Challenge

The Language of Spirit
When I think about books that have changed my life, there is one that stands out far more than any other - what I mean to say is that it changed my life in so many ways, and at such a deep, and profound level, that there's no question: THIS is the one.
By Elizabeth MacKinnon3 years ago in BookClub
Nonviolent COMMUNICATION--A Language of Life
In a world that often feels like a stormy sea of misunderstandings, I found solace in the words of Marshall B. Rosenberg's book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life. It was a recommendation from a former friend that led me to this transformative journey through the pages of a book that would forever change my perspective on communication and connection.
By ANTICHRIST SUPERSTAR3 years ago in BookClub
Igniting the Flames of Knowledge: My Journey with Fahrenheit 451
In the tender years of middle school, I found solace in the labyrinths of words. To me, books were bridges to fantastical worlds or enlightening realms. It was during this pivotal phase that I stumbled upon Ray Bradbury's magnum opus, "Fahrenheit 451". Many of my peers grumbled about another assigned reading, but this one captivated me. While I already cherished literature, this masterpiece confronted me with a haunting dystopia, challenging me to reevaluate the role of books in our lives and society.
By M Dannenfelser3 years ago in BookClub
Seeing Hope in Destruction
I am deeply passionate about the climate crisis and our connection with the world. That passion was fueled by the knowledge I gained during the semester I spent on my Farm to Table Concentration in college. My primary professor for that semester assigned us many exceptional reads that served to heighten my awareness about the world around me and the role that we all play in altering it. Although assigned by this professor as reading for my final semester in college, not my Concentration semester, Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made by Gaia Vince had, perhaps, the most profound impact on me.
By Calista Marchand-Nazzaro3 years ago in BookClub
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: The Book That Saved Me From Myself
Life at 22 was a rollercoaster with no brakes. Despite appearances, I’ve always fancied myself a bit of a thrill-seeker, but even for me, things just got too chaotic. Penniless, working three jobs for peanuts, and putting myself through college was topped with the cherry of coping with the betrayal of my family. My stepfather pulled the rug from under me, draining my life savings and taking my car (all things I worked for). Turns out when you remove a narcissist’s supply and begin asserting your independence, they don’t like that very much.
By E.K. Daniels3 years ago in BookClub
The Worst of Us
My evaluation of a book that changed me led to this conclusion: it was two books. And the books are about the same thing...sort of. There is a singular period of time that must be learned in every history class. That is WW2 and the Holocaust. These two books are about that time.
By Bugsy Watts3 years ago in BookClub
George Orwell's 1984
The life and times in Oceania were unsustainable and yet, the people complied out of fear of the unknown. The rats' phobia wasn't the only thing that terrified Winston, but it was the most feared.
By Rene Volpi 3 years ago in BookClub
It Started with Being Petty
Ah, the good ole' days. As a kid, I was kind of a menace. But I like to think I was a menace in cleverer ways than most other kids. I was told constantly by the adults in my life that I was so kind and caring and gentle. Now of course, as a child, I had my very obvious moments that proved quite the contrary. But my temperament very much matched the descriptions they gave me. What they didn't realize though, was that both of my parents were also very smart. And so, after I learned the tricks they used to tell if I was lying or being deceitful, I realized I had to step up my game.
By Caladrius3 years ago in BookClub
The Book that Changed Me
A scholastic book fair to an elementary school student is like happy hour to an adult. From the multitude of genres of literature, to the school supplies, and toys, there is always something for everyone; it's like having everyone's favorite beer on tap.
By Jennifer David3 years ago in BookClub
Hugo and I
During eighth grade, we had to write a book report about a chapter book. It was a standard book report, the one rule was that we connected with it. I chose “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick. I came to the U.S. when I was nine and only spoke Spanish. Somehow, I was placed in a class where it was all in English. However, I was taken out once a week to read a piece of paper with numbers on the side to see how many words per minute I read. They made it seem like the key to speaking English was reading, so I did just that, or well tried.
By Scarlet3 years ago in BookClub
I thought escaping depression would be impossible--but it wasn't
I suffered from severe depression and a crippling lack of confidence for years. Specifically, I had wrapped up all of my identity and self-esteem into just one factor: my academic success. But I wasn't good enough for my own high standards, and eventually, I wasn’t good enough for anyone’s standards. My mental health was just too bad, I couldn’t be productive, and it wasn’t getting better. Eventually, I’d had depression for a solid seven years, and even with strong medication, I was barely able to function. Every success story I had ever read, every news article about someone who used to suffer from depression, featured someone who had only had depression for two or three years at most. For those who’d had depression for longer, the struggle seemed to inevitably last for their entire lives. I truly believed that I would never be even close to mentally healthy.
By Maureen Y. Palmer3 years ago in BookClub
My Literary Doppelganger
Books have been an important part of my life since I can remember. As a child with a disability, I had a fairly isolated upbringing, so I found the companionship I lacked in works of fiction. As such, the list of books that have influenced me is a long one!
By Morgan Rhianna Bland3 years ago in BookClub