Books that inspired me to be a writer.

A Listmania! list by Jonathan A. Billings "jonbillings_uk" (Stoke)
(REAL NAME)   
 
Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales
1.  Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales by H.C. Andersen
The list author says:
  "let's start at the beginning. The best way to introduce a child and adult to moral values."
Used & New from: £3.62
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
2.  The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The list author says:
  "Started reading Adams early on shortly after learning the toothfairy, santa and jesus weren't for real."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)

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The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
3.  The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition by J. R. R. Tolkien
The list author says:
  "It took me ages but it was the first book that i read wishing i could jump into the page.  which led me to..."
£65.00   Used & New from: £54.68
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (601 customer reviews) | 5 customer discussions

Pyramids: A Discworld Novel
4.  Pyramids: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett
The list author says:
  "Ok not his first novel, but my first of his...  a very funny man."
£5.59   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

To Kill a Mocking Bird
5.  To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
The list author says:
  "A bit more serious now - in my early teens. Intorduced me to the novel of social issues.  a classic and this special edition is a lovely collectors edition"
Used & New from: £3.15
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (372 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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A Christmas Carol (Wordsworth Children's Classics)
6.  A Christmas Carol (Wordsworth Children's Classics) by Charles Dickens
The list author says:
  "This should have featured before Mockingbird due to autobiographical reasons, this is a classic morality tale in a season destroyed by consumersim"
£1.99   Used & New from: £0.01
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)

Catch-22 (Vintage Classics)
7.  Catch-22 (Vintage Classics) by Joseph Heller
The list author says:
  "probably the funniest book i've read.  A great satire on the absurdity of war."
£5.59   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (332 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

Dubliners
8.  Dubliners by James Joyce
The list author says:
  "Joyce is one of my heros. A genius who struggled throughout his life against poverty, popular culture, critics and publishers.  dubliner's theme of paralysis is timeless"
Used & New from: £0.01
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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Things Fall Apart (African Writers Series)
9.  Things Fall Apart (African Writers Series) by Chinua Achebe
The list author says:
  "A great simple book that describes the brutality of British occupation.  Very apt title and introduced me to the relevance of spirituality in our lives."
£8.00   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)

Fever Pitch
10.  Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
The list author says:
  "Sorry had to include this for football reasons.  I'm an arsenal fan and hornby inspired me to write about anything."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)

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Shame
11.  Shame by Salman Rushdie
The list author says:
  "Not his best, but nonetheless inspiring in its cultural and social problem of not having a national identity."
£6.29   Used & New from: £0.01
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
12.  1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
The list author says:
  "anyone for a lesson in "I told you so?""
Used & New from: £0.01
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (363 customer reviews) | 3 customer discussions

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George Orwell Omnibus: The Complete Novels: Animal Farm, Burmese Days, A Clergyman's Daughter, Coming up for Air, Keep the Aspidistra Flying, and, 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
13.  George Orwell Omnibus: The Complete Novels: Animal Farm, Burmese Days, A Clergyman's Daughter, Coming up for Air, Keep the Aspidistra Flying, and, 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four 
The list author says:
  "In fact read everything by this guy, Its just a shame Tony Blair isn't called Eric. Politically intriguing and courageous from one of the greats of social thought"
Used & New from: £0.99
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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Republic (Oxford World's Classics)
14.  Republic (Oxford World's Classics) by Plato
The list author says:
  "A good way to start understanding political thought."
Used & New from: £0.01
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy (Hackett Classics)
15.  Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy (Hackett Classics) by Rene Descartes
The list author says:
  "A good way to learn even a moron can be considered a "philosopher".  I think therefore I am a moron and a monkey."
£5.95   Used & New from: £1.99
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future (Dover Thrift)
16.  Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future (Dover Thrift) by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
The list author says:
  "Interesting and thought provoking philosopher...shame he partly inspired Hitler.  Oops i guess this leads to...."
£3.20   Used & New from: £0.01
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

Freedom from the Known
17.  Freedom from the Known by J. Krishnamurti
The list author says:
  "A ggod way to start to think about changing your perspective of life and the universe. Great but not the best philosopher, that mantle goes to....."
£8.09   Used & New from: £2.87
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Buddhist Scriptures (Penguin Classics)
18.  Buddhist Scriptures (Penguin Classics) by Donald Lopez
The list author says:
  "The buddha is silent"
£9.09   Used & New from: £2.54
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: A Spiritual Classic from One of the Foremost Interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism to the West
19.  The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: A Spiritual Classic from One of the Foremost Interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism to the West by Sogyal Rinpoche
The list author says:
  "familiarise yourself with Buddhism and be prepared to change your life.  The creator of life and the destroyer of all philosophical thought."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)

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Becoming a Writer
20.  Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande
The list author says:
  "Not just arrogantly parading as a self help book. This really is thought provoking and inspiring for those who want to write anything."
Used & New from: £0.01
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

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The Dharma Bums (Penguin Modern Classics)
21.  The Dharma Bums (Penguin Modern Classics) by Jack Kerouac
The list author says:
  "The second book that i wished i could jump into the page.  God how i envy Kerouac's life."
£6.99   Used & New from: £3.88
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

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Customer Discussions about products in this list
Discussion Replies Latest Post
What Book To Read? 1 3 Apr 2012
choices for lord of the rings and hobbit in hardback 1 14 Feb 2012
Definitive book of the 20th century? 5 25 Jan 2012
half way through to kill a mockingbird... 1 5 Sep 2011
Exciting 2 5 Sep 2011
Boring 4 3 Aug 2011
catch 22 5 15 Feb 2011
Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit DVD game 0 16 Oct 2010
Catch 22 1 27 Jun 2010
TRAMPS! 0 31 May 2010
Definitive book of the 20th century? 4 6 Feb 2010
kkljj 0 13 Sep 2008
 
   

About this Listmania!

 

Author

Jonathan A. Billings "jonbillings_uk" (Stoke)
(REAL NAME)   
Qualifications: Literary Muse
Last updated: 16/06/2005
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