What book has inspired you the most?
I have so many favorite books but my top three books that have made and still make such a great impact on my life are: The Rule of Benedict by Sister Joan Chittister OSB, The Jesuits’ Guide To (Almost) Everything by James Martin SJ, and the Holy Bible. I can never get tired of reading these books over and over again. It’s simple reading yet it sends a very powerful message in inspiring, guiding and teaching me how to live my life according to His Divine Will. I really wish I discovered these books early in my life so I could have been a better person to people I encounter every day of my life.
Joyce Burton Titular, The Blogging Beauty Queen
The very first book I read to myself was The Tawny Scrawny Lion by Kathryn Jackson. I was only five years old then. I will never forget that book because it officially launched my life as a bookworm. Then there was Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland which I read when was eight. That book was my introduction to fantasy. At age 13, I stumbled upon the Lord of the Rings trilogy in my dad’s bookshelves. I read it with a dictionary by my side, constantly looking up words unfamiliar to me. That trilogy set into stone my love for fantasy. Then Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot and Foundation series, which I found in my late teen years, sucked me into the world of sci-fi where I now live most of the time.
But the one book that has truly shaped my life is the good old Bible. Because of that book I was able to truly understand the meaning of grace and now live a life of love, forgiveness, victory, patience, courage, kindness and all the good things I thought I could only find in fantasy and sci-fi books.
Nancy Reyes Lumen, foodie, editor of Cook magazine, co-author of The Adobo Book
The Bible has been our survivor’s manual since we learned to read it as a book written by God. My husband Bob Lumen and I decided to study the Bible further and use it as reference for anything and everything that we needed to know. When we have an argument, it is Bible-based, so no more shouting our lungs out or banging doors! Bob and I both live changed lives because of knowing the truth about grace and mercy of God for our sinful past. The only thing that can come between us in bed is the Bible.
Norman Crisologo, midlife crisis poseur
The book that inspired me the most was Louie Cordero’s pop cult classic comic book Nardong Tae. Fantastically irreverent drawings of a Pinoy hero. Funny.
Alex Araneta, ceo, Inspire Leadership Consultancy
Without a doubt my all-time favorite read is the Bible. It’s a self-help, motivational, inspirational and how-to book written by the author and perfecter of our lives.
Pin Antonio, creative director, Salon De Manila
For the past three years I’ve been skimming many a time the books of Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer. Their various books have impacted me, and made so many changes in the way I deal with life. I now look at things in a different perspective and with a renewed mind because of the things these books teach me: on how to understand and deal with different situations; how to forgive, how to accept things in the light of viability. Their books are my source of strength to “love the unlovable.” I could say they’ve helped me become a better person; helped me become me — and helped me to exist in this life, to have a life!
Carmen Pedrosa, Philippine STAR columnist
Too many but as a young girl I loved Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim.
Jay Server, businessman
Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens is the last good read I read that was quite inspiring. It had a really unorthodox but humorous look at the whole issue of dark and light, good versus evil associated with traditional religious teachings, yet with a modern and very creative twist. I found it interesting because it showed how not everything is as clear-cut as we are told and how hope sometimes can come from where you least expect it.
Rosa Laurel Liamzon, chef consultant, restaurateur
Two books come to mind: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Having thought about the choice, I figured the former is more of an inspiration, while the latter is more of a touching story.
I read Of Mice and Men when I was a junior at Woodrose and I remember crying throughout the whole book. It is a story about friendship, loyalty and compassion against all odds. It also imparts the importance of dreams. Whoever you are, whatever ranking or intellectual capacity you have, you have the right to dream big.
Annette Gozon Abrogar, president, GMA Films:
The Case for Christ: This book was excellently researched and written by a lawyer so he was able to present clear and convincing evidence of the existence of Christ as well as His life and resurrection. Being a Catholic/Christian is indeed a leap of faith but this book further reinforces our beliefs by providing empirical evidence. A lot of non-Christians who have read this book have even converted to Christianity after reading it. I also like The Last Lecture as it gives us a real perspective on how to live a full and truly meaningful life.
Ma. Christina Goco, chief information officer, country head of Group Technology operations, Standard Chartered Bank
Mister God, This is Anna by Sydney Hopkins, a book that I got as a gift in high school. It tells of a friendship between Fynn and Anna, a deeply inquisitive little child who had the simplest and most commonsensical answers to probably the most profound questions on topics like life, death, religion, science and even mathematics! The book also narrates the special relationship between Anna and her mentor, Mister God, and portrays how faith is viewed and felt from the eyes of a child. In this day and age where our lives are more complicated with diversions and distractions, we lose sight of what is simple, natural and beautiful. This book always reminds me to step back and have that pure, child-like faith that does not constantly seek the right and perfect answers. Often times, we just need faith to accept and believe in things the way they are.
