I’ve heard it said that nothing in life changes you more than the books you read or the people you meet. These are some of my favorites. For fun, I’m also including my list of must see movies. You will find that every movie on this list was made before 2008 when our first child was born, because we have seen about 2.5 movies since then. If you have any recent movies I must see, help me out and send me the title!
BOOKS
Harry Potter Series – Because it made me feel like a kid again
The Firm/The Pelican Brief – Grisham is my guilty pleasure!
House Of Sand And Fog – Brilliant storytelling! Maybe the best fiction book I’ve read.
To My Children’s Children’s Children – My Dad wrote this book. It’s a biography, philosophy, business, and history book all rolled into one. This is one of my greatest treasures, and the one book I’d reach for if there was a fire.
The Right Words At The Right Time – 2 page stories written by influential people, recounting a pivotal moment when they needed advice.
The Traveler’s Gift – Andy Andrews writes books filled with practical wisdom that can change your life, and this is a great book to start with.
Now Discover Your Strengths – This book comes with an online assessment tool that gives you better insight than any similar book. I recommend this for anyone in search of their true purpose.
The Monster At The End Of This Book – My favorite childhood book. And if I’m honest, I gotta admit I still secretly love turning the page.
Letters To A Young Poet – Reading this book was like reading my own story and having my own questions answered in a book that was written 100+ years ago.
Hinds’ Feet On High Places – The best ‘little’ book I’ve read. It found me at a time when I really needed its message.
Life Strategies – My favorite lesson: you teach people how to treat you.
Live From New York – A candid, vivid look behind the scenes, with interviews from favorite cast members from all 25 seasons of SNL.
The Seasons Of A Man’s Life – Traces the lives of 40 men, from birth to death to compare and contrast similar life events.
Breaking Free – This book and study changed the way I look at failure.
MOVIES
Moulin Rouge – A musical, visual and heart driven epic!
Waiting For Guffman – A 14 page outline was all that carried one of the funniest, most quirky and quotable comedies of all time.
ET – The first time a movie planted a seed in me that could not be uprooted.
Braveheart – The story and script inspire me, and the musical score is magnificent.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – One of the smartest adventure films ever.
Dead Poets Society – “Oh Captain, my Captain”…I was the perfect age for this movie to speak to me when it came out.
The Red Violin – Beautiful on so many levels. If you haven’t seen it, you must.
Garden State – This movie convinced me I should take the leap with my wife, Jennifer. So I guess I owe Zach Braff a really nice fruit basket or something.
500 Days Of Summer – Not since Garden State has a movie gripped me so. This is in my top 5. Great story, beautifully written and shot. Loved the last 5 minutes.
Shawshank Redemption – You know why I love it….it’s on your favorites list too!
The Godfather – Two words: Al Pacino
The Wizard of Oz – This movie came on TV every Thanksgiving when I was a kid. I have great memories of watching it with my sister.
Up – Any cartoon that can make you cry in 90 seconds without dialogue, gets two thumbs way…UP!!! Get it? Do you see what I did there? Sorry.
The new “Les Miserables” might have to be added to your list of recommended movies! If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to shut your computer off & go see it now…right now. :-)
Chance,
Have you seen With Honors? You must watch this film :)
Adding it to my Netflix queue. Thanks! :)
I was thinking about a movie that is my ” go to ” movie when I need to escape reality a little bit – you know, that reality where life gets in the way, and things come crashing down on your head, and you can’t claw your way out of the worries..
Well, the movie , ” Dream Team” with Michael Keaton, and Peter Boyle ( and others ) is one that will bring laughter to your soul even in the days where life is just plain sucky. I am not one for alot of comedy, but this one I will watch over , and over again, because it takes life of craziness, literally from the wards of a looney bin , and develops it into a story of friendship, and acceptance between both doctor , and patients, lol.. It is a movie well worth the watching in my humble opinion!
Hmm… I’ve never heard of it. Adding it to Netflix queue. Thanks.
Best book ever and my kids love the iPad version. They even have Another Monster at the End of this Book. Love your list.
Thanks! My girls LOVE the Monster app. I gotta say…Elmo needs to step off. What’s he doing in my book?
The Monster at the End of this Book is one of our favorites, too :) You need to get the IPad version for the girls..so fun! Jabin LOVES it!
YOU TURNED THE PAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!! :) :) :)
Monster At The End Of This Book was bought for me when I was a little girl by my older brothers (They are 7 & 8 years older than me…I was a “surprise” baby), they bought it with their paper route money. Even though I practically destroyed some of the book, it’s still a prized possession.
I LOVE THIS!! :) What a treasure!