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My Personal Top 10 Most Influential Readings

I recently sat down and quickly came up with the ten books (and one article) that has affected me personally over my life (and that I can actually remember something about). Here they are. I think they reflect the arc of my life. 

The list is in alphabetical order by author last name.
  • Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?: What the Internet is doing to our brains." The Atlantic Monthly (July-Aug 2008.
  • Collins, Jim. Good to Great.
  • Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Brothers Karamazov.
  • Friedman, Thomas. The Lexus and the Olive Tree.
  • Gladwell, Malcolm. Blink.
  • Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology.
  • Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible.
  • Kushner, Lawrence. Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians.
  • Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters.
  • Mintzberg, Henry. Managers Not MBAs.
  • The NIV Study Bible.

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