3 Books That Will Change Your Life

Summary

The speaker reflects on three books profoundly impacting their life, despite having read thousands for research. 'The Prince' by Machiavelli captivated them with its brutal realism and pragmatism. 'History of the Peloponnesian War' by Thucydides impressed with its intricate and logical style, providing a clear perspective on ancient history. Lastly, Carlos Castaneda's series on Don Juan's teachings influenced their understanding of power and self-control, with elements still resonating in their work today.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the difficulty in choosing 'the greatest books' due to the vast number read, akin to choosing a favorite child among many.
• 🤔 The impact of a book is subjective and personal, with certain books leaving a lasting impression regardless of their relevance to one's life at the time.
• 👑 'The Prince' by Machiavelli had a profound influence on the speaker despite their young age and lack of life experience, highlighting the book's brutal realism and pragmatic style.
• 📘 The speaker's admiration for 'The History of the Peloponnesian War' by Thucydides stems from its intricate and logical narrative style, despite the difficulty of reading it in ancient Greek.
• 🏛 Thucydides' work is praised for its modern perspective on historical events, offering clarity and analytical depth that the speaker finds lacking in contemporary historians.
• 🌿 Carlos Castaneda's series of books, starting with 'The Teachings of Don Juan', impacted the speaker by exploring themes of power, self-control, and confronting mortality.
• 🧙‍♂️ The narrative of Castaneda's experiences with indigenous practices, including the use of peyote and mystical experiences, resonated with the speaker's interest in power dynamics.
• 🤔 The speaker reflects on the enduring impact of these books, even considering their potential datedness due to their origins in the 1960s and 1970s.
• 📚 The speaker mentions the influence of these books on their own works, such as 'The 48 Laws of Power' and 'The 33 Strategies', indicating a deep integration of the lessons learned.
• 🎨 The omission of Friedrich Nietzsche and Fyodor Dostoevsky from the list of impactful books is noted, with the speaker acknowledging their significant influence but the difficulty in selecting a single work from these authors.
• 📖 The response concludes with an acknowledgment of the complexity in selecting impactful books, reflecting the speaker's appreciation for a diverse range of literary influences.

Q & A

What are the three books that had the most impact on the speaker's life?

The three books that had the most impact on the speaker's life are 'The Prince' by Machiavelli, 'History of the Peloponnesian War' by Thucydides, and a series of books by Carlos Castaneda, starting with 'The Teachings of Don Juan'.

How did the speaker describe the impact of 'The Prince' by Machiavelli on his life?

The speaker described 'The Prince' as having a huge impact due to its brutal realism, clarity, pragmatism, and beautiful language, even though he did not understand its relevance to his life at the time.

What did the speaker learn from studying ancient Greek and Thucydides' work?

The speaker learned mental discipline and an appreciation for the intricate, brilliant, and convoluted yet logical style of Thucydides' work, which he found to be a beautiful and modern perspective on ancient history.

How did the speaker's experience with Carlos Castaneda's books influence his perspective on power and life?

Carlos Castaneda's books introduced the speaker to the concepts of controlling oneself, confronting mortality, and becoming a great warrior in life, which had a large impact on him and influenced his later works.

What similarities does the speaker see between Carlos Castaneda's work and Robert Greene's '48 Laws of Power'?

The speaker believes that Robert Greene's '48 Laws of Power' and '33 Strategies' were heavily influenced by the themes of power and self-control found in Carlos Castaneda's work.

Why did the speaker find it difficult to single out a favorite book by Friedrich Nietzsche?

The speaker found it difficult to single out a favorite book by Nietzsche because of the significant impact that multiple books by the philosopher had on him, rather than just one.

How does the speaker relate the study of ancient Greek to mental discipline?

The speaker relates the study of ancient Greek to mental discipline due to the difficulty of the language, which required intense focus and analysis of each word and sentence.

What does the speaker appreciate about Thucydides' narration of the Peloponnesian War?

The speaker appreciates Thucydides' clear perspective, modern feel, and brilliant analysis of dramatic and exciting historical events from 2500 years ago.

How did the speaker's early encounter with 'The Prince' influence his later readings?

The speaker's early encounter with 'The Prince' influenced his later readings by setting a precedent for valuing brutal realism and pragmatism in literature, leading him to read the book multiple times.

What impact did the speaker's study of ancient Greek have on his ability to appreciate complex literature?

The speaker's study of ancient Greek honed his ability to appreciate complex literature by teaching him to understand and value intricate and convoluted writing styles.

Why did the speaker find Carlos Castaneda's books impactful despite their peculiar content?

The speaker found Carlos Castaneda's books impactful because they dealt with themes of power, self-control, and confronting mortality in a way that resonated with him and influenced his worldview.