I’ve seen the 10 books meme floating around a few different places – you’re supposed to tell the 10 books that have most influenced you in your life. So, I thought I would join in and tell the top 10 books that have influenced my life.
1. The Bible - this is the number one book that has influenced my life for sure. As a Christian, I try to read some of God’s word every day.
2. Matilda by Roald Dahl – this was my favorite book, by far, growing up. I was always a book-worm, and I really loved Matilda, even though my parents were more than supportive, I just thought it was great that Matilda could use her brainpower to get back with Miss Trunchbull!
3. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - well the whole series, really – but I loved them all, and thought it would have been such fun to be a part of the Ingalls family.
4. The Giving Tree by Shell Silverstein – this book made me cry the first time I really understood it – I read the words many times as a child without ever really understanding how much the tree gave the boy.
5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – I looked in the back of the large wardrobe at my grandmother’s house trying to find Narnia on more than one occasion. I couldn’t get enough of the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Edmund’s betrayal and Aslan’s sacrifice such a wonderful mirror of Christ’s story.
6. Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. Not really because I was overwhelmed by clutter, or terribly unorganized. I am very organized by nature and this book helped me see that the majority of people didn’t naturally label their spices and put them away alphabetically, and that I could probably help others a little with my natural gifts.
7. Mothers of Influence was given to me at my baby shower – and I think it helped me see how influential a mother can be in their child’s life, and made me want to be the primary caretaker of my daughter.
8. Tightwad Gazette mostly because I’m pretty frugal, and it was reassuring to see that there were others out there who were WAY more frugal than I am, and also there are some great $ saving ideas in there!
9. Hot, Flat and Crowded by Tom Friedman was a very interesting read on where we are, and where we need to be with our energy consumption. It inspired me to sign up for the green option, though it costs more through our power company, and to wait just a *little* longer to turn on the AC when it’s warm out.
10. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which I actually only read a month or two ago, but I couldn’t put it down. I already loved buying produce at the farmer’s market, tomatoes from the grocery store really just don’t compare to the amazing bright red juicy beauties you can buy from a local farmer, and the local asparagus has been out of this world the past few weeks. I think this book made me want to buy even more from local, sustainable choices and support the small farmers in my area so they can continue to be a part of our community!
Here are some great quotes from the Art of War:
