The Book That Changed My Life {Amanda}

With the summer semester in full swing, I have lost most, if not all, of my time to read.  When I get really busy like this, I lose my desire to read, but lately I have been trying to slowly rework my way through The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.  When I first read this book, I was 18 or 19 and in a desperate search for some answers.  The Fountainhead helped provide some of the life answers I was looking for.  It became my favorite book and played a very influential part in shaping my beliefs about life and about myself.  The Fountainhead came into my life exactly when I needed it, and it changed my life.

As I begin to reread The Fountainhead – for at least the 3rd time and as part of my 101 goals in 1001 days – I am struck with how much I still identify with this book, but also how much I have grown up and developed my own life philosophy because of it.  So I wanted to write a little post about [an ode to?] the books we have read that have had a profound effect on us – not just the ones that move you, but the ones that inspire you to be a better you.  Do you have one?  What book is it?  What about it inspired you? Please share!

Here are some of the quotes from the first 100 pages that resonate with me:

“‘My dear fellow, who will let you?’”
“‘That’s not the point.  The point is, who will stop me?’”

“Every man creates his meaning and form and goal.”

“‘But you see,’ said Roark quietly, ‘I have, let’s say, sixty years to live.  Most of that time will be spent working.  I’ve chosen the work I want to do.  If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture.  And I can find the joy only if I do work in the best way possible to me.  But the best is a matter of standards–and I set my own standards.’”

“‘How do you always managed to decide?’”
“‘How can you let others decide for you?’”

“‘Well, have I taught you anything?  I’ll tell you: I’ve taught you a great deal and nothing.  No one can teach you anything, not at the core, at the source of it.  What you’re doing–it’s yours, not mine, I can only teach you to do it better.  I can give you the means, but the aim–the aim’s your own.’”