The Book that Changed My Life is a collection of essays by writers, and since I don’t often read modern fiction, I didn’t expect to recognize many of the authors highlighted, much less did I expect such a variety of classics and modern classics highlighted as favorites. Yet, both fiction and nonfiction authors share the books that influenced their life, from Julius Caesar to Mary Higgins Clark.

I loved the short insights into other’s lives. It reminded me of the blogging world: we all have different upbringings, different histories, and different lives, and so we all are influenced by books in different ways.

In the end, I added five books to my “To Reread” pile (because some deserve rereading again and again) and 23 to my “to be read” pile. Did I really need that? *Sigh.*

Read about the book that changed my life at my blog

71 nauthors do extremely short sketches of the most influential books in their lives. Kind of humdrum, but okay if read in short bursts. Anne Perry's essay is excellent, as are a very few more. The most striking thing? How many of these authors cited books that they felt had given them "permission" to write: that is, they were suddenly surprised--"Hey, I can do this, too!" ( )

Interesting, although there are some unusual and unknown authros. As is the case with these kind of books, many of the great living writers opt out. Still, an enjoyable read, and it is gratifying to see so many of the books I have read which have also had an impact of published authros.--Jim, 2/10/07 ( )