Show & Tell: NieNie Asks -- What Book Changed Your Life?

Growing up, I never much cared for reading. Reading was something I HAD to do in school. Later in life, I was introduced to Victoria Holt's "Lord of the Far Island," and I was hooked on reading ever since.

I now read from a variety of genres. Presently, I have 3 different books on my night table (switching to a different book every night). One of the books that I am now reading happens to be Ree Drummond's, "From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels." And I am enjoying it very much!

Reading, a great topic to talk about, by the way. :)

This book is a life changer! It lets you feel like you are living through the Civil War. It makes you realize that the slavery conflict was very complicated. Once again, I am taught that the world is not black and white.

It was so well written, a joy to read! I used to look at the size of the book and be overwhelmed. But every page was enjoyable. Margaret Mitchell's insight into the human character was amazing. Scarlett was so complex. I hated her and I loved her. I've never cried so much in a book. I absolutely loved it!

I read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" in third grade and have never been quite the same since.

This book's awesomeness inspires me daily, and I re-read it every summer.

Summer is "Favorite Book Re-reading Season," you know.

"Don't be content with being average. Average is as close to the bottom as it is to the top."

Jane blogs as "Mamacita" at Scheiss Weekly, ( http://janegoodwin.net/ )hitting the fan like nobody can.

Funny you should ask ;). I just posted about this book and the way reading it as a young girl impacted my life. The power of words, eh?
Blessings,
GG
http://myfireflycottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/mocki...

The true story about a Texas couple who develops a relationship with an unlikely homeless person at the soup kitchen they volunteer at.

The story is beautiful and serves as a reminder that too often we focus on outward features to make judgments about people, and oftentimes those judgments are wrong. I think you'd appreciate the book, both as a Christian and as a human.

I'm also an English teacher, and no matter how long ago this book was written, my sixteen year olds STILL love it, and I do, too. Universal themes. And being good to each other? What makes more sense (and more of an impact) than that?

I read Eat Pray Love when I was going through a hard time in my life. Reading about Elizabeth Gilbert's struggles made me feel better about mine.

I read The Shack but it was hard to read about the loss of a child. There were teachable moments in the book but it took a lot out of me and in very small doses to read it.

The Patty Beat can be found at  http://pattyabr.wordpress.com ( http://pattyabr.wordpress.com/ ) where The Fearless Cook resides ready to take on your most feared items in the kitchen.

I just finished the 5 Love Languages 2 wks ago. I received it as a gift :-)

It was a really good book and right to the point. I was able to identify my love language immediately.

One of the best tips I pick up in this book is that people love you the way that they want to be loved. In so many instances its true!

-Shannon

http://www.readinghaspurpose.com

Several people have told me they don't want to read this book because they think it will be too sad. But this book is very much about living. Hopefully more people will check it out!

-Shannon

http://www.readinghaspurpose.com

GraceWalk by Steve McVey changed my life forever because it showed me who I really am. Once I learned who God created me to be I was freed to really live my life with grace and love not under the judgement of others.

TrueFaced just confirmed these same truths for me.

www.juliemooreonlife.wordpress.com ( http://www.juliemooreonlife.wordpress.com/ )

Nightfall by Isaac Asimov totally changed my life. Made me realize who I am really am. Don't know how I made the correlation back then, but I'm grateful.

kjsbucketlist.blogspot.com (haven't updated in a month but come visit anyway.)

Kendra

THE TOLBOOTH LIVES! This book was given to me by my aunt when I was little and has nourished my nerdy, crazy mind my entire life. For example, here is a quote that never fails to cheer me up and look at a troublesome situation in a different light;

"For instance, from here that looks like a bucket of water, but from an ant's point of view it's a vast ocean, from an elephant's just a cool drink, and to a fish, of course, it's home."

For fiction?

A Return to Christmas by Chris Heimerdinger. I can't tell you just how great this book is and how it makes me want to be a better person.

http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2008/12/return-t...

For 'real' books? Hands down, "The Last Lecture."

http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2008/07/last-lec...

In the Eye of the Storm by John Groberg. Every chapter was filled with inspiring experiences, and then at the end of each chapter, he told me what he learned through those experiences, and how to apply it to my own life. Amazing.

The Peacegiver by James Ferrell. Lessons on forgiveness and repentence that no one had ever taught me before. Eye-opening and very uplifting.

Feeling Good, the New Mood Therapy, by David Burns. The best self-help book ever to teach someone how to be in charge of their own (especially depressed or anxious) thoughts. Empowering.

Setting Limits with your Strong-Willed Child by Robert MacKenzie. The best help in understanding my firecracker children and knowing what discipline methods will be most effective with them, how they learn the best, etc. It helped me stop resenting their personality quirks and start working with them instead of against them : ). Helped me love them more. Awesome.

Randy Pausch-The Last Lecture. It really struck home that living must be daily-not for the future.

Nothing, ever, has messed me up like that book. All those little boys illustrating the whole "might makes right" thing, I was already familiar with. Anyone who is a child knows what they're capable of.

But when it got to the end, when finally the strong, responsible adults step in and save the boys, I flipped. Because when the navy guy starts looking off into the distance at his ship, I realized that all the wars grown-ups get into were exactly like the little boys' war, but on a global scale. Might making right. And who would step in and stop the grown-ups?

I have dealt with the "if only"..if only God had not...if only God had. And...I have dealt with the "what if".. What if God does___. This book, Calm My Anxious Heart, has helped me have peace in the midst of hard things: youngest has a tumor disorder, one of my kids has emotional issues due to being in an orphanage, friends that have hurts that need my help, etc.
I can't recommend this book enough.
Rachel in Georgia

http://www.inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com/

Wow how to choose just one? It often seems to me to be the one that I am reading at the moment affects my life now and so seems to be the most pertinent. Anyone else feel that? I find a lot of autobiographies so inspiring. Michael J Fox's books Lucky Man and Always Looking Up which is what I am reading at the moment have made me laugh, moved me to tears and be in awe of a man whose 'diagnosis' could have left him angry, bitter, resentful of life and the world but instead he sees each day as a blessing and as he describes getting up the morning and how his body fights against him he knows it only gets better from here as he sees his children. Amazing.

A number of books have "stayed" with me. I love to read. But I would say the most inspirational would be Eat, Pray, Love. It's helped me more than the author knows.

Parenting with Love and Logic. I'm not sure this book counts but it is a book and it has changed my life and the lives of my kids. I love my kids more, acutally, I guess I love them the same I just know they feel it more. And, I'm giving them less reasons to resent me. I wish I'd gotten it when my daughter was born instead of when she turned 8 but better late than never or something like that. By the way, thanks for asking!

Probably 'Johnny Tremain.' The last line is pretty much my favorite from any book ever- "Hundreds would die, but not the thing they died for. A man can stand up." If you've never read it, you should. Few other books really bring to light the human sacrifice of the Revolutionary War in such poetic terms.

by David Sedaris is one that stands out for me. I don't think I LOLed so much by one book! I guess it has helped me in ways of taking issues much lighter.

I go back to these books over and over when i need a reconnect with God. They are such a pick me up and often in this life, that's what we need a lot of. :)

This is my all time favorite book. It changed my life because it showed that no matter what your family life was like growing up, your attitude changes more than the circumstances. and plus, any book that makes me laugh out loud lots of times makes it special.

Three cups of Tea, and Stones into Schools changed my life! I read the first before my husband joined the military, and the second after. It really changed my views on combating global terror, the key is education, something so simple, but yet so effective. Three cups of Tea is now mandatory reading for all new CIA recruits, it just gives so much perspective on the middle east, and how educationg girls, who then become wives and mothers, can have a HUGE inpact on what choices their sons and husbands make, so powerful!!

The 5 Love Languages. It taught me how to better love everyone in my life.

I'm an English teacher, so my list is ever growing. However, To Kill A Mockingbird is probably it for me. Atticus Finch makes me want to be a better parent. He makes me want to be a better me. The innocence and understanding teach me how to be "childlike". The overall theme is realistic. Beautifully written. Now I need to go read the next three chapters that were the homework assignment for my students.

"The Red Tent" by Anita Diamont. I am a labor/delivery nurse and I love the half of the book about Dinah's life as a midwife. It empowered me to deliver my third child without medication or induction, trusting my body as a work of God...

by Louise Hay

It shows how we get into patterns of thinking....and how we can change anything (or our response to it) Also, God is the source of all and this book acknowledges his power over our life......Most self help books grate on me but this one resonates because until you are in tune with His laws, nothing really satisfies.

I think your blog is the best love story.

I think the Mitford Series by Jan Karon has really changed my life. It has helped me to be a more prayerful person. Laura

This is a newly published book that so powerfullly explains the Lord's grace while telling a story. It really made me think and it made me cry and it made me what to forgive and show more grace to the people in my life.

http://www.johnbushman.com/books.html

For fiction?

A Return to Christmas by Chris Heimerdinger. I can't tell you just how great this book is and how it makes me want to be a better person.

http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2008/12/return-t...

For 'real' books? Hands down, "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch.

http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2008/07/last-lec...

...And Its All Small Stuff is the book that changed my life!

I have such high regard for it that I don't think my review would do it justice - so I haven't written one.

However, The Last Lecture had a huge impact on me as well. And I did write a review on that one!

http://readinghaspurpose.blogspot.com/2010/12/last... ( http://readinghaspurpose.blogspot.com/2010/12/last... )

http://www.readinghaspurpose.com

I'm rereading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. It teaches me humorously about different religions, history, geography, and of course it makes me laugh!