Top 10 books

I'm new here, this is my first topic start, though I've posted to a few threads. I was reading the Now reading* thread and thought this forum needed a Favorite books thread. So thought I'd start one.
Mine are.
-*Age of reason*(tied with *rights of man*, *the crisis* and *common sense*) by my personal hero Thomas Paine.
-*There is a God, how the worlds most notorious atheist changed his mind* by philosopher/professor Antony Flew(with Roy Abraham Varghese)
-*Letters to a young Contrarian* by the great Christopher Hitchens
-*Gods debris. A thought experiment* by Scott Adams(creator of the comic *dilbert*)
-*Cosmic Jackpot(tied with *the mind of God* and *God and the new physics) by physicist Paul Davies
-*The synchronicity Key* by David Wilcock
-*1984* by George Orwell
-*Gems from the Equinox*(tied with *777 and other qaballiistic writings of...*)by Aleister Crowley
-*The holographic universe* by Michael Talbot
-*The war against boys* by Christina Hoff Sommers
And there are a bunch of others I could extend into a top 20 or 30, but this is a top 10 list.
Honorable mention- The Bible(since this is a Christian forum, and also because while I'm not a Christian, am exchristian, I still find it a fascinating book...or rather set of books, nonetheless)

Sure, I'll play.

Interesting list, although the only one I've read was 1984.  I thought it was ok, but just ok.  In fairness, this was back in 2019 where full-fledged "1984" seemed somewhat less imminent, ha ha!

In the order on which I found them on my bookshelf, because they're so different that to attempt a ranking would feel silly:

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years -- Donald Miller
Makes me laugh, makes me cry, makes me see life differently.  He has his haters, and I get it, but I think he's brilliant.

Lectures to my Students -- Charles Spurgeon
He could say nothing and make it incredible to read.  But he says quite a bit, and it's incredible to read.

Factfulness -- Hans Rowling
This I mentioned in the reading thread.  Fundamentally reshaped the way I see the world, with facts.  Shocking and helpful with no hype.

Freakonomics -- Dubner and Levitt
Just super insightful and interesting.  My mind works much like an economist, and I ate this up.  Could easily substitute the follow-up Superfreakonomics, just as good.

Outliers, or whatever you choose -- Malcolm Gladwell
I've read all of his, and with the possible exception of The Tipping Point I find them all just about equally fascinating and helpful.  Not only is he a gifted writer, he helps you with understanding rather than simply information.  My current favorite author for sure.

For Men Only/For Women Only -- Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn
Ok, it's two, but they're short-ish and go together.  Easily the most helpful relationship books I've come across (which is a healthy handful).  For Men Only, despite the title, is remarkably helpful for men to understand themselves!

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands -- David Tripp
Either the most practical theology or the most theologically practical ministry book I've read.  Page after page of pure gold.

Mere Christianity -- C. S. Lewis
It was there at the right time for me, and written with such wit and style that I found and still find it irresistible.

Thinking, Fast and Slow -- Daniel Kahneman
How can such a fascinating book have such a blah title?  The intersection of psychology and economics, but better.  Teaches you how your mind works, and how it can work better.  Maybe the "smartest" book I've ever read.

Touching the Void -- Joe Simpson
My favorite adventure/mountain/survival story.  Truly incredible and gripping.  The movie/docu-drama/whatever is almost as good, which is maybe as much of an accomplishment.


No mention of the Bible because it's in a whole different category, and just isn't an interesting addition to the list on a site like this one.

I read a lot but I don't know if I have many favorites.

The Bible.

The Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy.  Not that it's super special, but it has meaning for me.  I didn't willingly read for years during middle and high school.  This book got me back into reading.

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson.  A classic.  I don't know why I like it so much, but I do.  I've read it multiple times since forever.

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas.  You'd like it.  It's about a prison break.  Seriously, I love the moments when he reveals who he really is to the people who wronged him.

The Imitation of Christ - Thomas a Kempis.  This guy hits it spot on.  My copy is written in Shakespearian English and is a little tough to read, but it's worth the fight.

I know most of mine are fiction, that's just where my "favorites" are right now.

The Bible.

1984 by George Orwell.  

The Martian Chronicles/Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (depends on the day, lol).  

The Visitation by Frank Peretti.  

America:  The Sorceror's Apprentice by Dave Hunt.  (You could safely insert Whatever Happened to Heaven? and A Woman Rides the Beast here also.  Painstakingly researched tomes.)

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (see my avatar  ).  Brilliant prose that flows like a river.

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? This Larry Norman biography opened my eyes and blew my mind.  

All I can think of at the moment.

Glad to see some posts, I like to talk about books!

I read Treasure Island way back in school.  I "had to," but I remember thinking it was pretty good.  I literally just ordered Imitation of Christ today, along with a couple others.  I have a little stack to work through, but lots of time so I should be to it within a month or so, it's been on my radar as a classic for a long time.  Interested to see!


I read Narnia when I was a kid, but it's obviously been forever, and interesting to see 2021, I mean 1984 show up again, although I didn't really love it.  Larry Norman bio does sound interesting, I don't know about his life but it had to be a fascinating ride for him.

The Larry Norman bio is one of the better music bio's I've read.

I guess I could/should add Narnia and Lord of the Rings too.

Yes, when you get to The Imitation of Christ let us know what you think in this or the "Currently Reading" thread.  Like I said my copy is a tough read so I can only digest a few chapters a day (they're very short but there are a lot of them).  I'm re-reading it now.

I think that I am in the minority here, but I can't say that I have a favorite book.  I typically read a book once and then I am done with it as there are always more to read.  Everything I have read in my lifetime is near impossible to remember, either.  Picking a favorite would be impossible for me.

Great idea for a thread CD! I love to read.

I wasn't saved until I was 30 and prior to that I hated reading (though my mother was a librarian). So, being saved reading scripture the books that have been most important to me have often been formative. I've been a hungry reader over the past decade. These are those that mean the most, not entirely in order:

1. The Bible - saved reading the Word in Jan 2010 - specifically Matt 5:6. I read through it every year highlight and write all over it but a new Bible and start again. Nothing I love more.

2. Crazy Love by Francis Chan - recommended to me by my next youngest brother. I was reading this at the same time as the above in Jan 2010, an incredible eye opener to see who I was after a lifetime of hypocrisy, deadness, even calling myself a Christian in times past.

3. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer - the book I read after Crazy Love that really turned my world around. Perhaps the most life changing book I read outside the scriptures.

4. Pilgrim's Progress 1&2 by John Bunyan - put my life and all that had happened to me into words and still impacts me today.

5. Studies in the Sermon on the Mountain by Martyn Lloyd Jones - no singular author/preacher has made a greater impact on me, my life, my faith, my thinking than Dr. MLJ. I've read more of His sermons than any other author. He changed the way I think about God and the world like no one else.

6. Humility by Andrew Murray - I never saw Christ or myself like I did after reading this book.

7. The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink - another profound life changer for me. Short but dense.

8. The End For Which God Created The World by Jonathan Edwards - there is a reason why my second son is named Jonathan. It's not because the man himself but his principles and thinking regarding the Lord. This was a powerful read!

9. In Light of Eternity: The Biography of Leonard Ravenhill by Mack Tomlinson - a book that changed how I have lived and thought about my life.

10. Undeniable by Douglas Axe - as a science teacher and Christian involved in ministry I've spent a decade reading books on science and faith. I'm not sure if this is really the best book or even something I'd recommend to everyone but what an enjoyable, straight forward, scientifically minded book, not too far beyond the layman like myself.

I feel bad not listing any J.C. Ryle, E.M. Bounds or C.S. Lewis because I have read a lot from each and love many of their works. Ironically I enjoy Lewis's fiction material more than anything, especially Perelandra.

Frozen Fire wrote:Great idea for a thread CD! I love to read.

I wasn't saved until I was 30 and prior to that I hated reading (though my mother was a librarian). So, being saved reading scripture the books that have been most important to me have often been formative. I've been a hungry reader over the past decade. These are those that mean the most, not entirely in order:

1. The Bible - saved reading the Word in Jan 2010 - specifically Matt 5:6. I read through it every year highlight and write all over it but a new Bible and start again. Nothing I love more.

2. Crazy Love by Francis Chan - recommended to me by my next youngest brother. I was reading this at the same time as the above in Jan 2010, an incredible eye opener to see who I was after a lifetime of hypocrisy, deadness, even calling myself a Christian in times past.

3. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer - the book I read after Crazy Love that really turned my world around. Perhaps the most life changing book I read outside the scriptures.

4. Pilgrim's Progress 1&2 by John Bunyan - put my life and all that had happened to me into words and still impacts me today.

5. Studies in the Sermon on the Mountain by Martyn Lloyd Jones - no singular author/preacher has made a greater impact on me, my life, my faith, my thinking than Dr. MLJ. I've read more of His sermons than any other author. He changed the way I think about God and the world like no one else.

6. Humility by Andrew Murray - I never saw Christ or myself like I did after reading this book.

7. The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink - another profound life changer for me. Short but dense.

8. The End For Which God Created The World by Jonathan Edwards - there is a reason why my second son is named Jonathan. It's not because the man himself but his principles and thinking regarding the Lord. This was a powerful read!

9. In Light of Eternity: The Biography of Leonard Ravenhill by Mack Tomlinson - a book that changed how I have lived and thought about my life.

10. Undeniable by Douglas Axe - as a science teacher and Christian involved in ministry I've spent a decade reading books on science and faith. I'm not sure if this is really the best book or even something I'd recommend to everyone but what an enjoyable, straight forward, scientifically minded book, not too far beyond the layman like myself.

I feel bad not listing any J.C. Ryle, E.M. Bounds or C.S. Lewis because I have read a lot from each and love many of their works. Ironically I enjoy Lewis's fiction material more than anything, especially Perelandra.

Thanks Frozen Fire for the compliment, and thanks for sharing your list and why you love those books.
I didn't explain the WHY of why the books on my list are on my list, but since you and everyone else here has given a brief synopsis of their books on their lists and how they've been impacted by them I think I may just do the same in regards my list.

You're number 10.
Since you're a scientist(or science teacher), you may also find a few of the books on my list compelling reads. Specifically physicist Paul Davies books. He is one of the leading science populizers out there. His books *Cosmic Jackpot*, *Mind of God* and *God and the new physics* explain physics and theoretical physics and universe for people, and he does so with an eye towards using the findings of science to put forth the idea that God exists and the universe is *about something*(or has a purpose and meaningz) and that conciousness is the fundamental basis of the Universe. Compelling reads.
I would note, he doesn't come from a Christian perspective, but a Deist one. But he has won the Templeton prize a couple times.
And Antony Flews book *There is a God. How the worlds most notorious atheist changed his mind*. Flew wasn't a scientist, but he was a scientific materialist professor of philosophy who was THE leading atheist thinker of the 2nd half of the 20th century, until in the early 2000s he followed the evidence and was compelled to conclude there is a Creator(embraced deism), in the book he laid out his history, why became atheist and remained so for so long, and the scientific discoveries and philosophical principles that led him to embrace belief in God,, the book is filled with alot of science as well. And of note to you Christians is the fact that the book won the *Christianity Today* book award.

And as a scientist you may also find *The holographic universe* bu Michael Talbot compelling.

Some of the other books on my list contain scientific aspects, so you may or may not be interested in them.

Anyways. Thank you for your service as a science teacher in teaching kids about it.

Regards.
C.D.

Contrarian Deist wrote:I'm new here, this is my first topic start, though I've posted to a few threads. I was reading the Now reading* thread and thought this forum needed a Favorite books thread. So thought I'd start one.
Mine are.
-*Age of reason*(tied with *rights of man*, *the crisis* and *common sense*) by my personal hero Thomas Paine.
-*There is a God, how the worlds most notorious atheist changed his mind* by philosopher/professor Antony Flew(with Roy Abraham Varghese)
-*Letters to a young Contrarian* by the great Christopher Hitchens
-*Gods debris. A thought experiment* by Scott Adams(creator of the comic *dilbert*)
-*Cosmic Jackpot(tied with *the mind of God* and *God and the new physics) by physicist Paul Davies
-*The synchronicity Key* by David Wilcock
-*1984* by George Orwell
-*Gems from the Equinox*(tied with *777 and other qaballiistic writings of...*)by Aleister Crowley
-*The holographic universe* by Michael Talbot
-*The war against boys* by Christina Hoff Sommers
And there are a bunch of others I could extend into a top 20 or 30, but this is a top 10 list.
Honorable mention- The Bible(since this is a Christian forum, and also because while I'm not a Christian, am exchristian, I still find it a fascinating book...or rather set of books, nonetheless)

*Age of reason*.
This book was instrumental in me embracing Deism. Such an important book that in it's time was much maligned, Paine was accused of atheism by religious fundamentalists for writing it, people who clearly never read the book, lol!
This book remains my fave of all time. He was way ahead of his time. And unlike other enlightenment deist thinkers who used the high fallutin language of upper class enlightenment people, Paines language was more the language of the average lower class working peasants, he explained deism and science and reason and enlightenment thinking in a much more down to earth manner.
The other Paine books.
Common Sense and the Crisis were instrumental in the American revolution against tyrannical British monarchical rule and interference, George Washington would read them to the troops during the war for independence to inspire them to win the war. And inspire them it did.
Paine was not one of the founding fathers in the technical sense, but he did form friendships with some of them( most notably Jefferson) and while he did associate with them, he refused payment for all his books, and refused any high class privelages, he preferred to be one of the common people.
Rights of man inspired not just American revolution and principles but also French revolution(until it devolved into petty violence, Robespierres authoritarianism, and the execution of the kings and priests and aristocrats...whom Paine was against but he also opposed them being killed...referencing them to just be deposed from their rule and the worst if them to be exiled or jailed. Being a man of empathy). He also was against France's rushing head long into dogmatic atheism(As much as Paine opposed revealed religion...but also believed in freedom of religion, he also principally didn't like atheism either...though he also supported freedom from religion)
These books all inspired me in my becoming the man of reason, contrarian freethinking, and empathy that I am today.
Paine is my personal hero, I've read biographies on him as well, and not just his writings but also his character and principles/values arw my own
Of note also is his lesser writings , articles he wrote for a paper he worked for in America. Such as *agrarian justice* and his pieces defending women's right to get a vote and so on, his pieces on treating animals more humanely, his piece on making sure the native aboriginals be treated fairly in their native lands, his pieces on the importance of abolishing slavery(he actually was a cofounder of the first pro-abolition org in the U.S,), and most notably he coined the phrase *United States*.
A man after my own heart.

Flews *there is a God*. Flew was THE leading atheist philosopher and thinker of the 2nd half of the 20th century, until he embraced Deism in the early 2000s and wrote this book. Which is part biography and part explanation of why he embraced atheism for so long but the 2nd half of the book explains why he believed the evidence pointed to there being a Creator and why he embraced Deism(but still remained a rationalist).
The book is short and to the point, putting forty the scientific and logic for his newfound position. But also contains scathing criticisms and exposes on the hypocrisy and intellectual laziness of the so called *atheist* movement.
The book actually won the Christianity Today book award(I'm not sure why, He also still rejected revealed religion. I think C,T. were just happy to see a former dogmatic atheist embrace belief in a creator and to see him eviscerate the nu atheists, lol!)
I like to say to family, friends, and anyone ...and reccomend that if they wanna know why I am deist and reject revealed religion they should read Paines *age of reason* and if they wanna know why I'm deist and reject atheism and classical materialism they should read Flews *there is a God*. Sadly, Flew died a few years after this book came out.

Letters to a young contrarian- Christopher Hitchens.
One if my favorite intellectuals of all time. I disagreed with his dogmatic atheism. But he made mince meat out of elites every kind, left and right wing, politicians, monarchs, celebrities, religious fundamentalists and theocrats, authoritarians, totalitarians, political correctness whether from the left or right, hypocrites of every stripe, and was an authority on Orwellianism being that he wrote two books on the importance of Orwell.
This book in particular is one of the most important books ever written IMO. When I first read it I felt I'd come home. It spoke to me so strongly, given that it was an explanation on freethinking contrarianism and dissidence, it can be summed up very nicely in a quote from the book about how and why *its not what you think but HOW you think* that matters.
It pulls no punches in casting down authoritarianism, herd mentality, and praising the glory of individualist freethinking based in reason, empathy, and telling the truth no matter what, never bowing down to mobs or to authoritarians. A seminal work that everyone who is interested in how and why to think freely and be free as an individual is so important.

Gods Debris. A thought experiment- Scott Adam's.
Scott Adam's, if you dont know is a public intellectual of great mind, and the creator of the comic *Dilbert*.
This book is a very short one. It is a fictional conversation between two fictional characters, designed to make your brain spin around in your head, it explains EVERYTHING, every conceivable question to ponder or ask in a brilliant and succinct way. The trick of it is to learn how to think critically in a way so as to properly parse out sense from nonsense in the book and in life.
The gist of it puts forth a Pan-Deistic notion of God and the Universe. I am not sure that Adam's is a deist himself or not, I think he tends towards agnosticism, but being a PanDeist myself I find this book very inspiring and compelling.

The 3 Paul Davies books I listed.
Paul Davies is a professor and a physicist and cosmologist, whom has put out many books on science, technical stuff but he tries to phrase it all and put it forth in a way that average intellects can at least grasp the fundamental concepts and science he is explaining(much in the same that say Hawkings did), that sums up these books. Davies is a Deist himself and in these books and some of his lectures he approaches the science from an agnostic perspective on the universe, often trying to explain the science that suggests strongly that the fundamental basis of nature comes from conciousness being the foundation of physical realities matrix of matter and that the universe seems to have *known we(life and sentient beings) were coming from the onset* and that the universe seems to *be about something*(have a purpose and meaning and a direction its heading in over time, that is built into the very building blocks of matter and reality).
He is known to be a Deist in his personal view, I myself once emailed him and asked him if Deist was an accurate description of his views and he res5that yes it is.
He has won the Templeton prize( I think more than once).
These books arw very technically scientific and won't be easily understandable by those with at least upper average IQs and at least a foundational understanding of science and logic, but it's not neccaserily written for only those with high IQs or those who are scientists.
I find them and his views very compelling and inspirational as a Deist and one who is interested in the science of God,

The Synchronicity key- by David Wilcock.
David is a expert in several fields of knowledge, an intuitive who is at the same time rational.
He has written a number of books and given talks and been in a number of tv programs and interviews and documentaries.
This book, and most of David's other works deal in explaining(through his decades if in depth research and his own intuitive abilities) a great many things, from the existence and nature of God/the divine and the science of God, to the nature of the cosmos and its various plains and dimensions, to the existence and nature of E.Ts and their roles in interactions with humanity through the ages(he has also been a common person interviewed on the history channels *Ancient Aliens* show, and has been in a number of documentaries on the paranormal, ETs and disclosure and the nature if the deep state/cabal/NWO).
He also explains the existence and nature of the deep state NWO cabal in its various facets and the control they exert but also to how and why they will eventually(soon) be exposed and defeated. He is an expert in the nature of conciousness and how was can maximize it and why it is so important that we do and how this will be part and partial to the canals defeat(and to the self disclosure of the E.T.s).
This book covers all those topics(as do his other books and work), but the main purpose of it is to explain the nature and purpose of synchronicity and its connection to God/the divine mind and to our own individual and collective conciousness. The tagline of the book is *the hidden intelligence guiding the universe and you*.
It's somewhat lengthy but not that lengthy, it is a very insightful and enlightening compelling read and covers everything from science to the paranormal and everything between. A brilliant thinker and researcher.

Will continue this in another post as this one is getting too long....
CONT...

Contrarian Deist wrote:I'm new here, this is my first topic start, though I've posted to a few threads. I was reading the Now reading* thread and thought this forum needed a Favorite books thread. So thought I'd start one.
Mine are.
-*Age of reason*(tied with *rights of man*, *the crisis* and *common sense*) by my personal hero Thomas Paine.
-*There is a God, how the worlds most notorious atheist changed his mind* by philosopher/professor Antony Flew(with Roy Abraham Varghese)
-*Letters to a young Contrarian* by the great Christopher Hitchens
-*Gods debris. A thought experiment* by Scott Adams(creator of the comic *dilbert*)
-*Cosmic Jackpot(tied with *the mind of God* and *God and the new physics) by physicist Paul Davies
-*The synchronicity Key* by David Wilcock
-*1984* by George Orwell
-*Gems from the Equinox*(tied with *777 and other qaballiistic writings of...*)by Aleister Crowley
-*The holographic universe* by Michael Talbot
-*The war against boys* by Christina Hoff Sommers
And there are a bunch of others I could extend into a top 20 or 30, but this is a top 10 list.
Honorable mention- The Bible(since this is a Christian forum, and also because while I'm not a Christian, am exchristian, I still find it a fascinating book...or rather set of books, nonetheless)

George Orwells *1984*.
What can I say about this book and its prophetic importance, it should be on every human beings reading list, lol!
I assume most here arw at least somewhat familiar with it or have read it and understand its importance and its prophetic nature. But for those who haven't and don't.
It is a fictional story written in the 40s, about a dystopic future(circa 1984...onward , it was a few decades off...but close enough). It follows Winston Smith and his experiences in a mind controlled Totalitarian state and world, the part of the world(the west) that he lives in is controlled by the big brother one party state called INGSOC(stands for *english socialism*)...and its spy state, its mind control, its totalitarian nature is so complete and absolute that you hardly even have freedom of thought or privacy of thought for the few inches inside your head(there's a little, but not much). This book, aside from poplarizing the term Orwellian in our real world is also the basis for the terms you've likely heard before many times...*thoughtcrime*, *wrongthink*, *newspeak*, *doublethink*, *crimestop*, *oligarchical collectivism* and more.
Orwell was a socialist himself but an anti-authoritarian one(could be labelled libertarian socialist or left libertarian p) but he saw how socialism was being coopted and weaponized and was to be in the future devolve into totalitarianism (which is why as he grew older he moved more to the center and remained anti-authoritarian). He was right, because the current technocrat-corporatist-military-intelligence agencies-Hollywood-govt complex we have now, the spy state, the mind control tactics employed on a mass level, the political correctness newspeak and thought crime, the nature of our current world and the cabal behind it- globalist progressivism...is INGSOC. And we are now in and plunging deeper into what 1984 described.
Such an important and mind blowing book. If you haven't read it yet, highly recommend that you do...before they either ban it or make alterations to it to change its message and warning.

*The holographic universe* by Michael Talbot.
In short explores the nature of the universe, the divine, and reality, in much the same way as say Paul Davies books do combined with say those David Wilcock ones do.
But it's more express focus is on explaining how and why the universe and reality could well be a holographic projection of some higher reality.
Good book. I'm personally not completely sold on the holographic universe theory, though I do think there is a probability that is holographic akin but not neccesarily equal to a holograph. We shall see I guess, but still a very compelling read.

The war against boys by Christina Hoff Sommers.
Sommers is a *dissident feminist* intellectual whom is strongly opposed to modern *gender feminism* and its *patriarchy theory* and its tendency to misandry(anti male sexism) and hypocrisy and female supremacism, and its infantilizing of women.
She opposes strong gynocentrism (but being that she still uses the gender cult label *feminist* nonetheless means she is still at least weakly gynocentric,)..I disagree with feminism in itself for those reasons myself, but I still respect the character, integrity, and intellect of the dissident feminists like Sommers(or Camille Paglia).
This book(one if two of her books I own, the other being *who stole feminism?*) Sommers addresses modern gender feminism and its stranglehold on the establishment and popular culture and the education system...like a hegemonic monopoly. She addresses the growing misandry against men and specifically how BOYS arw treated particularly in the education system(and in other ways).
I am an MRA(Mens Rights activist/advocate) myself, part of that movement, and it was this book, ironically, which started me down this path and introduced me to mens and boys issues and to the poisonous and totalitarian nature of 3rd wave *gender feminism* and *marxist feminism*(Sommers is herself a classical liberal or libertarian).
A important book IMO, that is very revelatory .

Next is the Crowley book(s). But I will cover it in another post, a last post, ad this one is getting lengthy, and Crowley and his book(s) gonna require some space p(I'll try to make it as concise as I possibly can though).
Stay tuned for that one....

Aleister Crowley- Gems from the Equinox(instructions by A.Crowley for his own magickal order)...selected by Israel Regardie.

Full disclosure . I am a former practicing occultist. I am 42 and was raised Christian, and by age 16 or 17 I became a hardcore born again evangelical, charismatic Pentecostal devotee(it was also around the same time that I burned my entire *secular* metal collection and paraphernalia at a youth group bonfire at the advise of a youth pastor, lol! And spent the next allmost decade as a diehard Christian metalhead listening allmost soley to Christian extreme metal)...until 2004 when I left the religion and revealed religions behind and embraced Deism(classical mono-deism) until early-mid 2007 when I embraced agnostic-atheism rejecting mono-deism influenced by something atheist thinker Sam Harris wrote in his book *the end of faith*, but only for about 5 months till I read some Paul Davies and that Antony Flew book, did more research and reembraced deism but not classical mono-deism but rather PanDeism/PanenDeism(and I remain such to this day).
But during those years I also embraced symbolic bur mystical forms of Gnostic Luciferianism, Dark Doctrines Sat-Tanism, left hand path philosophies, and the occult in general. That's where Crowley comes in.
Crowley, despite popular myth was not a satanist or even a luciferian, he wasn't even a left hand pather. He created his religion Thelema...a right hand path occult religion and joined a few secret societies and wrote a crapload of books...which exposed occult knowledge to the mainstream world(which got him in some hot water with some secret society people and occultists, as they didn't want the greater secrets and occult knowledge let out to the *profane* outside world, but Crowley believed in being a promethean type in bringing the light of Olympus or the gods to the common people so thet could become enlightened and elevated).

Crowley also wasn't the *most wicked man in the world* as we accused of being, most the accusations against him were either flat out false lies...or exaggerated, misrepresented half truths at best, which he played up to some of them as a kind of contrarian troll who found it amusing to *scare the rubes*.
His character was such that he was not the evil monster he was accused of being , but he was no saint either, the truth about him...is somewhere in the middle. He had his faults to be sure, but he wasnt a monster either.
That said...

While I was a luciferian I found Crowleys works and read up on his life too, and studied Thelema(along with most of the occukr5, be it left hand path or right hand path or center middle pillar, along with studying alot of other things). My luciferianism was symbolic and mostly about equating the myth of Lucifer with the myth of Prometheus.
I understood Crowley/Thelema was RHP not LHP...which was fine to me because I quickly learned truth and enlightenment and insight and wisdom arw to be found(along with falsehoods) in every religion and path and philosophy..be it RHP or LHP, traditional religions(including the abrahamic ones) and ancient religions and modern as well as in enlightenment rationalism.
I was about understanding the nature and will of the divine mind/God and the nature and purpose of the cosmos and all therein(including life, conciousness, sentient beings, matter, macro and micro) is in the wise and proper balancing out of and more importantly the unification of opposites.

Hence why Crowleys works appealed to me so. Hence why they still do. And while I no longer affiliate to any LHP religions or practice occultism, or affiliate to Crowleys Thelema either. I am still very intellectually fascinated by it as a insightful way to understand the nature and purpose of nature and the nature and will of God/divine mind being the devoted, reverent Pan-Deist that am.

Gems from the equinox contains a bunch of Crowleys books and writings condensed into one massive volume(much like the Bible for example and its various scroll).
It contains the teachings of Thelema but also....so much more occult and intellectual knowledge of various kinds...mixed into a cohesive whole.
Its aim is to synthesize the knowledge of the ancients and of all religions with enlightenment reason and with science , or as Crowlet put it - *the aim of religion and the method of science*.
It, along with the other Crowley book I mentioned(also a collection of more than one writing, 3 or 4 in one)...*777 and other Qaballahistic writings of Aleister Crowley*(which includes Gematria, 777, and Sepher Sepheroth)...this one is to mathematically complex for my mind 8n many parts as math has never been my strong suit. But it has other elements more easy for me to grasp.
Whereas Gems deals more in the philosophical and mytho-poetic and scientific concepts realm which is easier for me to grasp, as well as deeply explains Thelema and its core tenet *do what though wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law- love under will. Every man and every woman is a star* which VOLUMES have w been written explaining the meaning of these phrases and principles(to make it short...it has nothing to do with what many people assume...ys know..do whatever ya want/feel like dooing consequences be damned, quite the opposite actually. But it has to do with every individual being a unique event in space/time on their own orbit and that each...8n agape and all encompassing love should figure our their own unique predetermined nature and destiny...*will* and do/be it absolutely....and this *will* must by necessity be connected with the greater will...of the collective conciousness at the same time...and thus with God/the divine).
There's more to it but this is getting lengthy(sorry for that)
Suffice to say these books and this philosophy had helped me, as a Pan-Deist/PanenDeist to come to a better, fuller, more detailed understanding of what God is, what Gods nature and will is and what the ultimate nature and purpose of the universe...existence...and all therein...including us all as individual's and as collectives...and A collective are.

But I left practical occultism several years ago, apostasized from it and specifically from satanism and luciferianism and LHPism(and Thelema too).
What I will say is this, all these paths, philosophies, religions, and non religions as well, including christianity btw, I have no regret about any of them, I learned from all, and to this day can find points of agreement and points of disagreement with all.
I harbor no more resentment against any(in themselves, certain strains of each...yeah) nor followers of any(certain subtypes, depending on their overarching attitudes and actions...in some contexts...I do, but in general...I don't)
There is wisdom and insight and enlightenment to be gained from all.
As a Deist(PanDeisr/PanenDeist) I embrace all universally while at the same time rejecting and disagreeing with certain elements or aspects or certain types of people in each and all.
The one thing they have ALL helped me to realize as a fundamental part of my being...is my absolute reverence for God/divine mind and its creation/emanation....the Universe.
And my love of knowledge and understanding and of above all....Reason(Tom Paine especially taught me this in his actions and what he wrote, summed up in this quote from his age of reason book *there is no greater weapon against errors of any kind than reason , I never used any other and I trust I never shall*)

Lastly
The Bible.
Though I no longer am Christian or a revealed religionist, and though I disagree with many if the fundamental dogmas of these religions(their theologies, and some of their moral views, though in agree with some of those moral views, I agree with their fundamental assertion that the Universe is intelligently designed and had a Divine mind/creator/God behind its existence and nature, and find much of Yeshuas personal character and example to be of a ascended master nature...though some of the things he did or examples I do find slight disagreements with). I still appreciate the bible for its aeons of accumulated wisdom teachings, its hidden esoteric occult aspects, and some of its prophetic aspects(which by no means is that a thing that only the judeo-Christian bible has soley/alone). It is fundamentally a important book because of these things, it is also a fascinating set of books, myths, people and events, ...thus because of this...it still has some relevance, and it is still a interesting book(or set of books)

Thar concludes my reasons why these books are on my top ten list. What they are roughly about, and why I love em.

Thanks for bearing with me.