Books, which triggered major events.

[ravilobo]

I am making a list of books that triggered major events. Two in my mind are,

1. the catcher in the rye
Mark David Chapman, who assassinated John Lennon, was carrying the book when he was arrested immediately after the murder

2. Satanic verses
Caused fatwa for Salman Rushdie

[subterranean]

I don't know, but An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations came to my mind when I read the thread title. It doesn't really trigger a major event, but I think it really influenced the many authors and economists, as well as governments of the world.

[Nightshade]

Uncle Tom's Cabin By Harriet Beecher Stowe is credited with influencing the strt o the American Civil war.
:D

[SirRaustusBear]

I was going to say Uncle Tom's Cabin too.

The Sorrows of Young Werther led to a bunch of copycat suicides, though that's not really the same kind of thing as the other books mentioned.

Oh and you have your obvious books that were written intentionally to cause some kind of social change like The Communist Manifesto.

[stlukesguild]

Um... off the top of my head: The Bible, the Qu'ran, the Malleus Maleficarum, the 95 Theses and German translation of the Bible by Martin Luther, Jerome's Vulgate, John Wycliffe's and William Tyndale's English-language Bible, Gutenberg's Bible...

[*Classic*Charm*]

Mein Kampf...

[JBI]

Um... off the top of my head: The Bible, the Qu'ran, the Malleus Maleficarum, the 95 Theses and German translation of the Bible by Martin Luther, Jerome's Vulgate, John Wycliffe's and William Tyndale's English-language Bible, Gutenberg's Bible...

We must not then forget the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, or Analects (or virtually any of the 4 major books of Confucius).

There have been many world-shattering books in history. The slightest event in history sets out infinite ripples over the time of the world. If someone got hit by a car for instance, like Camus did, and didn't get to write his work, than if we equate Camus getting into that exact accident with someone else having read the paper that morning, and therefore being 4 minutes behind, etc.

Even the most mediocre books changed the world in some way or another, since everything is connected in an extremely complex fabric we call history, or time.

[stlukesguild]

We must not then forget the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, or Analects (or virtually any of the 4 major books of Confucius).

Of course... but I stuck with the sources of the 3 great Western religions because I am far more cognizant of the endless wars and purges that have resulted from them. The Tao Te Ching is a marvelous work... and in many ways reminds me of the Gospell of Thomas... both quite small works of wisdom writing that greatly challenge orthodox notions of religion.

[ballb]

The Communist Manifesto has had certain knock-on effects attributed to it.

[muazjalil]

"A treatise of Human Nature" by David Hume pretty much destroyed the foundation of rationalistic school of thought

[bazarov]

Farewell my dear by Yesenin - many suicides in Russia; so one poet even made an answer to explain how life actually is very nice.

[AuntShecky]

Exposés by so-called"muckrackers" of the late 19th and early
20th century America finally caused the government of that country to start to regulate unsafe, hazardous, and monopolizing practices of industry: "The History of Standard Oil", by Ida Tarbell, "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair (stomach-turning abuses by the meat-packing industry at the time.) Also compassionate yet naturalistic studies by Verblen and especially Jacob Riis ("How the Other Half Lives" resulted in a better awareness of the plight of the poor.

More recently, journalists such as Woodward and Bernstein
"All the President's Men" 1974(?) helped create a culture of better
"accountability" toward elected officials. "Transparency" is another word coined by the media to urge a more open and less secret disclosure of what goes on in governments at all levels. But "transparency" is a term that can swing two ways: in a positive sense it means candor and accessibility; in a negative way it means we can "see right through" those four-flushers.

[ravilobo]

HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER – caused some anxiety in KGB.
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS - was taken to the court because it had information about creating a hydrogen bomb.

[Kafka's Crow]

The Interpretations of Dreams
The Origin of Species

Both these books largely undid the work carried out by countless prophets, saints and other religious scholars by showing the real reasons behind human behavior and the creation of universe.

[Leabhar]

I can think of two non philosophical, non religious books that had an effect on society off the top of my head: A Sportsman's Sketches by Ivan Turgenev and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

[Whifflingpin]

Common Sense by Tom Paine is credited with having re-inspired the American revolutionists at a time when they were on the point of giving up the struggle.

[Leabhar]

Common Sense by Tom Paine is credited with having re-inspired the American revolutionists at a time when they were on the point of giving up the struggle.

You're thinking of The American Crisis, Common Sense came out at the beginning of the war. Both of the pamphlets helped the cause though, so they both effected major events. If I'm remembering right, the American Crisis was read aloud on Washington's orders at Valley Forge, when they were eating flour baked over fire and freezing.

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.