Most Influential Books

I've never been a big fan of the genre that is self help, seeing as I am of the (probably erroneous) opinion that I'm more evolved than the type that takes advice from a book that can't possibly be anything more than generic. The truth of course is that for the most part, everything that's categorized as 'good' automatically comes with expectation, and I'm on a path of self growth that's taking a sabbatical from expectation. Having said that, I was also the fool that trashed it before I tried it, judged before I verified and fell down the rabbit hole that is preconceived notions based on ignorance. So when I decided it's time to evolve further, I was surprised to fall prey to the very root of a genre that inspired my earlier disdain - self help. Books that promise to inspire, fall under no particular category. They could be philosophical, they could be inspirational, they could be fictional, or rooted in reality. But they do have one thing in common - the ability to swing opinion, and the gift of making you believe. The best influential books can change your life - as they did mine. The list below, is comprises my personal favorites; if you're a non believer, test my theory by giving any one of these famous books of the 20th century a whirl.

The Secret, Rhonda Byrne
When The Secret came out, it created a sudden furore, sales went through the roof, and the world was inundated with whispers. I bought this on a lark, and read it as a dare, confident that I would dismiss it once done. Boy, was I wrong! If I'm a believer in anything, I believe in The Secret - that's the extent of influence it had on my own life. I believe in the Law of Attraction that it talks about and the philosophy it teaches, and to the best of my ability I practice it too. But don't take my word for it, try it yourself (it's even available in audio book form), not for nothing is it one of the most influential books in America. Trust me, it'll be worth it.

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Perhaps what's charming about The Alchemist, is the simple manner in which it's told. It's a simple story, but a profound one, and what moved me, when I read this book, is the tremendous wisdom on each page. The Alchemist is one of those books that you read over and over, and each subsequent read reveals a little more.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Rarely, a book will strike a chord within you, make a place in your heart, and speak to your soul. These are the books one clings to, and as you move through life, they accompany you, as constant silent companions that make sense of the world and reinstate a belief system that reality often causes you to question. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books - and it will stay with you as it did with me, long after the last page is turned.

Oh! The Places You Will Go, Dr. Seuss
When you discount a children's book as 'childish', you do yourself and the author a grave injustice. Some children's books are all the more profound because of their simplicity - in thought, language and style. Dr. Seuss is a genius in every sense of the word, and this book, illustrations and all, has been a constant source of inspiration - it may not be part of a list of classic books that everyone should read, but it certainly has the power to influence and inspire you.

The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
Despite the fact that this story is fantasy, or perhaps because it is, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is probably included in many lists of influential books. Not only did it raise the bar for the genre, it probably set the standard for any fantasy writer to even aspire towards. Tolkein's work remains to this day one of the best books of all time that has influenced many.

It's fairly obvious that religious books make it to the top of the list of the 100 most influential books of all time. The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Quran, The Bhagwad Geeta, and many other such scriptures exert an influence that is age-old, and understandable, since these are the tenets that many of us base our lives on. Assuming that these feature in a given list, the following is a list of some must read books, for their influence, their intelligence and their brilliance. Take a look at some of these below:

• I Ching - Chinese Scripture
• Iliad - Homer
• The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri
• Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
• The Origin of Species - Charles Darwin
• War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
• How to Win Friends and Influence People -Dale Carnegie
• The Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald F. Scott
• One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway

These were some of my picks that qualify as the most influential books of all time. Opinions differ, just as people do, but should you be willing to expand your horizons, and give these books a read, I should think you may be surprised. Or should I say, influenced?