Stranded On A Deserted Island – What Books Would You Bring?
Posted on Saturday, November 6th, 2010
Nicole Dean of NicoleOnTheNet.com asks us to imagine being stranded on a deserted island for one month with ten books of our choosing. What would they be?
I can’t resist a challenge from my daughter, Nicole Dean. This time she’s challenged her technology-soaked friends, specifically those who are entrenched in the world of marketing, to imagine being stranded on a deserted island sans technology. I don’t exactly fit that demographic, but I’m taking the challenge, nonetheless. You can check out Nicole’s challenge on her blog NicoleOnTheNet.com and see what sorts of books are listed by several top-notch marketing experts and others, too.
Nicole’s granting some luxuries to her stranded folks – food, clothing, shelter, water, sunscreen, etc. But, instead of technology, we can only bring books. What Nicole would like to know is what books would we bring?
Here’s my list. I won’t say it’s the most inspired list of books listed in response to Nicole’s challenge, but it’s honest.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett – I take this book to the beach each summer, so I guess I’ve already had it on my own little deserted island. This book is an outrageously irreverent romp toward Armageddon, or away from it, depending on who wins. Not your usual good versus evil, since when the representatives of both come to earth they decide they really like us humans a lot more than they like either of their bosses. I restore my faith in humanity each year with this book. And, it just makes me laugh.
An Incomplete Education by Judy Jones and William Wilson – Since I didn’t go to college and didn’t pay attention in high school, I bought this book to fill in all those missing areas of my education. Sure, I can get along the rest of my life not knowing the difference between Keats and Shelley, but if I’ve got a month with nothing to do but eat, sleep, and read… well, maybe now’s the time to find out a few things.
Boom! Talking About the Sixties by Tom Brokaw – Nicole gave me this book as a gift and I haven’t read it yet. Sorry honey! Now that I’ve got it out I think I won’t wait to get stranded. I’ll read it now. But, if I don’t finish it, I’ll bring it to the island. Thanks honey! The book’s subtitle says “What Happened, How It Shaped Today, Lessons for Tomorrow.” I’m thinking this is something I need to know.
Writing Your Life by Lou Willett Stanek, Ph.D – The more I write, the more I realize how much I don’t know about my parents’ and grandparents’ life and the more I miss them. I wish I had more detail about their lives. I wish I knew more about their experiences growing up. Time goes so fast and we always think we’ll get a chance to sit and reminisce with our loved ones. I don’t anticipate any strangers will be interested in my memoirs, but I want to have something in writing to leave my family. Well, a month on a desert island might be just the thing to get me started… or maybe I should just leave this book out to read now.
Journey To You by Steve Olsher – I’ve mentioned this book before in another post, but thought it was worth mentioning here. With a month of solitude, I think a person could examine their life pretty thoroughly. This book is a great vehicle for getting that done. As it happens, I did spend a month stranded on a desert island – well, not exactly, but I did spend a month in the country in Wisconsin by myself. Does that qualify for being stranded on a desert island? Ha! And, yes, I did START going through this book and really loved it. Time to pick it up again…
The PreHistory of The Far Side by Gary Larson – Far Side cartoons kept me sane for years and years in office jobs. I had my bulletin board plastered with them. Now that I work at home, I have a fair amount of these snippets of irony on my refrigerator and above my computer monitor. When reality bites, I take a tour and lmao! Since a desert island and a home office can be very much the same thing, I’m sure they’ll be times when I need a glimpse or two at the Far Side.
Tomorrow: Adventures in an Uncertain World by Bradley Trevor Greive – This book was a gift from my friend Anne-Marie. It is filled with such pearls of wisdom as; “Even in the best of times there will never be a shortage of moaners and grumblers, but it’s always fascinating to see how different people react during times of genuine uncertainty.” and “Your life journey is not a race or a competition, nor is it a boring highway without exits that you must trudge along for eternity.” But, my favorite quote was not a part of the book; rather it was inscribed in the cover by my friend. Anne-Marie quotes Mother Theresa saying “May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.” Then Anne-Marie writes “Thank God for allowing our paths to cross!” reminding me that I have great friends that I miss and want to reconnect with soon. So maybe it’s not the book that I find so valuable, it’s the inscription. Thanks, Anne-Marie.
My Keepsake Box – As a matter of fact, I’m thinking that what I would want to read most on a deserted island is all the letters, cards, notes, and inscriptions that I ever got. It’s the cards and letters from my family and my friends that I cherish most. Funny. I guess words written by people I don’t know don’t matter as much to me anymore. Okay, I’ll still read my books. But, I think I need to pack my keepsakes for the trip.
Thanks, Nicole, for the opportunity to explore this great topic. I learned some interesting things about myself. Maybe you learned something about me, too! Ha! Love ya!
p.s. If you’re interested in what real successful marketers are reading, click on Nicole Dean’s blog NicoleOnTheNet.com and you’ll get a great list of inspirational and informational books. Enjoy!
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Your book list looks like a winner for sure! I have to confess that I haven’t as yet read any of them but you’ve got me thinking. BOOM is one I’ve been meaning to get to–our generation shaped society in ways that previous generations could not. Certainly civil rights and the Women’s Movement had a great impact.
Another book you recommend really struck me. “Writing Your Life” is so important. My dad actually did that and I interviewed my mother and taped it. Since both my parents are now gone 10+ years and I miss them, I’m going to find these treasured mementos and take some time to reconnect with my roots. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Eileen! The good thing about doing this list for Nicole’s challenge is that I actually pulled these books out of their hiding places and have them sitting out in broad daylight again. Chances are now I’ll get to re-read them. 😉
I’m so glad you have a record of your mom and dad’s life experiences. I hope more people who read this will take the time to talk to their parents and get the stories down. Our family recently lost the last of our elders. My aunt’s passing left a painful hole in our life and family. Now when we run across old pictures or keepsakes and we don’t know who’s in the picture or who’s trinket we’re holding, we have no one to ask. Very sad.
Thanks again, Eileen, for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I always enjoy your insights.
p.s. To my readers – If you haven’t seen Eileen’s website, click on her name and check it out. Just the name of the site alone should have you intrigued… Feisty Side Of Fifty . Too funny!
http://feistysideoffifty.com/