The book that changed my life
mb.com.ph
August 6, 2010, 8:42am

In a speech he gave at the American Library Association, US President Barack Obama named Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” as a book that made an impact on his early life, expressing gratitude to his mother, who always gave him books as a present for every occasion, no matter what was on his wishlist.

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Erik Santos, singer: “Tuesdays with Morrie and The Secret. These books have helped me to become more positive in life, and have taught me that we have to always remember that love and gratitude make the world go round.”

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In a speech he gave at the American Library Association, US President Barack Obama named Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” as a book that made an impact on his early life, expressing gratitude to his mother, who always gave him books as a present for every occasion, no matter what was on his wishlist.

“I’d be disappointed initially, but she knew that eventually I’d end up picking them up and reading them. That, I think, really laid the foundation for my subsequent success,” Obama declared.

Other internationally celebrated personalities can also name a book that has had a profound effect on their lives: Microsoft chairman Bill Gates points to “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger; Hillary Clinton singles out “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott; business magnate Donald Trump was inspired by “The Power of Positive Thinking,” by Norman Vincent Peale; Virgin brand mogul Richard Branson names the adventure classic “Swallows and Amazons” by Arthur Ransome; and for UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, it’s “Sunset Song” by Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

Oprah picks “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee; Angelina Jolie selects “Vlad the Impaler In Search of the Real Dracula” by M.J. Trow; Johnny Depp goes for Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”; Miley Cyrus’ is “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton; and American Idol judge and music producer Simon Cowell gives his thumbs up to “DisneyWar: The Battle for the Magic Kingdom” by James B. Stewart.

The Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), slated on Sept. 15-19 at SMX Convention Center, asks various personalities on the books that changed their life. The country’s paramount book event, the MIBF celebrates 31 years of promoting the love for reading and gathers bibliophiles and major players in the publishing industry in its continuing efforts to promote books and reading.

Christian Bautista, singer: “The Bible. It gave me the perspective I needed and taught me how to live a just and moral life, blessing both God and the others around me.”

Jim Paredes, singer/ composer/musician: “It’s a choice between Conversations with God Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch, and Eckart Tolle’s The Power Of Now. They got me really thinking about the most important things in life and they changed forever my view of God and what spiritual life is all about.”

Ogie Alcasid, singer/ composer/ actor: “Every Second Counts” by Lance Armstrong. [It’s] an autobiography of his victory over cancer and eventually winning the Tour de France six times. It has made me more active in helping nonprofit orgs like those that help kids with cancer.”

Joaquin Valdez, singer: “Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. It answered a lot of things I already know but needed to hear again.”

Anna Theresa Licaros, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2007: “To Kill A Mockingbird. It inspired me to be a lawyer.”

AJ Dee, tv host/actor: “The book is called The Secret; it’s a great book on how you face life. It’s really fascinating how the book changes your life: you just learn to believe and you’ll get what you want.”

Erik Santos, singer: “Tuesdays with Morrie and The Secret. These books have helped me to become more positive in life, and have taught me that we have to always remember that love and gratitude make the world go round.”

Nyoy Volante, singer/ musician: “Chicken Soup for the Soul (the first 3 volumes)! Somehow, it just makes you stop and appreciate the world around you and how wonderful God’s work is.”

Jojo Alejar, tv host/ comedian: “It’s The Leadership Secrets of Jesus. I now live my life according to the principles and values I have learned from the book.”

Dingdong Dantes, actor/ director: “The Secret. I just lived by its inspiration even right after reading 40 pages of it.”