A Handful of Books Changed my Life
It’s not what you think, It’s what other people think and put into words…
The Denomata by Darren Shan:
Funny what blood, death and a bit of magic do to the mind of a young adult. In my case, these books captivated my attention. To the degree that I read the books over and over.
This book series actually directed me towards physics and the many-worlds interpretation. I still don’t understand physics but the journey was a good one.
A book on Leonardo da Vinci**
A brilliant book. It follows Leonardo’s life chronologically, providing period details. Yet there is no unnecessary “fluff”. The author does not move onto tangents and expound on the social dynamics of history…blah blah Zzzzz.
Instead, this is a vibrant and lively account of the polymath’s life. This is the book that directed me towards science.
Vampire Hunter D series by Hideyuki Kikuchi
This is a long book series. But the idea is interesting. Set a few thousand years in the future a half vampire half human hunts down vampires. Hideyuki Kikuchi builds a novel world, you start to understand this world by book twenty…
This book series is what drove me to hike across multiple countries while camping on the side of the road. The Dark Tower series by Stephen King had some input there too.
Chemistry: Concepts and Problems: A Self-Teaching Guide by Houk & Post
I have never come across a better book on chemistry. This book starts at the beginning but gets you to a point of understanding chemical concepts. It sets the groundwork for pre-organic chemistry. I even used it for biochemistry at university.
The Power of Now — Eckhart Tolle
This is a very simple book. It is also complex. But seems to point you in the right direction when your life turns upside down. And believe me, given enough time, your life will twist itself into a horror show. When that happens, this book will point you North.
Sam Walton: Made in America
Not the most popular book by a long shot. Sam taught me how to grind. And subsequently how to find meaning in the grind. This man pretty much built Walmart. He recounts how he did it and the problems that he had to face and overcome.
I recall reading this book and was blown away with the effort Sam put into building Walmart. He spent time in the stores of his competitors trying to understand what they could teach him. He would crawl along the floor and measure the distance between aisles. All in an attempt to create a better store.
** I do not recall the name of the author of the book on Leonardo da Vinci. This is unfortunate. As a remedy, I suggest you go and read every book written on da Vinci. You will probably find it.
Enjoy
