The books which have had the biggest positive effect on my life are:

The Bible
The Book of Mormon
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The 5 Love Languages

I recommend each of these books to everyone I know.

The Bible
Body for LIFE
Blue Like Jazz
Wild At Heart
Captivating
1776
Liincoln the Unknown

And I'm with GracenPeace:

"The Shack" by WIlliam Young has had a profound impact on my spiritually.

As a teacher, I'd have to list some kids books that us adults can glean a lot from:

The Tower-A story about humility
You are Special
Granny Torelli Makes Soup
Where the Red Fern Grows
Wringer-great for grade school boys

I can't narrow things down to favorites or mosts- its just too finite for me- I try to listen to people and their messages via written or spoken or non verbal with an open heart-- but these are some books that make a person think and still are entertaining without being cheesy:
1)The Sports Supplement review- this taught me more about nutrition then my first degree in nutrition
2) Buddha- Deepak Chopra - this gave me a chance to refelct on my knowledge of biblical stories, tao stories and my own inner spiritual guide's stories- all good things when one is trying to have a greater understanding of the world we live in.
3) The Alchemist- you have to read and then let your heart respond to how your soul is feeling before you let your mind take control of the words in this book- otherwise its too simple, but its a very psychogically truthful book-

-The Bible

-Body For Life

-7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

-Sink Reflections

The most important that helped me understand my son!!!
-Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., OTR
The Out-of-Sync Child broke new ground by identifying Sensory Processing Disorder, a common but frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. This newly revised edition features additional information from recent research on vision and hearing deficits, motor skill problems, nutrition and picky eaters, ADHA, autism, and other related disorders.

Edited because I missed an important one!!! All parents need to read this book to learn the manipulative tactics children use to get what they want!!! BOTH parents should read so you're on the same page! My husband and I both read it and LOVED it and have seen a real change in our kids!!!

-1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas W. Phelan

Good idea to share other resources.. some for me:

Far above anything else I've read: The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (powerful life-changing principles to live by)

I have many other books+ - to list a few that have stood out:
- Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz (currently reading & may be elevated up to 4 agreements status heh!)
- Unleash the Warrior Within by Richard Machowicz: specifically the chapter on the Verbal Command Request
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn: got me "being present" more
- Precision Nutrition by John Berardi: great nutrition guidelines to compliment bfl & currently doing 1 of their workout plans
- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: just starting this - the 1st chapter alone on Taking Responsibility for one's life is so true! and his formula of E+R=O (Event + Response = Outcome) is powerful in changing mindset - very action oriented to "making" postiive change happen.
- The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman - the way it ended was a big wakeup call to me many years ago.
- Body for Life (of course!)
- For work: 1st, Break all the Rules, What the World's Greatest Managers do Differently by Marcus Buckingham & Good to Great by Jim Collins

Thanks to others for sharing your gems..

Also edited to agree with Jan: that 1-2-3 Magic book is excellent. Sure has worked for our 2 boys & given us more sanity!! haha

Cheers
Dave

The Bible
The Power of Intention (Dr. Wayne Dyer)
The Power of Focus (Jack Canfield)
Think and Grow Rich (Napolean Hill)
Body for Life (Bill)
The Attractor Factor (Joe Vitale)
The Greatest Network in the World (John Milton-Fogg)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Robert Kiyosaki)

Here's a quick little story to share how powerful events in our life can move us.

I read BFL in August of 1999 and started my challenge. I was named a Top 2000 Finisher in 2000. I met Porter Freeman at a local event, and was asked to be interviewed by Bob Doyle, who at the time had a website featuring interviews with people who made terrific transformations. We met, became good friends, even discussed starting a business together but went separate paths ... after writing my book, sought Joe Vitale, author of The Attractor Factor, to help me market it. It turns out Joe was overweight and wanted a coach, so he helped me market the book in exchange for me helping coaching him to lose weight (he ended up losing 85 pounds). It wasn't long after becoming friends with him that The Secret was launched ... and guess who two key speakers in The Secret were? Joe Vitale, and Bob Doyle, the person I met so many years earlier. He had moved on to create his own business coaching others to create success in their lives.

I have many more stories like that, such as how I joined a network marketing company, flew to the convention, was discussing nutrition with a doctor who helped them formulate their shakes, only to discover that he used to be a family physician from a town in South Dakota called Rapid City ... and had a patient (my mother) who he helped deliver her only child (me!).

God puts us together for a reason and I see many books in this list that will teach others how to see the signs and stop living a life of coincidence but instead enjoy a life of purpose and synchronistic events that happen for a reason!

I've sat back and read, with interest, everyone's replies. From a young age I've been a voracious reader. So this has been fun for me. Now, I'd like to bring up a point. There are probably hundreds of books that I love, that have moved me tremendously, and ones that I still refer to. But I began thinking...which books, Kevin, have had the effect where it literally changed the course of your life, and your thinking, unquestionably??

You know what I'm saying? Not just books that we love, but contributions that we have applied to our lives and as a result have changed us for good. So as I think about those times in my life, I'd have to offer these:

*The Bible (particularly Proverbs)

*The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
*The Go-Getter by Peter B. Kyne
(these two were the first two books I ever read on choosing to look at the bright side of things, no matter what)
(and I reflected on that last year as I carried my dead son and his casket to the place they call his grave. Love and happiness really does come down to a simple choice, despite life's uneasy terms and conditions)

*Body for Life by some dude named Bill Phillips
(actually it was the free gift from Bill titled Body of Work that led me to BFL)

*ANY book by Mandino. First one I ever read was The Greatest Salesman in the World.

These are a few books that have truly changed the course of my life.

What a GREAT thread...

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale.. I first read in 1978.

The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer

The BIG BOOK and The Bible .. I went through the 12 Step Program and this was the biggest shift in thinking I could ever have thought possible. 180's all over the place!!

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. I LOVE this handy little book.

In no particular order...

Real Magic – Wayne Dyer
The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruis
Body-for-LIFE – Bill Phillips
Ask And It Is Given – Jerry and Esther Hicks
As A Man Thinketh - James Allen
Grow Younger, Live Longer – Deepak Chopra
Ageless Body, Timeless Mind – Deepak Chopra

I highly recommend Eat, Pray, Love by elizabeth gilbert. It's an amazing transformation story!

What Color is your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles.

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

Psycho-Cybernetics (the new way to get more living out of life) by Maxwell Maltz

Photo Reading by Paul R. Scheele

Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (chemicals damage your body, brain, behavior and sex)
(how to keep yourself and your loved ones out of harms way) by Doris J. Rapp, MD.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Ecker

The Merriam - Webster Dictionary
( it proved to me that Photo Reading - 25,000 words a minute - works!)

~ Pete

The Bible
Breaking Free by Beth Moore
Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz
Asperger Syndrome and Young Children by Teresa Bolick
Stop Walking on Eggshells by Randi Kreger
Body for Life by Bill Phillips
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Night by Elie Wiesel
Women & Money by Suze Orman
Total Health Makeover by Marilu Henner
Make the Connection by Bob Greene

Most of them are sitting on the very small bookshelf in my office as opposed to the larger shelves in other rooms because I consult most of them often when I need a pick me up or some insight.

Like many others, I have found many on this thread great reads. Here are a few I find myself recommending over and over.

The Bible-(especially Romans and Ephesians)
Any and all Books by Dr.Sears-Especially Baby book/breastfeeding book/Pregnancy book (Can you tell where I am in life?)
Creative Correction-by lisa welchel
I kissed dating goodbye-a must read for parents of teens! or new christians (as I was-what an eyeopener!)
The carrot seed-a great book for kids about seeing results by believing
For the Childrens sake-Macaulay-very interesting info. about our kids.
The Hiding Place- Corrie Ten Boom. talk about perspective.
The Bible-biggest life changer for me
Body for life-still digesting this one

In the order I read them through my transformation journey

Body for Life - Bill Phillips
Until Today - A Daily Devotion - Iyanla Vanzant
The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz
The Voice of Knowledge - Don Miguel Ruiz
Mastery of Love - Don Miguel Ruiz
Beyond Fear - Don Miguel Ruiz
The Bible
Live Your Best Life Now - Daily Devotion - Joel Osteen
The Greatest Miracle in the World
Return of the Ragpicker
The Greatest Mystery in the World
every other book Mandino wrote

every one has impacted my life greatly and advanced me toward becoming a stronger, wiser, more compassionate, more loving, more humble, better person

The Bible KJV
Lord, I Give You This day By Kay Arthur ( Daily Devotional )
Grace For the Moment By Max Lucado
If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat By John Ortberg
Ever Increasing Faith By Smith Wigglesworth

Each and everyone of these books has brought a great deal to my life, I have gained wisdom, understanding and knowledge. My faith has grown, I am more compassionate towards others and most of all I am more humbled in all that I do. I give praise to God for all that He's done and will continue to do in my life.
Peace~
Jerome

#1 The Big Book- Alcoholics Anonymous, AA World Services Inc.[Saved my Life, Gave me Hope]
#2 The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, Shel Silverstein [The Right Relationships clearly defined]
#3 Biblia Hebraica(Masoretic Text)of the Old Testament/UBS&/Nestle texts (Greek Uncials, minuscules and Papyri by region of western, Byzantine, Alexandrian and Ceasarea Texts) of New Testament. In other Words the Bible which is the most diverse and documented text of any publication to date. [The best pursuit of Divine answers to the deepest needs of humanity... eternal well being]
#4 Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore [Serious about spirituality...Read this!!]
#5 It's not about the Bike, Lance Armstrong [Inspiration at its best]*
*The Body of Work Video (Body for life) sure did a number on me too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whittmiller I highly recommend Eat, Pray, Love by elizabeth gilbert. It's an amazing transformation story!

I agree. Her experience in India really inspired me to continue with my yoga.

I read a lot, and it's hard to select just a few...but most impacting....

General Spirituality:
The Message ( The Bible in Contemporary Language) -Eugene Peterson
The Grace Awakening -Charles Swindoll
The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincente Peale
Jesus, LIfe Coach- Laurie Beth Jones (& The Path)

Healing/ Well-Being/Health:
Journey to the Heart& The Language of Letting Go(and anything else by --Melodie Beattie (codependancy)
You Can Heal Your Life--Louise Hay
Body for Life- Bill P.
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom- Dr. Christianne Northrup

I also LOVED Eat Pray Love...wished it was 10,000 pages long....

The Bible

Body for Life
Body for Life Success Journal
Eating for Life

I don't have much reading time. I'm going to make time when Transformation comes out!

Oh, many of you have posted books that I LOVE! Others of you have given me more books to add to my "To Read List" . Many of these will be repeats and in no particular order

Charlie's Monument (don't ask me why, but I had a personal awakening after reading the book, I don't know if it was the book, or if I was just ready for it and the book corresponded)
The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
The Mastery of Love (for all those who love the 4 Argreements--read the Mastery of Love--it is amazing! I have my own "Magical Kitchen" ) by Miguel Ruiz
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield (I'm only on chapter 4! LOL! Enjoy the book Dave)
The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra
Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Deepak Chopra (I saw it mentioned above--I'm listening to it on audio--I'm blown away by it )
Body for Life (seriously, when people ask me questions on fitness/health I recommend the book and refer to information in it)
The Power of Positive Thinking by V.N. Peele (I'm only on page 58--and I'm loving it)
The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer--it has led me to so many other authors and has helped me develop my way of thinking at the present.
Loving What Is by Bryon Katie (I'm only on chapter 2; but I love how she teaches to question our thoughts and to stay in our own business)

Oooh, there are sooo many books! I LOVE books!