One Book

[Jiggz]

Ok, here's a hypothetical for you kids. Imagine you had a child, and for some reason you could choose only one book for that child to read. Ever.

Which book do you choose, and why?

What lesson do you want your child to leanr? Depth of character, an over all understanding of all things. One important lesson that took you til now to realise, that might be enforced sooner in your child with your book choice? The morals of religion?

Personally, I would go the slightly more intellectual way, and not the building character way.

I would want my child to read the dictionary. Sure, it's not the most entertaining read, but it will give my hypothetical child a well rounded idea of all things. And the tools used to articulate all things from emotions to future plans - words.

How about you?

[Besh]

I would give the child Future Eden. It set in the future where mankind is almost died out. It deals with many issues like creation, aliens, and funny talking animals. It is a really enjoyable book, I mean, I must have read it at least 4 times. Sorry if i didn't fill all the criteria jiggz

[Tweek]

I choose Alice in Wonderland, so that he/she develops a strong imagination or something.

[delf]

If it was a boy, alphabet of manliness by Maddox. Awsome book

[Con-Con]

To Kill a Mockingbird I'm reading this at the moment it wouls teach my child about racism and I think it would make them a better person.

[Phorpus]

Catcher in The Rye.

Just to show them how stupid you look when you're delusional.

[Riddlebox]

Fahrenheit 451 I guess, just so that maybe they'll decide to read other books, besides the one I've given to them.

[gizzalove]

Where the wild things are for it pure awesomeness and it would help with imagination. It all depends on the age of the child.

On a side note my brother said the bible because it teaches life lessons or something.

[History]

The Hobbit, because it deals with power, temptation, and most importantly imagination. It also has fairly strong character development. It was one of the first chapter books I read, and left a strong impression on me.

[Dauntasa]

Starship Troopers Because it has a lot about politics and morals. And there's awesome parts where they blow stuff up.

[CharlieH]

The Firework Makers Daughter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Firework-Maker%27s_Daughter) by Phillip Pullman.

I first read this back when i was about 9 - 10. It was the class book which were studying.

It's such a good book.

[Soul]

Oh thats simple I Am America (And So Can You) By Stephen Colbert. Because it talks about everything in there relationships, gays, old people, religion, ect its the perfect book I tell you.

[green rubber bands]

On Writing by Stephen King, because if my child can't read other's books, he/she could atleast try writing their own, and this is the best guide to story telling I've ever read.

[Quadros]

I'd give him Mein Kampf. That should fuck the little bastard up in ways I can only dream of otherwise.

[HappinessMan]

Dammit Quadros. Took it :frown:

But I would actually read I am Legend to Hapenis Jr. Its a story that will teach him to be courageous, teach friendship, and how to deal with vampires.

[John Travolta]

Something in Latin so that little bastard doesn't understand it.

[Krabby]

I'm glad to see my words are remembered *point to John's Location*

On subject, you can hardly give a little child a book about grand philosophy stuff, so I'd give him something to build imagination with as well, as that's really important for little children. Like, Harry Potter or something. As long as the lad knows it's not real.

[Stina_xx]

Maybe Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, I read that book when I was 9 and it changed the way I thought about racism.

Or The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. That is one of the most beautiful books ever written.

[havidredden]

The Darwin Awards just so the kid knows that there were stupider people then them.

[Grim]

The Zombie Survival Guide. You never know when zombies will attack. And I want My kid well prepared.

[Spiffy13]

The Zombie Survival Guide. You never know when zombies will attack. And I want My kid well prepared.
I was about to say the exact same thing. Damn you :jab:

[Fuzzmunk]

Are you guys dense?Are you retarded or something?
I'd give him the goddamn Batman Handbook.

[BKS]

On Writing by Stephen King, because if my child can't read other's books, he/she could atleast try writing their own, and this is the best guide to story telling I've ever read.

Was gonna say this, until I thought of the other option.


Brave New World or 1984



If that didn't work, The Zombie Survival Guide

[GnR]

When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops by George Carlin. Even though I've read the same jokes a million times, they never get old.

[Coconuts]

PostSecret: A Lifetime of Secrets. To teach my child compassion, because everyone has a secret that could break your heart. It would most likey teach them to sympathize, and that is one of the most powerful gifts of all.

[Jallen]

The Bible.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

The Heroin Diaries - A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rockstar by Nikki Sixx. So the little prick learns why not to become a fuckup.

[LagFish]

Probably fruits baskets series. Best books ever. (It's one series of Manga, just one book of it would be cruel.)

[Shadowpriest]

Anything that involves learning to read. Can't go through life if you don't know how to read.

[Lady Who]

Lord of the Rings probably, as it talks about courage, friendship, honour, etc. It helps developing imagination and it's the kind of book that grows with you, you can read it any time of your life and you'll find something different.

Otherwise, Catcher in the rye. I have no idea why, but it's my favourite book and it has something special for me.

[Oofie]

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

Because I'm a bitch like that, and also an intellectual snob who believes no-one's really cultured until they've read/seen at least 3 or 4 Shakespeare plays.

[Bobthedeceiver]

-SNIP-

[Quadros]

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown cause it teaches tolerance for other cultures.

No. Just no.

[Voracious32]

The complete Hitchhiker's guide by Douglas Adams (It's all of the books in one). Because when the world explodes, I want my kid to know where to go.

[Koots Klone]

Lord of the Flies By William Golding, because it shows how you need to have a leader and be governed by someone who has knowledge. Each character has a distinctive trait (God, the Devil, and such)

If Not Lord of the Flies, The Green Mile By Stephen King, because with great power comes great pain (bet you thought I was going to quote Ben Parker from Spiderman).

[Jiggz]

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

Because I'm a bitch like that, and also an intellectual snob who believes no-one's really cultured until they've read/seen at least 3 or 4 Shakespeare plays.

Wow, I thought my child would have it hard what with having to read the dictionary.

But a good answer none the less. Despite not being one book. Considering it is the only thing the child would ever read, it only makes sense to give them something to study, and not simply read once.

[circlejerking]

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

[Oofie]

Despite not being one book.

Define 'book'. I have the whole collection in one massive hardback.

Ok I cheated slightly, but the loophole is there!

[LagFish]

I had a really good idea, I'll just get them a really heavy book made out of solid gold. Then when I die and they are no longer bound by this hypothetical tie, they can buy many books.

[WookieRage]

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

I completely agree...that is the book I'd choose. There are plays and poems for any mood, and all of them use language quite brilliantly. It is the sort of thing that can be read over and over, and you'll still find something new every time. My kid would also learn to speak eloquently from reading this.

[PYRO73]

i would say the encyclopedia P-Q if i wanted it to learn something but other than that i would choose "Salmon Of Doubt" by Douglas Adams, excellent book, you gotta read it before you die

[blltmssgy]

I would have him read the Communist Manifesto so when he hears all the bullshit coming out of the mouths of most capitalists he'll know the other side of the story, and he might actually be a decent human and care about the wellbeing of other people.

[Spartan_Madness]

I'm gonna have to agree with Jallen and say the Bible.

[PyroOwned]

I'd give them a really creative book, such as The Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman, as I'd want my kid to be interlectual and clever, to be a good writer.

[Jiggz]

I'm gonna have to agree with Jallen and say the Bible.

I think you'll find Jallen was joking.

[Mr. Crow]

An encyclopedia.

[Katiepwns]

i would choose the book called Choke or any other books by Chuck Palahniuk.

[Dresden]

i would say the encyclopedia P-Q if i wanted it to learn something but other than that i would choose "Salmon Of Doubt" by Douglas Adams, excellent book, you gotta read it before you die
Right author. Wrong book.

If I could choose one book for my kid to read, it would be The More Than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Why? Because it is the most genius book ever. And of course it informs you of the meaning of life.

42.

Do Not Panic

[Quadros]

I would have him read the Communist Manifesto so when he hears all the bullshit coming out of the mouths of most capitalists he'll know the other side of the story, and he might actually be a decent human and care about the wellbeing of other people.

What so instead of filling it's head with one ideology you're going to brainwash him with another? And yes i know I'm doing the same but at least I'm being vindictive about it.

[Tempest]

Lord of the Flies By William Golding, because it shows how you need to have a leader and be governed by someone who has knowledge. Each character has a distinctive trait (God, the Devil, and such)

This is my choice too. I believe Lord of the Flies is the perfect book for a child to read to begin learning how to differentiate between right and wrong. Everything that it's difficult to teach a child, they can learn from that book. It's my favorite for a reason, because I think it has a stronger and more clear-cut message than any book I've ever read.

[Tweek]

Lord of the Flies By William Golding, because it shows how you need to have a leader and be governed by someone who has knowledge. Each character has a distinctive trait (God, the Devil, and such)

That's a terrible reason to have them read that book.

[Dresden]

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown cause it teaches tolerance for other cultures.
stupidest thing I've ever heard. While it IS a good book, how in the hell does it teach tolerance? Did you read the book?

[Mantaur]

I'd give him the Lord of the rings. When Sauron comes back to take care of bidnessses, my child will need to know that gollum has the ring and it must be put in Mount doom. He aint going to learn that stuff from a thesaurus or Shakespeare. Oh yeah, like hamlet knows how to scare away a friggin ringwraith

[Oofie]

Oh yeah, like hamlet knows how to scare away a friggin ringwraith

Oh my God, you're right, what if my child gets attacked by a ringwraith?! I'd much rather s/he knows how to fend off imaginary monsters and use 50 thousand words to describe a doorknob (thank you Tolkien!) than to speak eloquently and humorously, with a deep appreciation for intellect and all that shit.

[wasted space]

a short history of nearly everything by bill bryson.

He'll be Intulectual like me

[Chocoholic]

A Clockwork Orange

Think about it. The kid would become fluent in nadsat and it would kick ass. No one would know what the fuck he was saying but it would be awesome nonetheless.