Book recommendation

[bojangle]

Hello, I am 19 years old and am starting my own career and beginning my own, individual life; does anyone have any book recommendations that they think will encourage/help/motivate/inspire me? From short stories, to poems, to novels, i like all genres of literature and have an open mind. I have my University's libraries at my disposal. Thanks.

[wormofthebooks]

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It is a bit longer than what most people like, but I found it to be inspiring and motivating. I believe that everyone should read this book. It opens your eyes and makes you look at yourself. It really helped me become more aware of my actions and reasons for doing things. It advocates capitalism and purpose and properity. Every action should have a reason. I will elaborate more when I have the time. But definitely check it out and let me know what you think! I love talking about this book.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Anything by Barbara Kingsolver, but especially The Poisonwood Bible.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
Any short stories or novels by William Trevor
The Brothers Karamazov by Doestoevsky
Short stories by Chekhov
Absalom! Absalom! by William Faulkner
Everything that Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor

[Big Dante]

The Catcher In The Rye.
It's nice and short and the character has an interesting perspective on studying and people. I'm 16 and I find it to be one of the biggest eye openers I've read even though I don't have much in common with the character himself.