Every now and then, a book really opens the mind, changes perceptions, launches visions, etc. There have been some books in my life that have influenced my world-view and my life philosophy. I am curious to see books that others have found life changing. Non-fiction, fiction, anything . . .
1

by
4.20 avg rating — 5,599,663 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.02 avg rating — 4,666,563 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
3.92 avg rating — 3,652,559 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
4.08 avg rating — 893,835 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.33 avg rating — 2,534,917 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
6

by
4.26 avg rating — 6,991,481 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
3.97 avg rating — 2,906,377 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8

by
4.15 avg rating — 461,980 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
4.11 avg rating — 445 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
4.02 avg rating — 1,206,615 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
4.37 avg rating — 905,664 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
4.13 avg rating — 1,934,004 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
3.98 avg rating — 2,111,637 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
4.17 avg rating — 222,357 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
4.13 avg rating — 57,006 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
4.12 avg rating — 2,850,441 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
3.93 avg rating — 39,323 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
18

by
4.21 avg rating — 1,231,706 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
3.80 avg rating — 3,947,219 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
3.69 avg rating — 409,439 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
4.20 avg rating — 4,253,967 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.47 avg rating — 11,591,302 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
4.03 avg rating — 1,454,659 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
24

by
4.35 avg rating — 10,077,949 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
4.18 avg rating — 652,749 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
26

by
4.23 avg rating — 333,404 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
4.15 avg rating — 2,486,074 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
3.70 avg rating — 3,250,192 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
4.15 avg rating — 350,252 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.29 avg rating — 16,652 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
3.94 avg rating — 1,768,690 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
3.98 avg rating — 295,325 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
3.92 avg rating — 328,387 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
4.95 avg rating — 233 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
4.44 avg rating — 4,585 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 780,886 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
4.50 avg rating — 100,712 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.36 avg rating — 3,544,942 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
4.39 avg rating — 2,925,125 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
4.28 avg rating — 10,067 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
4.29 avg rating — 185,240 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
3.69 avg rating — 203,475 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
4.28 avg rating — 10,150 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
44

by
4.45 avg rating — 323,055 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
4.24 avg rating — 2,031,805 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
4.10 avg rating — 1,502,629 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
47

by
3.65 avg rating — 1,855,974 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
4.12 avg rating — 5,794,844 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
4.26 avg rating — 54,186 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
50

by
4.33 avg rating — 16,574 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
4.24 avg rating — 159,057 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
4.38 avg rating — 1,383,030 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
4.31 avg rating — 2,959 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
4.20 avg rating — 787,490 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
4.51 avg rating — 5,780 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
4.81 avg rating — 6,816 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.31 avg rating — 2,355 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
4.27 avg rating — 1,679 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
59

by
4.49 avg rating — 66,025 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
4.23 avg rating — 91,762 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
4.47 avg rating — 3,053,808 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
62

by
4.41 avg rating — 14,474 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.48 avg rating — 34,095 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
64

by
4.52 avg rating — 3,328 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
4.56 avg rating — 10,354 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
4.29 avg rating — 185,240 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
4.11 avg rating — 2,202 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
3.95 avg rating — 90,390 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
69

by
4.21 avg rating — 1,169,506 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
4.46 avg rating — 21,180 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
4.31 avg rating — 5,620 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.10 avg rating — 44,342 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
73

by
4.24 avg rating — 436 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
74

by
4.19 avg rating — 1,073 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
75

by
3.97 avg rating — 3,859 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
3.90 avg rating — 2,886,326 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
77

by
4.18 avg rating — 3,908 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
4.12 avg rating — 182,956 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
79

by
4.74 avg rating — 2,039 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
4.54 avg rating — 739,690 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
3.95 avg rating — 13,231 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
4.15 avg rating — 1,642,863 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
83

by
4.24 avg rating — 816,446 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
4.21 avg rating — 6,773 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
4.23 avg rating — 1,002 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
4.01 avg rating — 567 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
3.84 avg rating — 389,755 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
88

by
3.80 avg rating — 371,360 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
4.27 avg rating — 3,720 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
90

by
4.01 avg rating — 1,843 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
91

by
4.04 avg rating — 1,262,897 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
92

by
4.07 avg rating — 708 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
93

by
3.90 avg rating — 285,605 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
94

by
4.39 avg rating — 399,337 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
95

by
4.29 avg rating — 1,115,008 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
96

by
4.18 avg rating — 505 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
97

by
3.74 avg rating — 540,180 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
98

by
4.14 avg rating — 463,963 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
4.10 avg rating — 554,881 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
100

by
4.01 avg rating — 105,424 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10,585 books · 5,951 voters · list created December 15th, 2008 by Liaken (votes) .
1028 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Liaken 1614 books
12 friends
Pam 301 books
37 friends
Devon 167 books
52 friends
Nancy 5 books
0 friends
Lisa 465 books
31 friends
Lindsay 700 books
51 friends
Craig 3759 books
273 friends
Lindsey 1166 books
19 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Yasmeen (new)

Yasmeen Catcher in the Rye? Seriously?


message 2: by Carielyn (new)

Carielyn Mills Yasmine wrote: "Catcher in the Rye? Seriously?"

that was my reaction as well


message 3: by Raven (new)

Raven Black Down to the bone! What the fuck that was the most unrealistic book that I have ever read.


message 4: by Alfred (new)

Alfred Bates It still doesn't deserve to be on there.
I had to f'ing ADD of Human Bondage
AND Thus Spoke Zarathustra
AND The Picture of Dorian Grey.
SERIOUSLY


message 5: by Xenophon (new)

Xenophon Hendrix Different people are going to find different things mind expanding. At lot depends on encountering an idea at just the right time in one's life to encounter it.


message 6: by Liaken (new)

Liaken I think the most interesting books start at about number 25 and further when there are four or fewer people who vote for the book. Then you really get a sense of individual taste and experience of books that change the way you view life, rather than books that get voted to the top of a list by a group of people with a similar mindset.


message 7: by Elesha (new)

Elesha O. i know everyone loves hunger games (NOT INCLUDING MYSELF)but it has no reason to be on this list...just saying


message 8: by Krissquared (new)

Krissquared My vote goes to Life of Pi


message 9: by Annie (last edited Sep 19, 2011 08:35AM) (new)

Annie Hill The true meaning of life lies in our inner being. I love music. When I feel the inner sound of Om, my whole body thrills. I don't know why. This is the book helps me to experience that mysterious wonderful sensations feelings.

OM Chanting and Meditation


message 10: by Maureen (new)

Maureen Annie wrote: "The true meaning of life lies in our inner being. I love music. When I feel the inner sound of Om, my whole body thrills. I don't know why. This is the book helps me to experience that mysterious w..."

That's beautiful. Good for you.


╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

So very disrespectful. Your opinion differs from others but it doesn't make theirs wrong. Same with the Catcher in the Rye and all other books on this list.

It isn't really up to one person how and which books change which people's lives. :) Be respectful.


message 12: by [deleted user] (new)

Xenophon wrote: "Different people are going to find different things mind expanding. At lot depends on encountering an idea at just the right time in one's life to encounter it."

That is so true. Most books that really influenced me much I read when I was young.


message 13: by Audrey (new)

Audrey Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

Cymonian wrote: "catcher in the rye has more reason to be here than book of mormon"

not if you are one of the 14 million Mormons.


message 14: by Audrey (last edited Aug 08, 2012 08:58PM) (new)

Audrey Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

Seriously??? "all these crazy Mormons"????? Substitute the word "Jews" for Mormons and see if you can get away with the same bigotry. You wouldn't dare.


message 15: by Asha (new)

Asha Seth How does this one Twilight (Twilight, #1) by Stephenie Meyer help me change how I view my life??


message 16: by Alice (new)

Alice The list was fine... until I reached the Hunger Games. Okay, I get that it's a good YA book, but it most definitely did not change my life at all.


message 17: by Loveliest Evaris (new)

Loveliest Evaris In reality, there are NO fictional that have changed the way I view life. That's what nonfiction for. Facts and previously unknown information you acquire through reading nonfiction books should be how you change the way you view life. Unless it's a thinly veiled allegory or satire on history or real life, like Animal Farm or Lord of the Flies... You are entertained by a fictional book, you are taught and mentored by a nonfiction book.

Also, The Hunger Games? Really? What did you POSSIBLY learn from The Hunger Games? How "cool" archery is? How emotionally stunted Katniss is? How the Capitol "is exactally liek our govermint nao u guyz!!!!!!!!! " Seriously. Give me a break.


message 18: by Evangeline (new)

Evangeline Elesha wrote: "i know everyone loves hunger games (NOT INCLUDING MYSELF)but it has no reason to be on this list...just saying"

VERY true, thank you!


message 19: by Tiffany (new)

Tiffany Silverberg The book that changed MY life was "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Brian Weiss. I know it's somewhat of an older book (1988), but it remains a powerful influence on how I view life and death.


message 22: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 20 duplicates. I was cheered to find a link of this sort that isn't broken.


message 23: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 2 duplicates.


message 24: by Vicki (new)

Vicki This is a really interesting list.


message 25: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 21 duplicates.


message 26: by Alisha (new)

Alisha I Yasmine wrote: "Catcher in the Rye? Seriously?"

Agreed, couldn’t finish it myself.


message 27: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis The system found and removed 10 duplicates.


message 28: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

~☆~Autumn The Yellow Wallpaper is here twice as I just encountered it again at 1588 with several votes!


message 29: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

~☆~Autumn ╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ wrote: "Lee wrote: "Where are all these crazy Mormon's coming from?!"

So very disrespectful. Your opinion differs from others but it doesn't make theirs wrong. Same with the Catcher in the Rye and all oth..."


Good advice!


back to top