What is page for page the book with the most wisdom you've ever read?

— Shane Parrish (@farnamstreet) September 23, 2014

Share your wisdom from the book with us.

Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance Cycle, a group of books written by author Christopher Paolini.  The books were written for young adults (I read them in middle school and early high school), but neverthless they were filled with nuggets of wisdom for those beyond those years.  The quote I remember most vividly to this day is one said by Eragon’s (the main character) dragon Saphira:
“Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future, for it doesn’t exist and never shall. There is only now.”
The fact that I still remember this quote to this day (I read the book back in 2006) shows how much of an impact it had on my outlook on life.  Whenever I start to get worried about the future, I think about this quote and remember to focus on the present instead.

And further, my son of reading many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Most pearls of wisdom are often only pearls for the swines. 
This my son and daughters is not a wise word from any wise book.  (look it up, if you can)

You may read a tome,

with millions of words.

Or Google until you’re green.

But the wisdom-to-word ratio for Dr. Seuss

is the greatest I’ve ever seen.
See what I mean?
“You’ll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go,

So be sure when you step,

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life’s a great balancing Act.

— from Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

When I saw the title of this daily create I already knew my answer. The Bible is easily the book with the most wisdom that I’ve ever read. Every time I read it or learn about it I learn something new. It tells you how to live a happy, fulfilling life. For instance: “forgive each other just as Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32. “Do to others as you would have them do to you” Luke 6:31. And one of my favorites, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13. I take these to heart and try to live by them because I know that they will make me a happier person.

“You know. Life’s short. If you don’t try new things, you’ll never know what your best at. And you can only make time for new things by quitting the things you know don’t work for you.” – Meg Cabot in the book Teen Idol

1000 Splendid Suns is a great and cultural book that I recommend that anyone read, but a good quote from the book and words of wisdom for college students was “Marriage can wait, education cannot”.

“preservation through transformation” the process through which white privilege is maintained, though the rules and rhetoric change.
and the most profound statement…….
Following the collapse of each system of control, there has been a period of confusion-transition–in which those who are most committed to racial hierarchy search for new means to achieve their goals within the rules of the GAME as currently defined!

I’ll answer this two ways.
First, the book I desire to live by, the Bible. The wisdom in its pages ranges over everyday life, business, family and social relationships, religion, government, and motivational quotes.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
…..
Secondly, a book of wisdom that has influenced my thinking over the years, Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. Do an internet search on Cat’s Cradle quotes, and you will see what I mean.
“Self-taught, are you?” Julian Castle asked Newt.

“Isn’t everybody?” Newt inquired.

“Very good answer.”

This one was REALLY tough. I had to think on this one for a while. I love books. It was really hard to narrow it down. But after taking the question very literally- on a page for page basis- I believe the Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible was wonderfully wise. Each page was FULL of little pearls- either given to the reader through characterization, or authorial input. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. 
Check out my blog post here: http://internet.labrumfield.com/pearls-of-wisdom/

My two favorite quotes from an author are by Chuck Palahniuk, the writer of famous novels such as Fight Club and Invisible Monsters. The former’s been turned into a cult classic starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt.
The first quote I love by Mr. Palahniuk is from his novel called Diary:
“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.”
Accept mortality. Don’t let it scare you. Most of all, realize the importance and power of artistry, creativity, compassion, and kindness, and use that power to leave something that lasts and affects people positively long after you’re gone.
The next piece of advice or wisdom is from his book titled Choke:
“We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves. And maybe it’s our job to invent something better.” 
Define YOURSELF. Don’t let others’ opinions or beliefs kill your own enthusiasm and passion. As long as you aren’t hurting anyone or yourself, follow your interests, embrace your idiosyncrasies, own your strengths and abilities, and live in the present–not the past OR the future!

Hands down, Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces. It’s not for everyone, but for the woman, teacher, working intellectual and artist I was to become, he is the one I keep rereading in every decade of my life.

While it’s hard to ignore the wisdom behind “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Harper Lee) or “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” (Benjamin Franklin), I have to say without any hesitation that page for page the book with the most wisdom that I’ve read is the Bible. With examples like “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21 NIV – loosely translated “put others first”) and “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind . . . and . . . ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”(Matthew 22:37-39 NIV) to examples about putting relationships ahead of rules (Luke 6:1-11), the Bible is full of wisdom. Unfortunately, too many people get hung up on the “thou shalt not” statements and “throw the baby out with the bath water.” And, yes, I freely admit that many of the people who disregard the wisdom of the Bible call themselves Christians; however, their disregard for the teachings of Jesus does not negate the wisdom that is found in this book. It is full of the principles upon which many other wise statements have been founded.

“THE ABCs of ds106: Always  Ce Commenting!” -Scottlo
“Bring your A-Game.” The Bava

I think the most influential book to me would be the Bible. I say this because I have grown up reading the Bible, and it’s always had things that I live by and it has taught me some mottos to live by. It has taught me to live with love and happiness, and treat others the way you want to be treated. The figures in the Bible model the way to live and lived through those words. It has taught me the way to live a great life and continue to teach me new things every time I read it.

I know that some or even most of the submissions will be from some seriously philosophical writings and there is nothing wrong with that. I however have always absorbed knowledge better if it makes me laugh a bit while I’m learning it. I was on a long layover in Dallas/Ft. Worth a couple of years ago, and I was extremely bored, so I did what most people do, I went to the book store. I had heard about Justin Halpern’s book: “Shit My Dad Says” and there it was on the shelf. So I opened it and read the inner jacket, and I was sold. Here are three excerpts from the book, all are things told by the father, Sam Halpern to his son Justin.
Commenting on a woman that his son is afraid to ask out:

“That woman was sexy… Did you say Out of your league? Son, let women figure out why they won’t screw you, don’t do it for them.”  (This is Sam’s way of telling his son to be more confident and not sell himself short when it comes to women)
Commenting on the appearance of his son’s friends:

“Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled onto their heads and started fucking.” (Clearly, Sam is unimpressed with the personal hygiene traits of those his son’s age, and is trying to impose a certain sense of responsibility on his son, so he looks more presentable)
Commenting on manners while in the car:

“Ok first things first, a car has five gears. What is that smell? Okay first thing before that first thing: farting in a car that’s not moving makes you an asshole.” ( I believe this needs no explanation).
Sam Halpern is both a wizard and a comedian in my mind. I am completely satisfied in knowing that I am sort of understood by someone that I have never even met. “Shit my Dad says has a few television opportunities, but in my opinion, it needed to be on a uncensored channel to get the full effect. “Shit My Dad Says” is followed by equally enlightening book by Justin Halpern entitled “I Suck at Girls”.

From all the very interesting views on things that are displayed in Harari’s book ‘A Brief History of Humankind’, what stuck to me mostly is: how unbelievable important the invention of “the story” is to the world and to the history of humankind.
Stories not just ‘explane’ how the world works ( “it’s Thor’s hammer that makes the thunder” ), but stories also tell us how to behave ( “Red Hood went into the wood anyway … and was eaten by a wolf” ).
Stories can unite people ( “That land was ours 2000 years ago, it was stolen by the …., but we are still entitled to it” ) and thus can create good things and bad things.
The ultimate bad thing stories can make people do, is kill other people.
The strongest weapon ever invented by Homo Sapiens Sapiens: the story !
Book:  A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Harari

More info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuval_Harari
Online course (free): www.coursera.org / look for “a brief history of humankind”

Great book by Yuval Harari:  A Brief History of Humankind
More info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuval_Harari