HT’s Comments (group member since Jun 05, 2007)

HT’s comments from the Books that Changed Our Lives group.

Old friends....

Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Basically True Story immediately spring to mind. When life is darkest, they remind me that I am not described by my current circumstances, but by how I approach life.

In a similar vein, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of the books I find myself quoting over and over again. I no longer read this book, I just flip to the parts that seem salient to however I'm feeling when I pick it up.

I'm sure there are others that will come to me as I bump into them on my shelves.

This is a difficult question to try and answer. Best fiction? Best sucked-me-in-and-couldn't-put-it-down-(literally)-until-I-finished-it-in-one-sitting? Biggest impact in my life?

The book that has had the most powerful effect on my life most recently is LDS - A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing. Amazingly, it won't bring you down to read it, and even more amazingly, it applies to anyone whether you are dealing with an addiction or not.

My life is completely different because I was (and am) willing to apply its principles. My my life is still changing and improving because of it.

Recently one of my friends rated a children's book called The Monster at the End of This Book starry Grover from Sesame Street and I realized that it, of all books, should be listed here in this group.

I was in 1st grade and I wanted my mom to read me a story, but she was busy in the kitchen. I got this book off the shelf and sat down with it and started to go through it. Suddenly I realized I was reading!

Truthfully, I must have been 'reading' for quite some time, but this was the moment when I consciously realized that I knew how to read and suddenly the whole world opened up to me and I became a reading fanatic.

Of course it was bound to happen, and it could have been any book, but for me, it was Grover and Sesame Street.

Do you remember what you were reading when you suddenly realized you could read?

How goes The Black Swan, Sarah?

So why/how did this book change your life?

I haven't read it yet, but the description at Amazon was intriguing enough that I've added it to my 'To Read' shelf. But I'd really enjoy some insight from those who have read it (especially the person who added it to the shelf!)

HT

I was surprised that this book was able to change my life. Principally, Body for Life is a book about weight loss, exercise and diet with pretty typical language about motivation, goals, success stories, etc. I've read a number of books like this, and many info-mercials have the same emotional pump-up. (Side Note: my wife and I plan to start the program soon - she's worked through it before and is a fan.)

I haven't even begun the diet and exercise, so how did this book change my life? The author emphasizes planning out your exercises before you work out - and not just which exercises, but also the 'high points' of the workout. These are the times when you are tired, the strain is intense and you have to dig deep for inner strength to keep going. According to the author, at these times, when you push yourself beyond your imagined limits that you make the most progress.

The author also mentions frequently in the book that this approach is able to change how you live your whole life - he doesn't go into any depth which is one of the books weaknesses - I think this should be a major discussion. Nevertheless, it was in my mind while I read, and when he suggested planning your high points, something clicked.

I took the idea of planning the high points and applied it to various areas of my life (family, finances, occupation, spirituality, house-hold responsibilities, etc). I started planning what I could do the next day to hit 'high points' - points where I'm focused, intense and pushing myself hard to finish the task.

It's hard to explain, because it sounds like I'm talking about a 'To Do' list. It is a list of things to do, but they are things that push me beyond my comfortable limits. Much of this is emotional -- I have a real issue with avoidance when it comes to being engaged with my kids or my wife, being loving and gentle, working around the house/yard, or various boring jobs at work.

Then I treat the listed items as a workout: I get psyched up and then I push myself hard. I challenge myself every time I start a new task to see how quickly and efficiently I can finish it. I ask myself over and over again, "How strong am I? How hard can I push?" I have to push myself beyond boredom, frustration, anxiety, anger to where I can get the job done (or push myself to be kind, patient, gentle).

These 'planned high points' lists have had a major impact on my life thus far, and I hope to make them a central part of my life and character. I feel like this one idea is the small key I've needed to break through many of my personal obstacles and I feel empowered and eager for the first time.

It certainly sounds intriguing. I'll definitely add it to my 'to-read' shelf and try to track down a copy. Have you had the chance to read it yet?