My personal favorite is “Veronica decides to Die” by Paulo Coelho.

There’s a few things in here i’m yet to read, but have had screamed at me from many directions for quite some time. The other day, I got a nicely little bonus from work and for the first time in a while I feel the urge to read again (hundreds of psychology research papers a year will turn you off all material). Thank you for sharing with me a good place to start again.

Many thanks as well, to all who’ve recommended things in the comments. I appreciate all these too

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m looking forward to reading some of the books on this list. Just got back from a trip myself (one thing I love about traveling is that I actually have time to read while I’m away) and finished The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by Howard Cutler and the Dalai Lama. Great advice on how to lead a more fulfilling life. I’m buying a copy for everyone on my Christmas list.

Melissa

@Zeek,

Sorry to have disappointed you.

@Reese,

Chinua Achebe is great! That should have been on my list. Good call. I also like his other books on corruption.

@Angell,

The Parachute book — yes, I’ve read it, or at least skimmed it. It is really in its own category. I prefer some others like Wishcraft (different style, etc.) but I certainly admire the way the parachute guy has done his own thing while ignoring the advice of publishers.

See you all later!

I am not against reading Rand since I have done so myself and so should you, but her work is not a primer to a modern view of “Why Capitalism is Good” or certainly not close to the best example supporting this position.

Chris’ point that he made in the comments thread is well taken but extraneous to the main idea of books that are the best examples of “unconventional living” which I assume must be sustainable as well as accessible to the largest number of people who wish to adopt that lifestyle. I am sure that somewhere even in “Mein Kampf” there may be some morsel, however tiny, that has some semblance of validity but that does not mean I would recommend it to my friends as a great book on achieving your goals due to the vile and repugnant nature of the overall book. I do not intend to compare Rand to Hitler but only illustrate with an extreme example that certainly almost any book has some prospective that someone can find to respect but that hardly places them in the best of category arena.

I do not condemn Chris but I do not hold much regard for his recommendations for economic reading or thinking in light of his Ayn Rand fascination. Your point about being an absolutist fits Rand to a “T” but by contrast, I am the one proposing a more balanced and nuanced view of economic thought hardly an “absolute” stance. Again, look at Rand’s writings in view of what they would mean in today’s world. Especially in light of the recent economic melt down and with particular emphasis on what unbridled self interest of some short sighted capitalists (not all capitalist) would mean for the environment. I think most would agree that Rand is not a good model and certainly not the best model, for modern Capitalism.

By the way, since you brought it up, Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope” is excellent and most certainly a better example of modern thinking regarding economic issues (along with many other topics) than Rand. I hope that no one thinks any of this is a personal attack on any one, but is intended solely to provoke thoughtfulness in complicated times. Simplicity is a great lifestyle but simplistic thinking is hardly a virtue in regards to economic theory as Rand’s misguided and dated utopian ideas so clearly illustrate.

great list there. I was wondering if you had read “What Color is your Parachute” – I know its traditionally regarded as a job hunters manual, but it has some great sections that deal the big question of what are you meant to do with your life. I don’t know how/if it compares to Wishcraft, not having read that book.

Any thoughts?

I may not be on board at all with Barack Obama, but that doesn’t mean his books don’t hold meaning and perspective that may broaden my view.

You asked why Chris at this moment could be ‘naive.’ Frankly, I think the problem with the world aren’t the issues you cited, but the fact that so many people feel the need to look at things in absolutes, yourself included. That you cast such a negative judgement on aperson because of a book choice is reflective of a narrow and self-indulged (to borrow your words) point of view.

Chris, I haven’t read Rand. One of my favorite life changing books was “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe.

How could you, especially at this moment be so naive? Ayn Rand espouses an extreme right wing economic theory (Objectivism) that recent events have thoroughly discredited.

I will take the measured mixed economy that is present in most Western democracies, otherwise we more get tainted food and toys from the Tibet bashing Chinese.

We need everyone to have equal opportunity to advance to the fullest measure of their talent; not to eliminate prudent regulation of the economy and turn everything over to a class of potentially abusive oligarchs to do everything in their absolute self interest, the rest of society be damned.

Good accessible Health Care, a clean environment, universal Education and reasonable investment in our shared infrastructure should all be human rights in the 21st century. Rand’s ideals would deny all of these to the vast majority of people in the simplistic supposedly utopian world she envisioned.