On social media last week, I asked this simple but difficult question,
If You Could Get Everybody to Read Just One Book, What Would it Be?
Here are the first couple of hundred answers received – I hope it might open your eyes to a book you have never read before.
It would be great if you would add your own answer to the list too – it’s always satisfying when you can persuade someone to read a book that you believe is life-changing. Add your answer on Twitter here, on Facebook here, or in the comments section below.
I know that I should give my own answer to the question. I’md like to complain, first of all, that it’s a ridiculously impossible question! Having moaned at myself, and allowing myself only to choose one, I will go for a book that really helped me get a better oversight of where everyone and everything fits together in the world. It’s a book I try to re-read every five years or so:
To see the list of people’s book suggestions, click either on the Tweet or the Facebook post below (depending on whose opinion you rate more highly – Tweeters or Facebookers… ?)
If you could get everybody to read one book, what would it be? Title + reason in 1 Tweet. ? I’ll compile the answers. (Idea by @anildash)
— Alastair Humphreys (@Al_Humphreys) October 15, 2016
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
I’d give a reason why but it’d sound trite. Read it and you’ll see. When you’ve read it, read it again.
Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez
Mike Stroud – survival of the fittest.
He’s an anthropologist, doctor and adventurer who’s crossed the Antarctic unsupported with Ranulph Fiennes and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read!