Have you ever read something (book, quote, etc) that completely impacted your life in a major way?

I just finished reading url=hubpages.com/hub/Affluenza-the-All-Consu... a book about the social ills of consumerism in America. For a long time my husband and I have been moving our lives into the domain of voluntary simplicity, a movement that focuses on simplifying and decluttering one's life. But our reasons were mainly financial, spurred by a strong desire to be able to retire without worry. This book opened my eyes to the social problems the consumer lifestyle is causing, and adding a new dimension of belief to the path I've embarked on.

Not that I recommend this for anyone who isn't already ready, after reading this book I took on a whole new outlook on life and my creativity. I quit my job, too, because of the new dialogue I was having with myself.

I realized that my job was actually making me unhappy and asking me to be someone I wasn't. I also wrote a few songs and picked up a new instrument.

The book on 7 Habits of ghly Effective People by Stephen Covey greatly impacted on my life. Mr Covey's insight on proactivity is truly liberating. He defined proactivity as "more than merely taking the initiative.It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our lives.

Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions".

Since then, I made "nothing can hurt me without my consent", a practice and a constant reminder in dealing with conflict situations.

For me it was the book "A Gradual Awakening" by Steven Levine. It's a beautiful, rich little book that is a constant source of inspiration. It opened my eyes to the benefits and practice of meditation, being in the here and now and developing the more wholesome of human characteristics such as loving kindness.

I have this happen to me all the time, you know those signs outside churches, well every time I am having a problem in life and don't know what to do to solve it, somehow I always pass by one of those and suddenly the answer is before me, as if god him or her self is giving me the answer I am looking for.

There are plenty of quotes that have impacted my life but my all time favorite is.

Give me liberty, or give me death..." - Patrick Henry.

Anthony Robbins - CDs on Personal Power and Get the Edge have given me an insight on how to get the most out of life. It covers different aspects of life including Quiet time, health, finances, relationships, our emotions, purpose in life, following through on goals etc(about 20cds). Its made me a very positive person and I am able to support others.

I had always been brought up in a small-town society that constantly preached that women were the inferior sex. In high school, I read a few books by Margaret Atwood, including "Surfacing," "The Blind Assassin," and "The Handmaid's Tale," and learned that women are more than what our town elders had made us all believe. I've since become empowered to become a leader now that I've entered college, and am working hard to become a teacher to be able to teach our youth that everyone is equal.

JFK Case For Conspiracy paperback. Tore through the veil of Warren Commission whitewash coverup. Really opened my young (at that time) eyes.

Felt deep sense of compassion for sacrificial lamb Lee Harvey Oswald. Still do. When our government frames an innocent individual it piles it on.

Has anyone believed anything the feds have uttered since 1963? Did not think so! Peace.

I can finally say that I have read a book from the front cover to the back cover.

I read "The Secret" which will continue to change my life mainly through my thoughts.

It was required reading for my Humanities Class, but I was completely taken aback by it and it changed my perspective on human nature and the good/evil we're capable of. It also made disgusted at myself for all the things I've for granted and opportunities I've been given that so many other people in the world have never had, and how really ungrateful I've been.

It was the first book I actually "digested. " It was the first book I actually fell in love with. You never forget your first love.

It made me want to know more. It made me want to write of similar things in as powerful a fashion.

It made me see how the power of words could form ideas and change society.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.