“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak; a vindictive bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” (Chapter 2, Page 31).
There’s that and a lot more good stuff in that book.
The Virgin Suicides, or the Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch it’s cute
God is not Great by Chris Hitchens
Grapes of wrath, catcher in the rye, or the color purple.
Tuesdays with Morrie.
Bible
@Jillycarmel - That is an awesome book! I read it in 8th grade but didn’t get it until a few years later. But it’s great.
But besides that one, I think every young woman should read “Caramelo” by Susan Cisneros. “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli is great too.
@abilene_piper_lg - Wow totally accurate. Cool, I watch his vids on google and they are excellent!
A general psychology text. It’s sad that so many people live their entire lives without knowing how much it relates to them. Life is a lot easier when you know how people work, and when you know how you yourself work.
That being said I also think everyone should read the bible. Religious or not. I know a lot of people who are all oh ya I’m christian the bible blahblahblah but they have never read it. Seriously? As to the people who aren’t religious, you should at least understand other people and where they’re coming from. Considering such a large population is religious I think it’s important to understand.
Tuesdays With Morrie or The Glass Castle. Can’t decide.
Any book. It saddens me how few people read for pleasure.
Have to go with the bible, and specifically Romans or John.
Fight Club, or Brave New World, or 1984!
Did someone already say The Alchemist?
The Great Gatsby or Wuthering Heights.
AHH. Wait. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Confederacy of Dunces as well. Poooop.
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
It is what I consider to be a perfect book.
“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, or “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera. “Notes from Underground” by Dostoyevsky is also a fine read – strange and twisted, but sooooo good. Oy, I can’t really decide, I greatly enjoy too many books!
Hands down.
Everyone should go out and run to a book store to buy…
“You Shall Know Our Velocity” by Dave Eggers.
My life changed after reading it.
@suggestivetongue - Just curious, but then would you agree that everyone (including Christians) should also read the Quran, Buddhist canon, or Sruti texts?
The Bible starting with the book of Mark.
@innerblondness - Ideally yes. I think everyone should open their minds to as many different lifestyles as possible to obtain a greater understanding of each other
Too many to choose from. I’ll go with one from my college days.
“Reasons, Explanations, and Decisions: Guidelines for Critical Thinking.” by Thomas McKay. Or any similar book.
Great question, Dan!
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
“Fox in Socks” by Suess
Just one? ………………Other than the Bible, of course………………….hmmmmmm
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
The Holy Bible for sure..
I would also suggest The Alchemist or Tuesdays With Morrie..
Franny and Zooey – J.D. Salinger.
I would have them read “MYCELIUM RUNNING” by Paul Stamets.
Denmark Vesey by David Robertson
Omg!
Lots!!!!
I cannot be content if the whole world only reads ONE book.
No way. Cannot be.
There are sooo many great books out there!
any book……..as long as they read something that interests them……..people just don’t read enough these days.
Never read that. But I am more a fan of Harry Potter.
I have to pick just one?!
Fine. The Bible.
“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.
I agree with those mentioning books by F. Dostoevsky ( my favorite was The Idiot ) and M. Kundera ( I started with The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and I’ve now read … 5-6 of his books, I think it is ). But, since those are already mentioned, I’ll say Damaged Goods, by Upton Sinclair. It’s a novelization of the play, Les Avaries, by Eugene Brieux.
that’s really hard! i think people should read Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. everyone above me listed all these classics and stuff, but i think people should read different kinds of books too. go read it if you haven’t.
The Kite Runner – clichéd, but great book.
Rage Against the Meshugenah by Danny Evans
It’s like chosing between my children. I can’t do it. They’re each wonderful in different ways.
Economics 101. For the general public, politicians, advisors, and the President.
Mists of Avalon
The bible.
the bible is the most important thing to read if u want to go with gods plan only for u no one elses
the bible is the most important thing to read if u want to go with gods plan only for u no one elses
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
I’d have to check the banned book section to see what I thought was most interesting. It’s the banned books that should be read, because there’s someone who doesn’t want you to know what’s inside. ♥
@mammaquiet - That’s my grandma’s favorite book. ♥
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Parnell and Justin Richardson
13 Reasons Why and The 5 people you meet in heaven.
I would go with either ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ or ‘Animal Farm’!
Or for not so serious reading –
Dexter
Probably The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. For philosophizin’.
1984 gets props, too, but everyone should already know that one. C’mon.
The Bible.
The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder.
The Holy Bible. It has everything — answers, sex, war, every emotion, life, death, past, present, future, poetry, drama & trivia information for “Jeopardy”. Why not read it?
@samsterrx - jeffrey eugenides! o_o the author of middlesex. i haven’t read the virgin suicidees yet though. andd the perks of being a wallflower is a great book.
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell. Fabulous book…
The Perks of Being a Wallflower!
Slightly Single
Wraeththu by Storm Constantine God that book is epic, it depicts the fall and rise of civilizations, totally destroys gender differences and so much more. If you’re going to read it, brace yourself. Especially if you aren’t comfortable with the world of sex, heterosexual and homosexual. That’s what this book kind of centers on…
I guess either Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or Anthem by Ayn Rand (I really can’t choose between which one is better…). They both describe just how much governments can take from you and why we should appreciate our lives and freedoms.
The Holy Bible, as translated by Joseph Smith. Another one? The Book of Mormon.
Dictionary!
Or probably my novel (if they can read in Malay language).
1800-where- r -you series by Meg Cabot
Who by the way is also the author of Princess Diary
Ayn Rand – Anthem
or
Yann Martel – Life of Pi
The Lambs Supper by Scott Hann or Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
I’ll go with “Lord of the Rings.” (My other two were already mentioned).
childhood’s end by arthur c. clarke
Attacking Faulty Reasoning by T.Edward Damer. It would provide many people with a foundation for criticizing and analyzing viewpoints they never had before.
-Alexander the Zounderkite
“Trash” by Amy Yamada.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
I think all girls should read Captivating by Staci Eldridge
I think all new wives should read Help Meet by Debi Pearle
I think all guys should read Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
Comments (131)
A religious text.
How to win friends and influence people
Dale Carnegie
good one. probably Fr.451 by Ray Bradbury about books
Bible. Duh.
=P
rich dad poor dad
Fahrenheit 451. It would make them appreciate reading. =)
Road Map to Holland by Jennifer Graf Groneberg. (All in my quest to get out that October is Down syndrome Awareness Month)
Charles Bukowski’s “Women”.
I’m supposed to just pick one?!
Gahhh.
Fight Club.
ps. your xanga layout are the colors of a fight club shirt.
Crime and Punishment
by Doestoevsky
the kite runner
Maus I and II (I know that’s two, but it really a complete work) by Art Spiegelman. NO contest.
Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz. For us English-readers, the Wheeler Synthesized Translation tends to be the best.
What about you, Dan?
DMV’s “Women”
Romans
Etiquette For Outlaws by Rob Cohen & David Wollock
The Celestine Prophecy
Hmm..that is hard..but Pride and Prejudice..a very good classic.
The Federalist Papers
The Sound and the Fury
by William Faulkner
@Paul_Partisan - That’s Brilliant!
@Kontzicles - That’s my favorite book!
I’d probably pick “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins.
The Life of Rob of the Sky by Rob of the Sky. Though Rob of the Sky would actually have to write that book first…
To Kill a Mockingbird or Cat’s Cradle.
Hmm…a good one? Let’s see…how about…
The Doll People by Ann M. Martin.
The Demon Haunted World -Carl Sagan
doing you own FQ now Dan?…I could never pick just one, guess I would rec some favorites if someone asked me though!
The Koran
Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand
Choke.
hahaha.
xo
Maximized Manhood- Dr. Edwin Louis Cole
@abilene_piper_lg - I hear that book is fantastic!
@SliverLines - I thought that was a movie not a book?
the Bible
@ChevalierSeingal@datingish - It really is a great book. Let me quote you my favorite passage:
“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak; a vindictive bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” (Chapter 2, Page 31).
There’s that and a lot more good stuff in that book.
The Virgin Suicides, or the Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
it’s cute
God is not Great by Chris Hitchens
Grapes of wrath, catcher in the rye, or the color purple.
Tuesdays with Morrie.
Bible
@Jillycarmel - That is an awesome book! I read it in 8th grade but didn’t get it until a few years later. But it’s great.
But besides that one, I think every young woman should read “Caramelo” by Susan Cisneros. “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli is great too.
@abilene_piper_lg - Wow totally accurate. Cool, I watch his vids on google and they are excellent!
@Drakonskyr - I KNEW YOU’D SAY BUKOWSKI.
@Kestryl - Are you finding the people suggesting Palahnuik and Rand as loserishly hilarious as I am?
@Drakonskyr - I think my favourite is the one comment saying “wasn’t Fight Club a movie, not a book?”
The Five Love Languages – by Gary Chapman
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel
Probaly Twilight, just kidding!
Eh, how about the bible? 
“How not to be stupid” by All the smart people out there that hate the way you (don’t) use your brain.
If by read you meant read and understand, then it would be the Bible.
@another_rebel_without_a_cause - To Kill A Mockingbird is an awesome book.
The Odyssey.
A general psychology text. It’s sad that so many people live their entire lives without knowing how much it relates to them. Life is a lot easier when you know how people work, and when you know how you yourself work.
That being said I also think everyone should read the bible. Religious or not. I know a lot of people who are all oh ya I’m christian the bible blahblahblah but they have never read it. Seriously? As to the people who aren’t religious, you should at least understand other people and where they’re coming from. Considering such a large population is religious I think it’s important to understand.
Tuesdays With Morrie or The Glass Castle.
Can’t decide.
Any book. It saddens me how few people read for pleasure.
@suggestivetongue - agreed.
Have to go with the bible, and specifically Romans or John.
Fight Club, or Brave New World, or 1984!
Did someone already say The Alchemist?
The Great Gatsby or Wuthering Heights.
AHH. Wait. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Confederacy of Dunces as well. Poooop.
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
It is what I consider to be a perfect book.
“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, or “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera.
“Notes from Underground” by Dostoyevsky is also a fine read – strange and twisted, but sooooo good.
Oy, I can’t really decide, I greatly enjoy too many books!
Hands down.
Everyone should go out and run to a book store to buy…
“You Shall Know Our Velocity” by Dave Eggers.
My life changed after reading it.
@suggestivetongue - Just curious, but then would you agree that everyone (including Christians) should also read the Quran, Buddhist canon, or Sruti texts?
The Bible starting with the book of Mark.
@innerblondness - Ideally yes. I think everyone should open their minds to as many different lifestyles as possible to obtain a greater understanding of each other
The Big Book Of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Oneness – http://onenessonline.com/
Too many to choose from. I’ll go with one from my college days.
“Reasons, Explanations, and Decisions: Guidelines for Critical Thinking.” by Thomas McKay. Or any similar book.
Great question, Dan!
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
“Fox in Socks” by Suess
Just one? ………………Other than the Bible, of course………………….hmmmmmm
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
The Holy Bible for sure..
I would also suggest The Alchemist or Tuesdays With Morrie..
Franny and Zooey – J.D. Salinger.
I would have them read “MYCELIUM RUNNING” by Paul Stamets.
Denmark Vesey by David Robertson
Omg!
Lots!!!!
I cannot be content if the whole world only reads ONE book.
No way. Cannot be.
There are sooo many great books out there!
any book……..as long as they read something that interests them……..people just don’t read enough these days.
Never read that. But I am more a fan of Harry Potter.
I have to pick just one?!
Fine. The Bible.
“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.
I agree with those mentioning books by F. Dostoevsky ( my favorite was The Idiot ) and M. Kundera ( I started with The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and I’ve now read … 5-6 of his books, I think it is ). But, since those are already mentioned, I’ll say Damaged Goods, by Upton Sinclair. It’s a novelization of the play, Les Avaries, by Eugene Brieux.
that’s really hard!
i think people should read Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
everyone above me listed all these classics and stuff, but i think people should read different kinds of books too.
go read it if you haven’t.
The Kite Runner – clichéd, but great book.
Rage Against the Meshugenah by Danny Evans
It’s like chosing between my children. I can’t do it. They’re each wonderful in different ways.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
I can’t decide between I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
Economics 101. For the general public, politicians, advisors, and the President.
Mists of Avalon
The bible.
the bible is the most important thing to read if u want to go with gods plan only for u no one elses
the bible is the most important thing to read if u want to go with gods plan only for u no one elses
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
I’d have to check the banned book section to see what I thought was most interesting. It’s the banned books that should be read, because there’s someone who doesn’t want you to know what’s inside. ♥
@mammaquiet - That’s my grandma’s favorite book. ♥
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Parnell and Justin Richardson
13 Reasons Why and The 5 people you meet in heaven.
@another_rebel_without_a_cause - Loved ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’
I would go with either ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ or ‘Animal Farm’!
Or for not so serious reading –
Dexter
Probably The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. For philosophizin’.
1984 gets props, too, but everyone should already know that one. C’mon.
The Bible.
The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder.
The Holy Bible. It has everything — answers, sex, war, every emotion, life, death, past, present, future, poetry, drama & trivia information for “Jeopardy”. Why not read it?
@Smichy420 - i second that one. The Kite Runner.
definitely a good read.
Pride and Prejudice.
@samsterrx - jeffrey eugenides! o_o the author of middlesex. i haven’t read the virgin suicidees yet though. andd the perks of being a wallflower is a great book.
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell. Fabulous book…
The Perks of Being a Wallflower!
Slightly Single
Wraeththu by Storm Constantine
God that book is epic, it depicts the fall and rise of civilizations, totally destroys gender differences and so much more. If you’re going to read it, brace yourself. Especially if you aren’t comfortable with the world of sex, heterosexual and homosexual. That’s what this book kind of centers on…
@everlastte - yes, it was good.
@xxquarterlifecrisisxx - yes, that was a good one.
The Bible.
Just one?? But I love series!!!
I guess either Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or Anthem by Ayn Rand (I really can’t choose between which one is better…). They both describe just how much governments can take from you and why we should appreciate our lives and freedoms.
The Holy Bible, as translated by Joseph Smith. Another one? The Book of Mormon.
Dictionary!
Or probably my novel (if they can read in Malay language).
1800-where- r -you series by Meg Cabot
Who by the way is also the author of Princess Diary
Ayn Rand – Anthem
or
Yann Martel – Life of Pi
The Lambs Supper by Scott Hann or Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
I’ll go with “Lord of the Rings.” (My other two were already mentioned).
childhood’s end by arthur c. clarke
Attacking Faulty Reasoning by T.Edward Damer.
It would provide many people with a foundation for criticizing and analyzing viewpoints they never had before.
-Alexander the Zounderkite
“Trash” by Amy Yamada.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
I think all girls should read Captivating by Staci Eldridge
I think all new wives should read Help Meet by Debi Pearle
I think all guys should read Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
@suggestivetongue - good idea on the psych text
“Choke” by: Chuck Palahniuk
End of story.