Crow's Snowmobile

This is my contribution to the books meme. In no particular order, here’s a list of books that have contributed to my love of reading and, in some instances, even changed the way I think:

1. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. This book, which has been criticized in many circles for being “immoral”, introduced me to a variety of characters, key among them Machiavelli, John Boyd & Napoleon. I can single it out as the book responsible for my interest in politics. It also led to an increase in my non-fiction intake.
2. The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene. Again, this served as a rich introduction to fascinating examples of strategy from ancient and modern history. Sun Tzu, Musashi, Napoleon, Boyd.
3. Studies in Classic American Literature by D H Lawrence. Funny, scathing, intense and never boring, Lawrence, in his inimitable way, sparked a love for literature (and poetry) in a teenager who until then had read mostly spy novels.
4. The Mind of War by Grant T. Hammond. An introduction to John Boyd’s thought. Enough said – you’re reading this at oodalooper.com!
5. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. A dense work in a simple form, which I continue to study with help from works by Alvarez & Mansfield.
6. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.  I learnt how much of everyday life may just be “dictionary of misunderstood words”. I learnt to let it go, to let a river flow on its course, to take it easy, to take it hard. Weight & Lightness.
7. Global Brain by Howard Bloom. Complex adaptive systems, memes, diversity generators, inner judges, conformity enforcers, resource shifters, etc. A fresh look at evolution through the lenses of “group” adaptation.
8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Such stories should never end. Give me several thousand pages more!
9. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. “Man can be destroyed but not defeated”. Pure Huevos.
10. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Although I can’t bring myself to enjoy his other books, Fight Club changed my perspective of  How. Writing. Could. Be. Awesome. Don’t talk to me about the movie.

How about you?

Update: In response, Sally Prosser has posted Top 10 cook books that have influenced me.
Update: Aedan Lake has started a blog & posted Books that have influenced me.
Update: Marcus shares his list – most interesting!