Part of our job at the library’s reference desk is helping readers find their next book – even if they don’t know what it is yet. We often get requests for book suggestions based on titles, authors, or genres the reader enjoys. In Library Speak, we call this “readers’ advisory,” and it can be one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of assisting our readers. I hate to lessen librarian legend in anyone’s imagination, but the brains of library workers actually don’t hold a mental Library of Alexandria of every book ever written, so readers’ advisory questions are a delicate (but fun) dance involving knowing our available resources, thinking on our feet, and drawing out the interests and wishes of the reader.

One day, a thoughtful library user stopped by the reference desk and asked for a recommendation of a book (or books) that changed my life. The profound sentiment behind the question’s simple phrasing caught me somewhat off guard. I cobbled together some kind of answer in the moment, but this non-standard readers’ advisory question stuck with me. I felt it deserved more thought and more of an answer than I was able to give. So I did what I often do when I feel a question hovering slightly above my head: I asked my brilliant colleagues. Check out their answers below!

How about you? Do you have a book that wasn’t just ‘good’ or ‘interesting,’ but that had an impact on who you are or how you think about the world?

Maybe it helped to define something that, up until reading it, you’d never been able to articulate for yourself. Maybe it radically changed your perspective on an issue. Maybe the protagonist formed something of a prototype for how you move around the world. Maybe it was the book that helped bond you with another person, or the book that made you love books. Whatever it is, this book is in a different tier of meaning for you than the (probably much longer) list of books you’ve merely enjoyed.

Please comment and share! In celebration of and testimony to the books that shape us, you can also stop by our Banned Books Week display on the library’s second floor and contribute “Something Important I Learned from a Book,” while perusing a selection of books impactful enough to ruffle some feathers.

WHAT BOOK CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

Data and Goliath “As someone who grew up in the age of fast changing technology and social media, I never really thought too much about the implications of data surveillance and privacy. This book helped me realize more about the overall lack of protections for our privacy and how it can ultimately be used against us or sold for profit if we do not take the necessary steps to protect ourselves.” – Tatiana

How Not to Die “This book completely changed how I view our food systems, sustainability and health. It was the drive for so much exploration for me and I am beyond grateful to have found it when I did.” – Connor

Fahrenheit 451 “As a library person, I’m obviously a champion for literacy and learning, and I feel protective of a full bookshelf… but I believe that the first time I truly internalized the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ was after closing and contemplating this life-changing book.” – Megan

That Was Then, This is Now “While most people reference The Outsiders or Rumblefish as Hinton’s go to books, it was this lesser known title that spoke to my early but ongoing rebellious/punk rock nature. When I found out the author was a young woman (she wrote The Outsiders when she was still in high school!) I was even more intrigued.” – Peter

Harry Potter “I grew up in a religious household and was not allowed to read Harry Potter because my mom was worried I would start worshiping the devil. I entered a drawing to win it at school – because who doesn’t like to win things – and won it. I then secretly read it. It was the first rebellious thing I’d done. But then I felt so bad about it that I told my mom and suggested she read it before she got mad. She did, and now my whole family loves the series. Telling my mom to read a book after she banned it in our household may have been my first response to a book ban.” – Paula

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance “‘Zen’ was the first narrative laced with philosophy I encountered that resonated with me in my early twenties. It was filled with well-constructed concepts, foreign to those laid down by my parents, which catalyzed a lifelong internal analysis of existence and empathy.” – Joel