Has a book inspired you?

[Julie Green]

We are all inspired by books but I wonder if there is any one book that has inspired you to make a change in your life, or to try something new? For me, it was Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy. The book recounts the author's solo travels during the 1960s and her amazing adventures inspired me to a lifetime of travel...

[Topazy]

Books by William Shakespeare really inspired me the most especially his work titled Macbeth.
Set in medieval Scotland and partly based on a true historical account, Macbeth charts the bloody rise to power and tragic downfall of the warrior Macbeth. Already a successful soldier in the army of King Duncan, Macbeth is informed by Three Witches that he is to become king. As part of the same prophecy, the Witches predict that future Scottish kings will be descended not from Macbeth but from his fellow army captain, Banquo. Although initially prepared to wait for Fate to take its course, Macbeth is stung by ambition and confusion when King Duncan nominates his son Malcolm as his heir.

Returning to his castle, Macbeth allows himself to be persuaded and directed by his ambitious wife, who realizes that regicide — the murder of the king — is the quickest way to achieve the destiny that her husband has been promised. A perfect opportunity presents itself when King Duncan pays a royal visit to Macbeth's castle. At first Macbeth is loth to commit a crime that he knows will invite judgment, if not on earth then in heaven. Once more, however, his wife prevails upon him. Following an evening of revelry, Lady Macbeth drugs the guards of the king's bedchamber; then, at a given signal, Macbeth, although filled with misgivings, ascends to the king's room and murders him while he sleeps. Haunted by what he has done, Macbeth is once more reprimanded by his wife, whose inner strength seems only to have been increased by the treacherous killing. Suddenly, both are alarmed by a loud knocking at the castle door.

When the drunken porter of Macbeth's castle finally responds to the noise, he opens the door to Macduff, a loyal follower of the king, who has been asked to awake Duncan in preparation for the return journey. Macbeth indicates the location of the king's room, and Macduff discovers the body. When the murder is revealed, Macbeth swiftly kills the prime witnesses, the sleepy guards of the king's bedchamber, and Lady Macbeth faints. The assembled lords of Scotland, including Macbeth, swear to avenge the murder. With suspicion heavy in the air, the king's two sons flee the country: Donalbain to Ireland and Malcolm to raise an army in England.

Macbeth is duly proclaimed the new king of Scotland, but recalling the Witches' second prophecy, he arranges the murder of his fellow soldier Banquo and his son Fleance, both of whom represent a threat to his kingship according to the Witches' prophecy. The hired murderers kill Banquo but mistakenly allow Fleance to escape. At a celebratory banquet that night, Macbeth is thrown into a state of horror when the ghost of the murdered Banquo appears at the dining table. Again, his wife tries to strengthen Macbeth, but the strain is clearly beginning to show.

The following day, Macbeth returns to the same Witches who initially foretold his destiny. This time, the Witches not only confirm that the sons of Banquo will rule in Scotland, but they also add a new prophecy: Macbeth will be invincible in battle until the time when the forest of Birnam moves towards his stronghold at Dunsinane and until he meets an enemy "not born of woman." Dismissing both of these predictions as nonsense, Macbeth prepares for invasion.

When he is told that Macduff has deserted him, Macbeth begins the final stage of his tragic descent. His first move is the destruction of Macduff's wife and children. In England, Macduff receives the news at the very moment that he swears his allegiance to the young Malcolm. Malcolm persuades him that the murder of his family should act as the spur to revenge.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, Lady Macbeth has been taken ill: She walks in her sleep and seems to recall, in fragmentary memories, the details of the murder. Now, in a series of alternating scenes, the action of the play moves rapidly between the advancing army of Malcolm and the defensive preparations of Macbeth. When Malcolm's army disguise themselves with sawn-off branches, Macbeth sees what appears to be a wood moving towards his stronghold at Dunsinane. And when he finally meets Macduff in single combat, his sworn enemy reveals that he came into the world by cesarean section; he was not, precisely speaking, "born of woman." On hearing this news, Macbeth rejects one final time the Witches' prophecy. With a loud cry, he launches himself at Macduff and is slain. In the final scene, Malcolm is crowned as the new king of Scotland, to the acclaim of all.

[Damaris Juliet]

Yeah of course,some books are just marvelous and aims at delivering certain important information to people from different regions a book like "The Book of Joy"shows that there are a lot of coping mechanisms we can turn to when we are facing hard times,it brings us solace and comfort because of its wisdom.

[KatSims92]

Absolutely! The ability to be inspired by books is one of the major joys of reading. A couple books that spring to mind are 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl and 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain. They both really helped shape my worldview and inspired me to be a better person.

[Julie Green]

Thanks for the response! I have never thought about Testament of Youth, but I have just Googled it on the basis of your comment and I shall definitely plan to read it at some point.

[Mallory Porshnev]

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.

[ea_anthony]

Page 66 (I still remember the page 14 years on) The richest man in Babylon - The gist was that no matter the calamities that befall a man, it always comes to an end - something like that. I read the book during a period where it was wave after wave of trouble in my life and somehow I knew that it was true or i believed.

[_mylilyotv]

A book called 'The Self-Care Project' inspired me in so many ways; it inspired me to manage my time effectively and do more of the things that make me happy, it inspired me to focus more on self-care on bad days and that I matter, it inspired me to become my 'better self'. This book changed me for the better and I recommend it to everyone whether you're going through a bad time like I was or if you're not - it will change your life.

Some quotes included in this book that deserve a mention:

'We are enough, as we are, it's the truest of truths'

'It is only in knowing ourselves that we can care for ourselves effectively'

'We wait until we are unwell before we take it seriously and used self-care as a rehabilitation measure, only to stop those restorative habits once we're back up and running'

[Julie Green]

A book called 'The Self-Care Project' inspired me in so many ways

'We wait until we are unwell before we take it seriously and used self-care as a rehabilitation measure, only to stop those restorative habits once we're back up and running'

How true is this! Thanks for the recommendation

[Julie Green]

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.

Definitely an interesting one. In a world of globalisation, ethics must always form part of the equation.

[S Chinaski]

Absolutely! The ability to be inspired by books is one of the major joys of reading. A couple books that spring to mind are 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl and 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain. They both really helped shape my worldview and inspired me to be a better person.

I agree with KatSims, although I haven't got to read either book mentioned. Man's Search for Meaning is on my bookshelf at home, but I keep deciding on others. lol

This post has "inspired" me to bump it up my priority list!

I have been inspired by many books, though not necessarily in a suddenly-life-changing, epiphany sort of way.

Travel and outdoor memoirs are always inspirational to me, and there have been a few science books that have ignited or re-ignited particular passions and interests of mine.

Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, and Victor Stenger all come to mind, along with a particular memoir, Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.

I've been listening to Sam Harris' podcast lately, and have never read any of his stuff. He has a very relatable, humanistic approach to science and atheism, so he is gaining steam as a future top pick for me as well.

[Julie Green]

[quote="S Chinaski"

Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, and Victor Stenger all come to mind, along with a particular memoir, Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.

[/quote]

I like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking, but Victor Stenger is new to me so I will take a look at his work..thanks!

[S Chinaski]

Stenger was my first foray into quantum theories, (which of course still make my brain hurt) while Sam Harris is a neuroscientist and is probably a bit more in line with Dawkins and Hawking as far as reading goes.

Michio Kaku is always fantastic also, and of course Carl Sagan.

I'm sure you are familiar with most or all of that, just wanted to throw a few favorites out there just in case!

[TaaraLynn]

I think I was around 8 or 9, but the first books that ever inspired me were the Diary of Anne Frank and Rachel's Tears (about Columbine).

[Julie Green]

I think I was around 8 or 9, but the first books that ever inspired me were the Diary of Anne Frank and Rachel's Tears (about Columbine).

I too felt inspired by the Diary of Anne Frank. I have not come acrossRachel's Tears but looking at it online, it looks very powerful and I will plan to read it. Thank you for your comment.