I had an interesting conversation the other day with some friends of mine. One of them asked the question… “so have any books that you have read recently made a difference in your life?” I initially didn’t think much about the question until some of the people sitting around the table started to name off their own list of books.\u00a0Then I started to actually think about it.<\/p>\n
You see, I love to read. All the time. The stack of books beside my bed is growing because I keep finding books I want to read. And I keep wanting to re-read books that I love. And I am also the type of person who reads multiple books at the same time and I jump back and forth between them. I will have a fiction book sandwiched between non-fiction books, sitting on top of a stack of magazines and articles, which are underneath some books on leadership, or social media, or personal improvement, or something else. I find that it depends on the mood I am in as to what I want to read, so I have to keep my options open.<\/p>\n
So what would my 5 books be? How could I possibly pick among all the books I have read in my life? My list would probably have been different 5 years ago, and 5 years from now as well. Heck, it might even be different 5 months from now. But anyway, here is my list… right now.<\/p>\n
1. The Hobbit<\/a>,<\/strong> J.R.R. Tolkien – I can’t really remember when I read this book the first time, but I remember being young, like around 5th grade. \u00a0And it wasn’t the subject matter of the story that puts this book on the list. \u00a0This was the book that stirred inside of me the love for reading. \u00a0I discovered how beautiful the printed page can be, and how a great story can keep you up late at night because you can’t put it down.<\/p>\n 2. \u00a0The Lord of the Rings<\/a><\/strong>, J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit led me down the well-worn path to this book. \u00a0This is my favorite book, as evidenced by the fact that I have read it through completely at least 5 times that I can remember since I was a child. \u00a0The metaphors for life are so rich that they pop out onto your lap from between the pages of every chapter. Friendship. \u00a0Family. \u00a0Loyalty. \u00a0Fear. \u00a0Death. \u00a0Honor. \u00a0Duty. \u00a0Patriotism. Love. \u00a0You won’t find another story that contains them all. \u00a0Do you remember the scene?… On the side of Mount Doom Sam lifts Frodo to his back because Frodo can’t go on, and Sam cries, “Come, Mr. Frodo, I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.” \u00a0It shows what true sacrifice is… how to never give up… how to strive for something bigger than yourself. \u00a0It should be required reading for every child.<\/p>\n 3. \u00a0The Book of Virtues<\/a>, <\/strong>William J. Bennett – Probably one of the best gifts ever given to me. I can’t think of any book that contains so many of the greatest writings in history. \u00a0From George Washington’s “Rules of Civility”, to Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream”, to stories from\u00a0Aristotle, Plato, the Bible, Hans Christian Anderson, and on and on. \u00a0They are all here. \u00a0I have pulled from this book more than any other when looking for stories to tell in my work, in my writings, and in my personal life. \u00a0Everyone needs a copy of this book in their house.<\/p>\n