode of living in America. Between rent, mortgages, car payments, other accrued monthly expenses, and easy credit it’s all too easy to construct a gilded cage around oneself. People work long hours at jobs they hate simply to maintain their possessions and acquire the latest, improved models. Worse, self-improvement falls by the wayside as people “improve” themselves, by proxy, by buying a nicer car or bigger house. It can be difficult to escape this admittedly comfortable lifestyle. The possessions, it seems, are in control. Now I do like to be comfortable, but I try to keep this mantra of simplicity in mind throughout my life, buying low-maintenance items and downsizing wherever possible. My next big adjustment will be selling my condo so that I can rent a cheaper place, work fewer hours, and hopefully relocate, geographically, to wherever I want to live — not necessarily where I can find the best job.
But unlike the book’s narrator, I’m not willing to blow up my condo to gain my freedom from it. I guess I’m not hard core.
The book that inspired me and changed me was Inhaling the Mahatma by Christopher Kremmer (an Australian author). The book was brilliant in its description of a way of life in India at the time of Mahatma Gandhi. Apart
from explaining and extolling the virtues of Gandhi’s philosophy and style of life, the book opened one’s eyes to another way of life, actually another way of looking at life. It was not a philosophical tome at all. It was detailed but it did not appear at all to be an exposition of all that was good and beautiful. It showed an understanding that is difficult to comprehend and particularly that an “outsider” could do this so brilliantly was awesome.
I love to read and I don’t even blink at picking up 1000-page novels & tomes. It’s funny that the first book that popped into my head is “The Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Pinkwater at only 32 pages. Mr. Plumbean lives on a “neat street” where all the houses are exactly alike – drab brown with green windows – and everybody likes it that way. One day, a seagull flying by drops a bucket of orange paint on Mr. Plumbean’s roof leaving a big orange splot. He decides to leave it there, despite the voiced disapproval of his neighbors. In fact, in his moment of personal enlightenment, he buys some more paint and adds paintings of colorful lions, pretty girls, and steam shovels (there’s even more – I’ll let you read for yourself). Upset, his neighbors visit him one by one and try to convince him to return his house to the way it was before. Mr. Plumbean says “it looks like all my dreams.” What happens when each neighbor goes away thinking about his or her own dreams?… As you’ve guessed, this is a children’s book but it’s a gem! I love this story of breaking from conformity, becoming self-aware, following dreams, and also accepting the dreams of others. Sometimes poignant and profound messages come in small packages and are said with few words.
Reading “For the Sake of All Living Things”, by John M. Del Vecchio, inspired me to truly believe that an individual can change the world. By chance (?) it caught my eye in a box of used books sent to entertain soldiers guarding the Kuwaiti border with Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Del Vecchio reveals the ironic spiritual and physical relationship of peace and love with the most horrible products of hatred — war and genocide. I now act and think with the understanding that every soul on earth eventually affects every other soul on earth.
There is no way I can name my favorite book! There is a whole universe of them—books that made an impression, that made me think, laugh, cry…but there was one book that changed my life in the most profound and amazing way. A friend once told me, “don’t read it, because if you do you will have to make a choice”. The book he was talking about was “Food Revolution” by John Robbins. It is the first book I have ever read that made the connection between the health of people, the well- being of animals, and the life of the planet. In it John Robbins talks about how our food choices affect not just our bodies, but also the rest of the world around us, how the ways our food get to our table changed over the years and what could happen if we don’t do anything about it. It gave me knowledge I was looking for, and facts I needed to make an educated change in my lifestyle. But most of all, it gave me hope…hope that by being vegan I can make a small difference. I can bring more compassion and less pain into the world, and do my part in the process of restoring our planet back to health… I read that book, and I made that choice, the best choice I’ve ever made in my life!
I have to say the best book I ever read was One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury. Wow!! It really showed me the joy of family. This book is set in the time of 9/1/1 and a firefighter is one of the main characters. I laughed, cried and really thought as I read this book. Yes, it is Christian so some may not like it but to me it showed me that you never know what tomorrow may bring, so do the best you can today. Let your family members know they are loved. You don’t know when if you may never see them again. Thanks so much and I really think you would enjoy reading this book:)
I just read “Grease Spots & Mustard Stains” by Andrew Soyars. This book was given to me by a friend who’s pretty religious and thought I could get a better understanding of the bible. I have to admit that it’s been a long time since I’ve picked up the bible to read but this book has inspired me. Andrew puts real-world examples into religious contexts which really helped me understand some of it’s meanings. It’s comforting to know that there is someone out there just like me that has wandered down a strayed path but can easily find their way back with a little faith.
“Desiree” by Annemarie Selinko
I first saw the movie “Desiree” when I was about 13 years old and was completely swept away by it. The movie had an all-star cast with Marlon Brando as Napoleon, Jean Simmons as Desiree and Merle Oberon as Josephine. After seeing the movie, I HAD to read the book.
Based on the true story of Desiree Clary Bernadotte, it’s an amazing journey that begins with Desiree as a young girl growing up in Marseilles, the daughter of a silk merchant. She and her family embrace the French Revolution and its promises of Liberté, égalité, fraternité . Unfortunately, the promises of the revolution quickly turn into the Reign of Terror, and its during this period of upheaval that her older sister, Julie, meets, falls in love with and marries Joseph Bonaparte, the older brother of Napoleon. Desiree and Napoleon meet, fall in love and become engaged. Napoleon goes to Paris to further his military/political career, meets Josephine and the rest is history. The incredible journey of this silk merchant’s daughter through her heartbreak at losing her love, finding a new love and eventually becoming the Queen of Sweden is an amazing story. Her descendants are on the throne of Sweden to this day!
I had always enjoyed reading about history, and after reading “Desiree”, my love for historical fiction was born and thrives to this day. What I really love about historical fiction is that it takes you to another place and time and gives you a glimpse into the lives of others. Lessons are learned about history, culture and art and insights are gained through seeing how others react and respond to situations unfolding before them. Life is full of ups and downs, and Desiree goes from almost drowning herself to living a happy life, having a wonderful husband and son and becoming a real queen.
OK. So this one’s tough – so many good books so little latitude – choose one! So I have to tell you my recommendations are on my web site.
I’d have to say: “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki.
Robert identifies the woeful lack of practical financial education provided by formal education.
He differentiates between assets and liabilities that even your accountant doesn’t understand. Once you’ve read this you can see a clear way to building income based on assets that work for you even while you sleep.
Critical basic education for anyone investing in property or trying to escape the corporate trap.
A book that really touched me deeply was Was by Geoff Ryman. Its a retelling of The Wizard of Oz, but much much more dark than the wizard of Oz. It involves 3 characters: a modern day scarecrow dying of AIDS, the “real” Dorothy and Judy Garland. It gives a possible explaination for the “real” Dorothy (which by the way is just horrible). I can’t say that the book gives a real happy/warm-fuzzy feeling, but it did really touch me… I believe that after I read it I must’ve cried for a while just because its so realistic and horrible and sad. I mention it because thats what art is supposed to do, is share feelings and emotions. This is one book that sticks out over the hundreds that I have read which wallops you with emotion and feeling. It definitely is a work of art and sticks out forever in my mind.
My favorite is – Who Moved My Cheese? This books is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in life – whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money or a possession, health or spiritual peace of mind. The book isn’t new, but the material is still applicable. When the economy is no longer robust, this book helps to redefine what is important and what changes one need to make in order to be happy.
A good, quick read!
Thank you so much for all of your excellent, unique, thoughtful and creative entries. I am closing the contest tonight and we will be starting the judging process tomorrow. Look for the announcement on winners as a post in the next 2 days!
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