Books have a unique power to change people’s attitudes, and even their lives. This was never clearer than in the wake of the death of great American storyteller Toni Morrison, when writers and readers spoke out about the role that her books played in their lives.
Among them, Australian authors Maxine Beneba Clarke and Melissa Lucashenko wrote about the impact of Morrison’s work on their own writing, their sense of self and their understanding of humanity, while Brene Brown reflected on the way Morrison’s words influenced her parenting.
Writer Alexander Chee said Morrison’s The Bluest Eye “reoriented me in time and space”, while Jacqueline Woodson wrote that African American writers in particular had benefited from the words of Morrison, saying, “because of Toni Morrison, we are. Because of her, I am.”
The tributes made in response to her death speak of the power of literature. And while Morrison’ had an extraordinary impact on those who read her work, there are many other books that have changed readers’ lives.
Richard Branson has often written and spoken about the way that Peter Pan altered the way he thought about problems, inspiring his child-like optimism and enthusiasm: “I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from the book,” he said. “I’ve never wanted to grow up and I’ve always wanted to fly.”
Bill Gates has also referred to the way that certain books have changed his outlook, nominating four books that: “make me optimistic about the world and help me understand the role of innovation in driving progress.”
These books were Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Energy and Civilization: A History by Vaclav Smil, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker and Factfulness by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund.
Singer-songwriter Steve Earle nominates In Cold Blood by Truman Capote as the book that changed him, while for journalist Tracey Spicer, it was Frank Moorhouse’s Dark Palace and Geraldine Brooks’ Year of Wonders with their strong female protaganists.
Here are some of the books that have changed us at OUP Australia.
Alex, editorial:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. It taught me how funny and addictive books could be.
Sophie, editorial:
Rooftops by Mandy Ord is a book that changed me. Not only the content, but this book was the first graphic novel I studied as an adult while completing a Screenwriting course. Rooftops changed my approach to storytelling because it’s a fantastic example of showing over telling the reader your story and the impact a pared back story can have. I’m excited to read her latest release, a graphic novel and diary, titled When One Person Dies the Whole Word is Over!
Elisabeth, marketing:
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – it’s taught me to look at the world in a different way!
Rae, marketing:
Mr. McGee by Pamela Allen. All the Pamela Allen books are very close to my heart. When I first moved to Australia, I spoke little English and I went to English school on Wednesdays. The class comprised of students of varying ages and nationalities, but the one thing we all had in common was that we all spoke very little or no English at all. Our teacher Wendy would read us a book as we ate our lunches. Mr McGee was my window to the English speaking world around me and this is where my love of books started. I felt like the stories of Pamela Allen related to everyone and in a sense that made me feel like if I got the jokes and the story line in her books, I got the people and the culture around me. From this point onwards, I made it my mission to not just ready but memorise every Pamela Allen book (I can’t say I was successful). I even went as far as asking my mum create me library cards at new libraries if my local one didn’t have the Pamela Allen books I had yet to read (sometimes I “forgot” to return them). And so ever since, I’ve been reading.
Fleur, communications:
I find that every book changes me a little bit, but the most influential were probably the Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. These books inspired my love of reading, and made me see the world as being full of possibilities and adventure. On reflection, I think the children’s travels to different lands on the tree also instilled in me the joy and wonder of travel to foreign countries which has played a big part in my own life. The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf is a non-fiction work that explores the way the beauty industry dictates the way women should look, and I found it eye-opening and life-changing when I read it at university.
Browse OUP’s range of World’s Classics to find a story that might change your life.
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