Life-altering? I can think of one.
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig. I firmly believe that it should be required reading.

To give you the general thrust of the book: he looks into why we have such a divide in our world between people who understand and are comfortable with technology, and those who long for a simpler life that doesn't involve cars that break down or computers that crash. At the time it was written the hippie movement was in full swing, so it was a very important thing to look at.

He starts out with the two major mindsets in people: those who look at systems and can understand them and appreciate their logic and complexity, and those who prefer to look at the surface of things and appreciate their beauty and leave it at that. He refers to the former as the Classical mindset and the latter as the Romantic. Neither is wrong, both are valid ways of looking at the world, yet they're almost diametrically opposed. How did this happen? What causes this?

In one word: Quality. I will recommend that you read the book yourself for an explanation.

Ultimately the root cause of this is the subject-object oriented world we live in, where we see things as individual things rather than seeing them as part of the greater whole, and technology reinforces this view. But it's not the fault of technology, it's the attitudes of the people toward it that is at fault. Go too far into loving technology and methodology and you lose sight of the world around you; go too far the other way and you get lost in a confusing maze of things you don't understand.

I read this book at the age of 15 and recognized myself in the description of the Classical mindset. Since then I've worked very hard to have balance and stay in tune with the rest of the world as well, and to remember that the past exists only in our memories, while the future exists only in our plans. What's here is the only reality there is.

That's why I'm seen as too structured by the purely artistic and idealistic sort, while my fellow engineers look at me as a weirdo hippie freak.

I wouldn't have it any other way.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 15 May 2008, 17:27, 6 replies)

Another book
that I need to add to a rapidly expanding list.

I already sit somewhere between the Classical & Romantic mindsets, as you've described them here, and more often than not they sit comfortably side by side.

Perhaps this can help me find a way of balancing them perfectly.
( Moey, Thu 15 May 2008, 17:39, closed)

Amazing book
Written by a very clever and insightful man. Extremely interesting but made my head hurt on several occasions.

I think your idea of getting the man himself to explain 'quality' was a rather a sensible one!
( Rainbored78 is being a bit cheeky., Thu 15 May 2008, 17:48, closed)

While I highly recommend it
I must warn you, it's not a fast or easy read. It's pretty dense stuff, and I've had to read it a half dozen times to really and thoroughly understand it.

I'm very glad I put forth the effort, though. It gave me insights that I would otherwise never have had.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 15 May 2008, 18:34, closed)

I also read this at the age of about 18
I ploughed through it but didn't really get the jist.


I must try again I guess.
( girlinthehole, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:36, closed)

Well seeing as you advertised your answer on my reply
I thought I would do the same Mr. Loon!

www.b3ta.com/questions/books/post160303
(Jugular, Mon 19 May 2008, 9:39, closed)

*laugh* Fair enough.
It's definitely not for everybody. It's slow going, dense and full of rather abstract and difficult concepts- it took me multiple readings to really grasp all of it.

I still think it's well worth the effort, though.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 20 May 2008, 16:59, closed)