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/lit/ - Literature

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11114009 No.11114009 [Reply] [Original]

Have you ever read a book that has genuinely changed the way you think about something or helped you with a critical problem/issue in your life?

I feel like 99% of self-improvement books out there are garbage or "no shit sherlock" tier.

>> No.11114020

The Ego and His Own, sincerely.

>> No.11114023

How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Tom Waits is a tryhard btw.

>> No.11114024

https://www.amazon.com/Loren-Eiseley-Collected-Evolution-Library/dp/1598535056

>> No.11114035

>>11114009
Just read good books, man. The only real self help comes from exposure to humanity.

>> No.11114055

>>11114024
this sounds awesome

>> No.11114056

Postmodern philosophy and sociology unironically blew my mind in January and I’ve had an oddly re-invigorated interest in the world around me since reading it. Might be because I had never been exposed to critical theory, but reading Foucault and ideas about structuralism and binary structures was the biggest mind-blowing moment I remember having while reading maybe in my entire life. Call me a pseud but it has motivated me and gotten me very interested in lit/crit theory and I’ve been enjoying it a lot.

>> No.11114058

>>11114020
I enter here just to quote this one.

>> No.11114137
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11114137

This. Obligatory for whites.

>> No.11115548

Yes
Sartre's L'Engrenage (got translated to the mill I think) made me realize that everyone's a complete hypocrite and I started looking at politics in a completely different way.

Too bad I could never find that book again (a political science teacher lent it to me in high school )

>> No.11115573

>>11114023
This 100%, it was one of the first books ever written on the subject and it could have easily been the last. All social skill related books published afterwards have been shallow regurgitations of Dale Carnige’s original.

Maybe pick up “no more mister nice guy” if you want to work on self image however.

>> No.11115586
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11115586

Pic related changed the way I look at politics and structures of power in general.

>> No.11115594

>>11114009
Gervais Principle is the only relevant depiction of the modern world. Self-help books are garbage sold to you by psychopaths who are counting on misguided people forking out their last cents to have their problems solved.

>> No.11115597

>>11115594
Kevin MacDonald is good too just to see why your situation will worsen while individuals with in-group strategy outcompete you for resources.

>> No.11115605

>>11114009
Yeah, self-improvement and guide books are all horse shiet. Maybe like 1 in 10 that I've picked up is good. They're mostly a memoir on how the author changed their way and fixed their life with this one simple step.
Anyway, for me it was the iliad. The Greeks were informed and knew about the ups and downs of existence, there's also snippets of understanding great systems of power, and politics (Book X (when they're planning the raid) has a sick example through a two lined snippet about meritocracy that has always stuck with me.)
>>11114056
Good for you, remember to stay open to some of the newer stuff that's coming out. Late modernism is coming back in a neat swing. I'd recommend reading Knapp and Michaels "against theory", if you're into the language side of it all.
>>11114137
Retard
>>11115548
If you haven't picked up the L’Étranger translation by Matthew Ward I would suggested doing so. It's far more faithful to Camus intention, and respects the language difference between French and English while being readable. It might even change your mind on the outcome of the story and your perspective of Meursault.

>> No.11115611

>>11115605
>>11115548
Wait nvm I though you were talking about Camus. I'm too tired.

>> No.11115620
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11115620

The Odyssey changed how I view generosity, friendship, loyalty, honor.

>> No.11115638

Candide actually helped me

>> No.11115655

>>11114009
Gravity's Rainbow taught me that smoking weed is cool

>> No.11115865

>>11114023
>Tom Waits is a tryhard btw.
at least he's not a fag like you

>> No.11115873

>>11114023
The only people that think How to Win Friends is useful are Autists and it can’t help them

>> No.11115874

>>11114009
Ecclesiastes, Atlas Shrugged

>> No.11115902

>>11115865
This. Don't put the man down for actually trying to something, you piece if shit. criticize his fucking work or even his all-the-time hobo looks, but do not come up in this motherfucker tryin to put a nigga down for doing some fucking work you parasite, asshole motherfucker.
>fuck yo shit nigga. Tom Waits for no man.

>> No.11115928
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11115928

>>11114009
That's because self improvement books are less helpful in self improving than non self improvement books

>> No.11115987

>>11114009
>>11114009
Steppenwolf really had an impact on how I interact with women. to me it was a cautionary tale, told me what not to do with my life so that i'd end up like Harry at age 60. I've been bolder since and actually am dating someone.