In the order that I think I first read them, here are ten books that influenced me...
Murder in Mesopotania - Agatha Christie
I love Agatha Christie books. She wrote some classic detective novels including Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (both ground breaking in their own way). However this was the book that started my love for Agatha Christie, detective fiction and archeology and so makes it to this list.
This was one of the first, if not the first, fantasy novel that i remember reading. A classic fantasy novel that didn't just launch a trilogy but also a setting for what felt like hundreds of books (most of which i subsequently bought). The characters start as standard archetypes (warrior, mage, paladin, thief, grumpy dwarf etc.) but are revealed to have multiple dimensions (e.g. struggling with being mixed race). The book probably ignited my love of fantasy and gaming.
This is a fantasy novel about a teenage boy growing up and learning to use his magical abilities. The book is a typical novel by Mercedes Lackey - light escapist fiction. What made it stand out was for me was the fact that i think it was the first book i read with a gay lead character. Growing up as a closeted gay man, this book (and the rest of trilogy) reassured teenage me that a gay man could be a hero (even if i wasn't ready to come out).
The story of a number of characters (of various sexualities, ages and drug intakes) living in 1970s San Francisco is another classic. Originally written as a newspaper serial, the resulting short chapters keep you engrossed and keen to read just one more chapter until suddenly you've stayed up all night and finished the book. The book ignited a desire (yet to be achieved) to visit San Francisco, a dream shared by most people that have read the book(s) or saw the mini-series in the 1990s.
The first volume of a trilogy about colonising Mars, this modern classic covers a period of 40 years from the initial 100 colonists to a thriving civilisation. The colonists are memorable enough to keep track of and have great philosophical conversations about many topics including the merits of terraforming, psychology and politics. The narrative moved between characters and jumped around chronologically but kept me engaged. The book reinforced my belief in the potential of science to change the world (mostly for good) and the diversity of people.
Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
Although my opinion of Richard Dawkins has varied over time (depending on his vocal opinions on a range of topics), this book has stood the test of time for me. I do remember if this was the first popular science book that I read but it is certainly one of the better ones. It is about evolutionary biology and the concept of genes. The book reinforced (if it didn't actually trigger) my love of science.
Although my opinion of Richard Dawkins has varied over time (depending on his vocal opinions on a range of topics), this book has stood the test of time for me. I do remember if this was the first popular science book that I read but it is certainly one of the better ones. It is about evolutionary biology and the concept of genes. The book reinforced (if it didn't actually trigger) my love of science.
I consider myself more of a biology/chemistry scientist rather than a physics/maths scientist but i do like to learn new things and this book certainly helped me begin to understand quantum physics. The contents of the book is quite wide-ranging but reading it helped me understand more (if not everything included!). I blame this book for the fact that I voluntarily studied an optional elective module on quarks and leptons as part of my undergraduate degree - I don't remember the mark but I think i passed!
This book consists entirely of emails sent in a fictional advertising agency trying to get the contract for Coca-cola. It is a hysterical comic novel that i have re-read numerous times. Although the characters are a touch stereotypical (dictator CEO, creative geniuses, boring health and safety administrator, bitchy secretaries etc.) they are engaging and engrossing and gave me an introduction to office politics before i started working in a large organisation.
Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story - Paul Monnette
After I started coming out, I started reading as many gay novels and books that I could. This autobiography (the first of a trilogy) of a man growing up closeted in New England in the 1950s through to the 1970s is one of the best. Paul Monnette wrote fiction, non-fiction and poetry so it is not surprising that this book is very well written. His story of tyranny of the closet and liberation of coming out was exactly the confidence boost that I needed.
After I started coming out, I started reading as many gay novels and books that I could. This autobiography (the first of a trilogy) of a man growing up closeted in New England in the 1950s through to the 1970s is one of the best. Paul Monnette wrote fiction, non-fiction and poetry so it is not surprising that this book is very well written. His story of tyranny of the closet and liberation of coming out was exactly the confidence boost that I needed.
This classic political philosophy book basically argues that socialism might mean well but can not work in practise without leading to fascism and dictatorship. Reading it, reinforced my belief in the freedom of choice for individuals and anti-statism. I don't agree with every word (despite what my more left-wing friends may think of my politics) but this defence of classic liberalism helped shape my politics.
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