Like, increased empathy or altered your perspective a bit.
On a lighthearted note, 1984 taught me that most people who quote it in political discussions have probably never actually read it.
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy
How to lie with statistics
Ringworld
I read the His Dark Materials trilogy in middle school, and that hugely influenced my thinking about power structures generally, religion specifically, and morality broadly. I mean, I didn’t have words for a lot of that stuff at the time, but looking back they were massively influential.
I re-read them a couple years ago and they really hold up astonishingly well. And yes I am secretly smug about having read these books as a kid while most of my peers were reading Harry Potter.
Discworld is the cliché here but for good reason
Indeed it has quite some interesting food options! :D
I grew up with Pratchett’s voice in my head and I’m certain I’m a better person for it.
I still haven’t brought myself to read The Shepherd’s crown.
GNU Terry Pratchett.
The Discworld series by Sir Terry Pratchett.
Much in there about being skeptical of political and religious leaders—and wannabe leaders—and especially in the later books, acceptance of Others.
The expanse influenced my idea of what the future might look like if current trends continue. Oppression, otherizing, and massive mega corps don’t magically go away just because we’re in space. We need to systematically address these things.
The science fiction stories of Cordwainer Smith
Outside The Dog Museum by Jonathan Carroll.
