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Eye opening books?

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blakroc
Posts: 2323 - Karma: 28
im lookin to read a book that when your done ure just like holly fuck
Apr 24 2009 12:30PM
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rhcp
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 18
If you want to see the hidden side of everything that doesn't matter, try "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt.  Awesome book, and it's really easy and fun to read.

If you want to try to understand how a lot of things that do matter actually work, try "The Armchair Economist" by Steven Landsburg.

If you're looking for an "eye opening" experience, both of these books are perfect because they will change the way you look at the world.


Apr 24 2009 10:51PM
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linesteeze
Posts: 1229 - Karma: 125
Watchmen
Apr 24 2009 11:19PM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
brave new world by aldous huxley
Apr 24 2009 11:25PM
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TheQuailman
Posts: 7382 - Karma: 147

I've read a lot of books that people have listed and honestly, some people have said some dumb shit.  If your looking for a good book, then (most) of these are good suggestions.  But you specifically asked for an eye-opening book.  Do you mean something that will make you see the world differently? Or just something where after you read it you are like wtf, but then you reflect on it and are just like holy shit, that was nuts.

If your looking for an easy read, with a good dose of violence and sex (usually mixed together) with clever lines that make you stop, re-read, think about and just go wtf thats nuts I've never though about it like that, or thats sooo true, then go with a Chuck Pahluniuk book.  Fight Club is the best. (same story as the movie).  Also Rant and Haunted were RIDICULOUS.

Haunted (by Chuck Pahluniuk) was NUTS.  Gave me chills when I just typed its name.  So nuts.  Its a collection of short stories bound together by a main story.  The short stories are ridiculous.  At the end of some I was just like, holy fuck.  The end of the book is nuts too.  This is what you are looking for 100% and its a GREAT READ.

If you decide to read haunted or want to know more, send me a pm

Apr 25 2009 1:12AM
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s_a_m
Posts: 916 - Karma: 58
A Million Little Pieces by James Fray
Apr 25 2009 1:14AM
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wang_bong
Posts: 766 - Karma: 13
1984, the giver, things fall apart
Apr 25 2009 4:32AM
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bret
Posts: 2845 - Karma: 833
fuckkk the alchemist the most contrived book ever for simple minded people.


on the road by jack kerouac is a much better book with similar themes.
Apr 25 2009 4:42AM
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roaklee
Posts: 1288 - Karma: 90
I Am America and So Can You by Stephen Colbert
Apr 25 2009 9:25AM
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kryptic
Posts: 111 - Karma: 10
Harry Potter really opened my eyes to the world of magic and wizardry.
Apr 25 2009 10:06AM
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sowstochd
Posts: 1518 - Karma: 59

stranger in a strange land by robert heinlen, Blink by malcolm gladwell, and inherit the wind.

Apr 25 2009 1:59PM
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get_toasted
Posts: 422 - Karma: 15
I'm reading Catch A Fire: The Life of Bob Marley by Timothy White
It's muy bien
Apr 25 2009 2:06PM
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jayo.
Posts: 5015 - Karma: 34
for sure. i also liked cat's cradle and sirens of titan by him.
brave new world by aldous huxley is another good one.
Apr 25 2009 2:08PM
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the.hellion.
Posts: 861 - Karma: 698
If you want to read some fucked up shit that even has footnotes you can check up on at the back read The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. Be careful though, some serious leftist shit in there but some of the parallels she draws are whack. The lady is super intelligent.

Also, check out East of Eden for a good fiction story, it's by John Steinbeck. Or the Grapes of Wrath also by Steinbeck - this is pretty eye opening to how fucked up people can be to their own countrymen.

Lastly, my favourite book of all time is A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, not necessarily "eye opening" but a fantastic read nonetheless.
Apr 25 2009 2:36PM
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Diran
Posts: 67 - Karma: 16
1984, Clockwork Orange, The Stranger (that one is so good and is only like a 100 pages so a really quick read), Unbearable Lightness of Being.. and im sure theres a ton of others
Apr 25 2009 2:37PM
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fappy
Posts: 2960 - Karma: 15
fast food nation
Apr 25 2009 2:42PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Click for larger image
Apr 25 2009 2:43PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
blink

the stuff of thought
Apr 25 2009 2:45PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192
cool concept but horrible book
Apr 25 2009 5:06PM
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ParkE
Posts: 1388 - Karma: 190

ah nick!!! you asshole! stealin my book i wanted to post!!!

but yeah amazing very eye opening book. def everyone should read it. and if you dont wanna read the whole book at least read something on Randy Pausch. he was a good guy.

Apr 25 2009 6:01PM
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HAWstylemedia
Posts: 59 - Karma: 286

YES!!!
plus oryx and crake by atwood

Apr 25 2009 7:26PM
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AKburns
Posts: 464 - Karma: 9
the game
Apr 25 2009 8:12PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
High Fidelity helped me realize some things about myself, I felt like I had written the book.

Also Jesus Lived in India, even though the book is probably bullshit, its crazy to think about
Apr 25 2009 8:15PM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
fuck i lost.
Apr 25 2009 8:23PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
which one?
Apr 25 2009 8:24PM
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Mooose...
Posts: 1807 - Karma: 77
YESSSSSS best book ever.

I read this in 3 days during college finals. I was crying laughing at many times during this book.

READ THIS.
Apr 25 2009 8:25PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
anything by uncle fester
Apr 25 2009 8:26PM
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Scratch*my*Back
Posts: 8334 - Karma: 160

EXACTLY my suggestions minus into the wild..i liked it but...i tdidnt really alter my beliefs or change my life.

the alchemist changed my life. for sure.

Apr 25 2009 10:21PM
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AMD_5
Posts: 745 - Karma: 15
Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy

i shat bricks
Apr 25 2009 10:47PM
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Chucktheweasel
Posts: 551 - Karma: 128
You're really recommending the Divine Comedy?

Although it is hard to argue that it is not important, it is definitely not a book (poem) that someone would sit down and read. You really need analyze each line in order to comprehend what Dante is expressing.

Some college courses are based entirely off of Dante's Divine Comedy, and sometimes it not poem in it's entirety, just parts or most often the Inferno.

And on that note, if you choose to read The Divine Comedy, afterwards try John Milton's Paradise Lost.
Apr 25 2009 10:56PM
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Meh42
Posts: 2431 - Karma: 14
hahaha, i agree with that first line, but it's worth even reading the wikipedia summary to get the gist of Dante's concept of heaven, hell and purgatory.  
Apr 25 2009 11:01PM
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OhMyBosh
Posts: 5056 - Karma: 171
well i didnt mean that you can read it like a book... but its something people should at least look into, and maybe read a few of the more well known passages.
Apr 25 2009 11:06PM
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skiierrrrrrr
Posts: 998 - Karma: 694
george orwell books like 1984 or animal farm. Into the wild is good and I really like catcher in the rye. Also tuesdays with morrie and the shack are good books
Apr 25 2009 11:18PM
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backwardsrider
Posts: 543 - Karma: 70
into the wild was pimp
Apr 26 2009 3:10AM
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jca
Posts: 4171 - Karma: 6,311
Siddhartha and Into the Wild are my favorite books and I read quite a bit, neither of them made me go "holy fuck" but my mindset was already close to the same as them, so I could many other people being totally mind blown by them though.
May 6 2009 12:06AM
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jayo.
Posts: 5015 - Karma: 34
Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott
May 6 2009 12:25AM
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landonn
Posts: 2913 - Karma: 385
Lone Survivor by Marcus Lutrell. such a good book.
May 6 2009 12:36AM
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woolymammoth
Posts: 242 - Karma: 13
Not eye opening in the sense that it will change your life but is definitely eye opening in the sense that you will lose many pre conceived beliefs by reading the book "Columbine" about the shooting. It is like the in cold blood of the columbine shootings
May 6 2009 12:52AM
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mac.N.steeze
Posts: 652 - Karma: 6
i hope they serve beer in hell
tucker max
May 7 2009 6:27PM
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soomiez
Posts: 98 - Karma: 11
I liked Rant by Palahniuk a lot
May 7 2009 7:11PM
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skifree919
Posts: 5842 - Karma: 35
The omnivores dilemma by michael pollen. Literally one of the most interesting books i have ever read. It is all about diet, nutrition, and food in the US. It will make you think differently and is DEFINITELY eye opening. Please read it, honestly i wish i could make everybody in the US read it because i think it would solve a lot of problems

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May 7 2009 7:18PM
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i.am.a.skier.
Posts: 1158 - Karma: 14

angles and demonds

1984

May 7 2009 7:20PM
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OhMyBosh
Posts: 5056 - Karma: 171
fail at spelling and fail for recommending a terrible book.
May 7 2009 8:07PM
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rhcp
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 18
This book was proved to be almost entirely made up.
May 7 2009 8:25PM
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SpaceTiger
Posts: 377 - Karma: 62
Dharma Bums, Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World
May 7 2009 8:36PM
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PagesHouse
Posts: 6024 - Karma: 104
Freakonomics and Blink
May 7 2009 8:38PM
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jayo.
Posts: 5015 - Karma: 34
it's still an eye opening book, whether it's fiction or non fiction.
May 7 2009 8:57PM
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huckforjesus
Posts: 180 - Karma: 12
eddie would go, electric kool aid acid test, sex drugs and coca puffs... all very good and very different
May 7 2009 8:59PM
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_CC_
Posts: 3890 - Karma: 747

regeneration- pat barker

inside Gunatanamo -Gordon Cucullu

As i lay dying -william faulkner, thats some wierd shit

May 7 2009 8:59PM
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FMeissner
Posts: 490 - Karma: 85
Balls up and read Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.
May 7 2009 9:00PM
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brokebutitsworthit
Posts: 2279 - Karma: 27
+++ Karma, just finished a graduate class on Paradise Lost.  I really enjoyed it,  a very influential, and critical text.  Recommend it but like Dante, i doubt 99% of NS will ever read it or take the time to understand, you can't just skim through these.

 What I would recommend is just read.  There is no such thing as a terrible book, sure I have read books that I did not like but there is something in any of them.  Don't worry about reading Hemmingway, Vonnegut (whom i find overrated, but that's my opinion) etc until you are ready to see the skill they write with.  If you just want an exciting book pick up a bestseller like Ludlum's Bourne series etc.
May 8 2009 2:49AM
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