I’m so looking forward to that listen. She’s so underrated and is one of the few polymaths we have. Every so often I pick up “A Book of Days” which is her year of photography and writing. For September 9th, she honors Leo Tolstoy,” who, in her words, “...imprinted the concept of universal love and pacifism through his towering contribution to literature.” And now I need to pick War and Peace back up.

... and the quotidian chronicles of Patti Smith.

 

​@AdamK12 Very much enjoyed all of your recommendations, but of course Patti Smith jumped out at me. Love her writing, her music, her worldviews, her artistry...everything. She is coming through Seattle in November and I can’t wait 🎸

If you have not already, you should find the music she did with Soundwalk Collective. Narrations and poetry over music. I very much enjoy this album which also features Anoushka Shankar, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and others 💜

I’m so looking forward to that listen. She’s so underrated and is one of the few polymaths we have. Every so often I pick up “A Book of Days” which is her year of photography and writing. For September 9th, she honors Leo Tolstoy,” who, in her words, “...imprinted the concept of universal love and pacifism through his towering contribution to literature.” And now I need to pick War and Peace back up.

 

I love this, ​@AdamK12! And you’re right, she is one of the few polymaths still working and producing. She is truly an irreplaceable inspiration, but I am still hopeful more artists like her will emerge. “Book of Days” should be required reading! 📖

Yes! At the end of the month I can create a summary of members' recommendations!

I’m really enjoying everyone’s recommendations and learning more about your reading styles!

Even though I mostly read non-fiction now (especially self-help), my love of reading started with the magical world of Harry Potter! Like millions around the world, those books ignited my imagination — I  pre-ordered each one and locked myself in my room until I’d finished it! I credit Harry Potter for getting me hooked on reading and for opening my mind to new perspectives, ideas, and my love for travel!

This particular book The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck brought a major change in my thinking about life. In contrast to other self-help books, it was a stark contrast, which made me realise the importance of embracing discipline, responsibility, and delayed gratification as the foundations of true growth. It challenged me to confront uncomfortable truths rather than seeking quick fixes, and helped me appreciate that personal fulfillment comes not from avoiding difficulties but from facing them with honesty and perseverance.

I’m going through one of those “life changing moments” right now where I have suffered a loss I was not prepared for, and I am having a really tough time. Chester Bennington’s last album has a song called “One More Light”, and the lyrics are really speaking to me right now. I think it’s really important to keep a sense of perspecctive on how brief our time on this earth is. Time is precious, folks. 

Hey ​@XM_JoshB,

Thank you for sharing this vulnerable moment with us. My condolences for your loss. 

​@XM_JoshB I am sorry to read you are having a tough time. We are thinking about you and are always here to help in any way we can! 💜

It was tough to narrow it down to just one example, but I managed 😀

During my university years, I got really into Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series. I loved it so much that I actually put off reading the last few issues because I did not want the story to end. Sandman made me realize how powerful graphic novels can be, and that a written story doesn’t need to play out only in your head to spark your imagination.

It’s amazing how stories can stick with you and shape how you see the world, and how storytelling is a vital part of everyone’s life; whether it’s a book, a film, your grandparent’s stories, or even a bit of gossip from your neighbor.

I’m really enjoying everyone’s recommendations and learning more about your reading styles!

Even though I mostly read non-fiction now (especially self-help), my love of reading started with the magical world of Harry Potter! Like millions around the world, those books ignited my imagination — I  pre-ordered each one and locked myself in my room until I’d finished it! I credit Harry Potter for getting me hooked on reading and for opening my mind to new perspectives, ideas, and my love for travel!

 

 

My fear is Magical world and Hogwarts really exists and I am born as Muggle! :)

My perspective on life changed deeply after reading the life stories of the Tirthankar lords—Rishabhdev, Neminath, and Mahavir. 🙏🏻

Their teachings on self-control, non-violence, non-possessiveness, and freedom from greed made me realize that true strength lies in mastering oneself. Their life examples showed me that peace and happiness do not come from external possessions or power, but from inner discipline, compassion, and simplicity.

While I have not mastered these values, I am consciously try practicing them where I can. And try focusing living with mindfulness. ✨

I’ll go a little less

An honest and approachable answer! Awesome. I’ll go similar the first novel I read was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Religious, non-religious whatever you are it is an awesome first book in the Narnia series and made 8-year-old me love reading.

The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantastic series!

Let me begin with a shameful admission. I don't nearly read as much as I used to. I could blame busy work, a hectic homelife or social media doom loops. Instead I will consider this a call to action and pick up a book again!

That said there are many things I've read that have made an impact on how I think and who I am. Among these are:

• Who's Got the Monkey - this seminal HBR article about owning vs delegating problems and an important principle in how I work with peers and manage teams
• Gaijin - a novel by James Clavell which played an important role in my decision to move to Japan after graduating from university
• Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek - translated from Dutch meaning Crusade in Jeans which opened up my eyes as a young teenager to the tempting experience of travel & adventure
• Origin of Species - this paradigm shifting must read for anyone interested in the evolution of science
• Le corps est fait pour bouger!  - which translates to the body is made to move which hung above the gym entrance in my Marseille days and inspires me to keep doing sports 
• The Wealthy Barber which introduced me to the concept of dollar cost averaging and became a cornerstone of my savings strategy
• You can't always get what you want by the Rolling Stones. Which is popular half of the full refrain which continues with But if you try sometime you'll find, You get what you need

Long story short, keep exploring with an open mind!
 

Uff, there are quite a few! I remember Matilda from when I was a child and how empathetic I felt toward her and her story. Later, I watched the movie and loved i, it was exactly how I had imagined her and all the other characters. As a teenager/young adult, Pride and Prejudice had a huge impact on me since I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. And in my current life, I really enjoyed Atomic Habits. It has helped me change certain things in my life for the better, and I’ve noticed how I’ve become more disciplined in many aspects.

Wings of Fire by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Bhagavad Gita have touched many hearts and mine too. One gives motivation to dream big, the other gives peace and guidance. Both remind us to stay positive in life. 

Only 2 more days to participate in the BOM!

Share what literature has made an impact in your life ⬇

When I think about the piece of literature that truly changed my life, I immediately go back to the Harry Potter series. While it might not sound like the most original pick, for me it was a turning point, because I honestly wasn’t a big reader until I found myself immersed in that magical world. Reading shifted from being just a “school task” to something I genuinely loved. Ever since, I’ve dreamed of one day having a library like the one from Beauty and the Beast.

More recently, a book that left a strong impact on me is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. It encouraged me to see life from a different perspective, focus on what truly matters, and let go of unnecessary worries. It’s a book I know I’ll return to for a re-read soon. 📖✨

​@Sophieroy Subtle Art is also on my reading list.  My husband (who is not a reader) liked and recommended it.

​@pamelalbeck Oh, I highly recommend it too! What I love about this book is how Mark Manson is raw and brutally honest, with metaphors that really stick. One that has stayed with me, even 7–8 years later, is this one:

“No matter where you go, there’s a five-hundred-pound load of shit waiting for you. And that’s perfectly fine. The point isn’t to get away from the shit. The point is to find the shit you enjoy dealing with.”

I’m an avid reader so it’s hard to pick one transformative book - so I’ll go with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. First read it at 13 and I still pull out the series to reread every couple of years. 

As a child, I absolutely loved The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I read the original book (and many years later, a friend gave me a first edition as a gift) and got deep into knowledge of the world and the characters and tons of trivia about it. Did you know that actually there’s a whole book series - 14 books written by the original author (L. Frank Baum), plus many other books for a total of 40 in the series, continuing the series and the characters, written by a few other authors, which are authorized as the official series. I joined an Oz club run by the publisher who was reissuing the books in the US, and they had a monthly newsletter with writing contests which I entered (and frequently won 🤗). I’m not even sure anymore what about the book initially sparked such a deep love in me, but to this day, many, many years since I read any of the novels, it still feels like a big part of my childhood history. (And I can tell you all of the things that were changed from the book to the movie and make the movie inauthentic!)

Thank you everyone who participated! See you tomorrow for another BOM topic!

Here’s the official September 2025 Qualtrics Experience Community Reading Recommendation List:

Self-Help & Personal Development

Die with Zero by Bill Watterson

• Focuses on creating and benefiting from "memory dividends"
• Recommended by multiple community members for changing perspectives

The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck

• Emphasizes discipline, responsibility, and delayed gratification
• Challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths rather than seeking quick fixes

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

• Raw and brutally honest approach to focusing on what truly matters
• Features memorable, practical metaphors that stick with readers

Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Practical guide to building better habits
• Transformative for daily routines and discipline

Fiction & Fantasy

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

• Gateway to reading that ignited imagination for many community members

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

• Excellent introduction to reading for young readers
• Beloved first novel that made readers fall in love with literature

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

• Original book plus 14 sequels by Baum (40 total in official series)
• Deep world-building that sparked lifelong love of literature

王者时刻 (The King's Avatar/Glory of Kings moment) - Chinese Novel

• Teaches about Honor of Kings mobile game and professional esports scene
• Includes hero skills and game mechanics useful for players

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

• Perspective-changing novel about modern India

Graphic Novels & Comics

Sandman Series by Neil Gaiman

• Demonstrates the power of graphic novels and visual storytelling
• Beloved for its compelling narrative that sparks imagination

Solo Leveling - Manhwa/Graphic Novel

• Amazing story that keeps readers hooked
• Gateway to interest in graphic novels

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

• Haunting, sweet story about grief and loss
• Offers glimpses of hope while focusing on small positive things that keep us going

Classic Literature

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Timeless story and characters

Matilda by Roald Dahl

• Deeply empathetic childhood story
• Movie adaptation captures the book perfectly

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

• Explores universal love and pacifism
• Towering contribution to literature

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

• Powerful story of redemption and sacrifice
• Moving exploration of what it means to be a good person

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

• Inspirational coming-of-age novel
• Classic modernist literature

Business & Professional Development

"Who's Got the Monkey" - Harvard Business Review Article

• Seminal piece on delegation and problem ownership
• Important principle for managing teams and working with peers

The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton

• Introduction to financial concepts like dollar cost averaging
• Cornerstone for building savings strategies

Adventure & Travel

Gaijin by James Clavell (Note: Likely referring to "Gai-Jin")

• Influenced life decisions and international moves
• Inspired adventure and cross-cultural experiences

Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek (Crusade in Jeans) by Thea Beckman

• Dutch novel about time travel and adventure
• Opens eyes to travel and adventure possibilities

Science & Philosophy

Origin of Species by Charles Darwin

• Paradigm-shifting work on evolution
• Must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of science

Spiritual & Philosophical Works

Wings of Fire by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

• Motivational autobiography that encourages dreaming big
• Reminds readers to stay positive in life

Bhagavad Gita

• Provides peace, guidance, and timeless wisdom
• Offers deeper understanding of life, mindset, and purpose

Life Stories of Tirthankar Lords (Rishabhdev, Neminath, and Mahavir)

• Teachings on self-control, non-violence, and non-possessiveness
• Emphasizes inner discipline, compassion, and mindful living

Poetry & Music

Works by Patti Smith

• "A Book of Days" features photography and daily writings with quotidian chronicles
• Music with Soundwalk Collective combines narrations and poetry

Poems by Anna Akhmatova

• Chronicled horrors of Soviet Russia
• Explores complexities of the human heart

Poems by Yevgeny Yevtushenko

• Documents unspeakable Soviet-era experiences
• Powerful emotional impact

"Try Again" - High School Poem

• Teaches the value of perseverance and never giving up
• Message becomes more powerful and relevant with age

"One More Light" by Linkin Park (Chester Bennington)

• Powerful lyrics about loss and perspective
• Reminder of life's brevity and preciousness

"The Nights" by Avicii

• Reminds listeners to live fully and create memories
• Encourages making life meaningful

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones

• Life philosophy in music form
• Complete refrain: "But if you try sometime you'll find, you get what you need"

Data Visualization & Storytelling

W.E.B. Du Bois's Data Visualizations (1900 Paris Exposition)

• Groundbreaking hand-drawn visualizations showing status of Black America post-Civil War
• Demonstrates storytelling through data to make information relevant to unfamiliar audiences

Keep exploring with an open mind, y’all! 📖✨