Books that have changed your life

By the time I was 20 I had read most of George Orwell's books - most were quite depressing, but addictive and easy to read.

From my Avatar its no surprise to say "Homage to Catalonia" was the one that excited me. particularly the early chapters when he described Barcelona run by working class groups. I later found out he was a relatively quiet area of the Spanish Civil War. For someone he was in thick of the fighting look at Teesside's own Johnny Longstaff who lost 75% of his comrades at Jarama.
 
Redwurzel said:
By the time I was 20 I had read most of George Orwell's books - most were quite depressing, but addictive and easy to read.

From my Avatar its no surprise to say "Homage to Catalonia" was the one that excited me. particularly the early chapters when he described Barcelona run by working class groups. I later found out he was a relatively quiet area of the Spanish Civil War. For someone he was in thick of the fighting look at Teesside's own Johnny Longstaff who lost 75% of his comrades at Jarama.
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Yeah me too RW. I reread a collection of his essays and Homage to Catalonia this year. The years have done it no harm.

Otherwise, not one book, but a long list of writers who have knocked me around over the years.
 
When talking about George Orwell, and places he lived, it always blows my mind when I go out cycling as I ride through a tiny village called Wallington, which is a couple of miles outside of Baldock in Hertfordshire.

Orwell (or Mr Blair as he was apparently known to the local landlady) lived in a cottage at the foot of the hill I wheeze up, and it's crazy how someone so revered lived in a nondescript cottage in what is the middle of nowhere.

www.hertfordshirelife.co.uk

Wallington: the Hertfordshire village that George Orwell called home

Seventy years on from the publication of Nineteen Eighty-Four, Liz Hamilton walks in George Orwell’s footsteps in the village that...
www.hertfordshirelife.co.uk www.hertfordshirelife.co.uk
 
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Aside from academic and classics, the book that has had most influence on my life has been Touching the Void by Joe Simpson.

Since reading it as a teenager my passion has been mountains and hills. It suppose it has shaped my life.
 
s!ovak said:
Aside from academic and classics, the book that has had most influence on my life has been Touching the Void by Joe Simpson.

Since reading it as a teenager my passion has been mountains and hills. It suppose it has shaped my life.
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Touching the Void is a superb book, though quite harrowing in places with some of the choices that have to be made, but still has an unbelievable ending. Must have read it 7 or 8 times now, although it's not a long read.

Like you, this has definitely had an impact on getting into the hills and mountains, though that sort of 'real' mountaineering is a bit out of my league. I have been asked if I want to do Helevellyn (via Striding Edge) in the snow this winter, but I'd need to spend about £500-£700 on kit I reckon, I would need to purchase at least some B1 or 2's s and C1 or 2's, so I might give that a miss and just do it again once the snow has gone
 
Artie Fufkin said:
Touching the Void is a superb book, though quite harrowing in places with some of the choices that have to be made, but still has an unbelievable ending. Must have read it 7 or 8 times now, although it's not a long read.

Like you, this has definitely had an impact on getting into the hills and mountains, though that sort of 'real' mountaineering is a bit out of my league. I have been asked if I want to do Helevellyn (via Striding Edge) in the snow this winter, but I'd need to spend about £500-£700 on kit I reckon, I would need to purchase at least some B1 or 2's s and C1 or 2's, so I might give that a miss and just do it again once the snow has gone
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It depends on what winter gear you have at the moment, but I wouldn't have thought there's a need to spend anywhere near that amount of money. Striding Edge is perfectly achievable in winter if you have a reasonable level of fitness, common sense, and mountain awareness (i.e knowledge of when to turn around in poor conditions).

A good pair of four season walking boots that you can kick steps into the snow (if required), a good waterproof jacket, base layers, and hat and gloves. Personally I have never felt the need for crampons, ice axe or ropes for Striding Edge, but it's all about what you feel comfortable with. ☺

I'd say give it a go and if you don't feel comfortable than turn around. The mountain is always going to be there.
 
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s!ovak said:
It depends on what winter gear you have at the moment, but I wouldn't have thought there's a need to spend anywhere near that amount of money. Striding Edge is perfectly achievable in winter if you have a reasonable level of fitness, common sense, and mountain awareness (i.e knowledge of when to turn around in poor conditions).

A good pair of four season walking boots that you can kick steps into the snow (if required), a good waterproof jacket, base layers, and hat and gloves. Personally I have never felt the need for crampons, ice axe or ropes for Striding Edge, but it's all about what you feel comfortable with. ☺

I'd say give it a go and if you don't feel comfortable than turn around. The mountain is always going to be there.
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The group I go hiking with do this by invitation only and they only let you come if you have the gear similar to what they are using on the day (they're not salesmen or anything though!) so if I do it again, but in snow, (at least heavy snow) they will require that kit for me (and ices axes) to participate unfortunately. I don't think there's anything 'off' about that, just trying to maintain a safety first approach I think. I have all the other kit (apart from poles but I'm not a fan of poles because if I go down, I want my hands and even with straps, poles get in the way I find) and have some decent 4 season walking boots

Perhaps once I get a bit more confident and experienced I would take it on with current kit and see how I fare, as you say, knowing when not to push on is the most important factor
 
Books that have changed my perception & outlook on things day-to-day

Sophies World - Jostein Gaarder
Orwell - 1984
A million tiny pieces - James Frey
A Brief History of Everything - Ken Wilber
The God Delusion - Dawkins

Most recently The Runner - Markus Torgeby for reigniting my passion for running over the last couple of years

As a few people have already mentioned, the Dice Man is a fantastic read too
 
mymatelookslikephilstamp said:
Books that have changed my perception & outlook on things day-to-day

Sophies World - Jostein Gaarder
Orwell - 1984
A million tiny pieces - James Frey
A Brief History of Everything - Ken Wilber
The God Delusion - Dawkins

Most recently The Runner - Markus Torgeby for reigniting my passion for running over the last couple of years

As a few people have already mentioned, the Dice Man is a fantastic read too
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It's 'A Million Little Pieces' can't have changed your life that much....you got the title wrong ! o_O

PS I've read it it's very good ☺️
 
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