Influential Books that changed the World and History of Ideas

I Just came across one Malay article written by SHAHAROM TM SULAIMAN (a lecturer at UITM)in Utusan Malaysia dated 8/01/2007 with a title "Kesan besar membaca buku berpengaruh". Even it was quite lengthy yet i found it to be interesting and salutary. So by taking hers for some reference, i decided to come out with my own english article..LOL. The content ? Well, certainly in regard to B O O K S.

Apparently books can change world. No doubt as leastwise for those who read them. And at least this is what has been stated in a book which the title is "Japan As Number One" (1960) written by Ezra F. Vogel. The book unveils the story of how great developments have been achieved in many spheres and disciplines that lead off from the resurgence of Japan during The Meiji Restoration period (1868-1912).

During those period, thousands of Japanese youngsters were sent abroad to foreign countries particularly England, France and German while at the same time a large numbers of foreign teachers were also brought in to Japan to educate Japanese youths.

This strategy was taken in order to avoid Japan from becoming cloddish nation, lacking of wisdom and progress moreover in the early era of modernization.

Japanese rulers had allocated such a big portion of budget for translation works of foreign books in various discipline such as philosophy,culture,industrial, science, and technology. This effort of translating foreign books into Japanese language was for the purpose of technological and knowledge transference from western countries.With all the knowledges they gained from those mammoth stock of books, Japan became a victorious in many fields.

In a book with the title "Books That Changed the World" which was produced initially in 1956 by American Library Association and arranged by Robert B. Downs, there are lists of 16 evergreen classical books that were appraised to have strong influence incessantly on men's intellectual development .

Those who like the 'kick and punch' of politic and power may read "II Principle" by Nicollo Machiavelli; "Common Sense" created by Thomas Paine; "Wealth of Nations" written by Adam Smith, and "Essay on the Principles of Population" by Thomas Malthus. Besides, should you have massive interest on military, why don't you give a try for "Mein Kampf" by Aldolf Hitler or "Art of War" by Sun Tzu which also practically can be a reference book for leadership or corporate & business managerial qualities development.

For the science enthusiast, you could try "Principia Mathematica" by Sir Issac Newton and controversial classical book "Origin of Species" created by Charles Darwin; "Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud, or "Relativity: The Special and General Theories" by Albert Einstein.
All the 16 influential books that were listed by Downs had been translated into many world premiere languages.

It seems to be true that those books recommended by Downs implied some kind of relation that bonded amongst the writers. For instance, Copernicus acquired his ideas from the Greek philosophers. Newton, Galileop Galelli, Johannes Kepler on later days had brought forth Albert Einstein. One book with another books, whether in the past, today, or tomorrow always brushing each other thence resulting new phenomena or discovery.

What a naive and something absurd to those people who are talking about bringing development and get rid of poverty yet without any presence of books as a light that capable of flourishing wisdom and universal knowledge. In line of history, we can find out a lot of prove indicating that book is not something insignificant and wimpish. Nonetheless books always become a "burner" for spurs of life and having ability for changing direction of significant events. Books are the nerve of culture and civilization of one nation.

The subtitle of the above mentioned book which arranged by Robert B Downs is "16 Landmarks in the History of Ideas." The author offers 16 selections of books, manuals or pamphlets that changed the world over the past 500 years.The books are divided into two main sections: 1) The World of Man and 2) The World of Science.

The list of books, authors and chapter headings in the first section are as follows:

1)The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, "Anatomy of Power Politics"
2)Common Sense by Thomas Paine, "American Firebrand";
3)The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith,"Patron Saint of Free Enterprise";
4)Essay on the Principle of Population by Thomas Malthus, "Too Many Mouths";
5)Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, "Individual Versus State";
6)Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, "Crusader for the Lowly";
7)Das Kapital by Karl Marx, "Prophet of the Proletariat";
8)The Influence of Sea Power Upon History by Alfred T. Mahan, "Leviathan Against Elephant";
9)The Geographical Pivot of History by Sir Halford J. Mackinder, "Heartland and World Island";
10)Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler, "Study in Megalomania."

The second section dealing with the World of Science includes
11)De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Nicolaus Copernicus, "Celestial Revolution";
12)De Motu Cordis by William Harvey, "Dawn of Scientific Medicine";
13)Principia Mathematica by Sir Issac Newton, "System of the World";
14)Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, "Survival of the Fittest";
15)The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, "Psychologist of the Unconscious"; 16)Relativity: The Special and the General Theory by Albert Einstein, "Godfather of the Atomic Age."

It is well understood that most of 16 books listed above were written by western scholars and academicians or also known as christian books if i am not mistaken. On the other hand, world can never deny that there are also many precious books created by muslim intellects as well. Those muslim scholars were such as Ibnu Sinna, Al-Khawarizmi and Al-Ghazali.

以上です。