Will books ever really change someone's mind?

Books have changed my thoughts (or at least have directed them) my entire life. I don’t mean political or “preachy” novels, per say, instead I mean average fiction novels that present ideas in a different way. For instance, My Sister’s Keeper literally changed my feelings about the idea of genetic engineering because the book made me actually think about the consequences of it (whether they be good or bad). The whole importance of novels is that they make people think in a new way. I don’t think I’d be half the person I am today if I hadn’t read so much as a child.

I think it could happen though it has never happened for me.
Otherwise the TV has changed my mind on what I thought of Air Planes, Now I am always scared when taking off and landing. Since I saw how the Boeing Air France Plane collapsed I am always scared when flying..I am so scared of death!

The Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser books certainly changed my mind about eating and food-related issues.

In order to write a book to change peoples minds you must be manipulative.

It depends on whether the person’s opinion is formed from information or beliefs. If the former, then reading an informative book could provide them with more information and thus change their mind.

When I was in high school years ago (I’m now retired) I read Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead which gave me a new perspective from what my friends and teachers espoused – but then I was young and my philosophies were not well formed.

Now a book with facts can change how I look at problems – I read Colliers “The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It” which really changed my way of thinking about world poverty.

The Origin of Species – I rest my case.

Books provide data. Data combined with thought can change minds. The flaws on the path to mind-changing might be “bad data,” or “not enough thought,” or for some people, “the data conflicts with my preconceived notions of how the world is or should be.” In these cases, it may fail to change the mind.

I’ve read lots of books that informed me. Some of them have changed my mind.

The beauty of the written word is that it can be used in so many ways – and most of them are subliminal.

For example, Watership Down is at its barest a fictional bedtime story about a bunch of bunny-rabbits looking for a new home. However, it’s been a controversial book for nearly forty years because of its anti-religious overtones, political themes, and subjugation of women (i.e., the warren make it all the way to their new home, only to realise they have no females for breeding. The last two-thirds of the book is their quest to find new mating stock.).

Anything you read is going to have some sort of message, whether the author intended it or not.

Nearly every book I have read has added to/changed my mind.

Ok, but what about books on political subjects such as immigration, abortion, and civil rights? Could someone write a non-fiction book that would totally change your stance on the issue? I’m sure tons of books could sway you a little bit one way or another, and definitely add to your knowledge, but would someone who was pro-life ever read a book and go “well, now I’m pro-choice”?

@papayalily

I think so.

One of the major reasons my former church was so against my reading books about other religions was that my weak, wanton female mind might be swayed against my steadfast beliefs.

What do you know. Turns out they were right about something.

Now, do I think Rush Limbaugh will read “Anarcho-Socialism for Dummies” and start voting liberal? Probably not. However, people change their views all the time based on what they’re exposed to.

I also think that people who hold opposing viewpoints should read books from “the other side”, because there is little point in holding a steadfast belief without researching the alternatives. It’s really easy to say you support a complete illegality of abortion under any circumstance (for example) if you’ve never heard of foetuses developing without a brain. Most people with any kind of heart would say “Of course I wouldn’t force a woman to carry a lifeless blob of flesh for nine months, and go through a natural labor and delivery, when there is a safe and regulated medical procedure that could help save some of the heartache she and her partner would be doomed to.”

Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The Jungle.

Animal Farm and 1984.

Sometimes fiction can do what preaching can’t.

Sure, they can and do, but the likes of Rush Limbaugh are beyond redemption and freakish in their lack of perspective, Sean Hannity is likewise a complete lunatic but what i have to say about these guys is, as ignorant as they are, they are sincere and we sometimes, in our urge to beat them to death with an original hardback copy of Das Kapital, forget that they utterly believe they are fighting the good fight. They are their masters pit bulls, and their masters are in truth, probably, completely indifferent to ultra conservatism as an ideology except in so far as this particular ideology is conducive to capitalism. Of course, if neoconservative views became bad for business, Sean Hannity and his ilk would be sacked on the spot, end of story.

Yes, certain books do have this capability.

Well it’s a pretty subjective matter, depends a lot on the reader’s character. Generally, I believe books mostly alter people’s opinion, they update it, upgrade it and make them full. If a person starts to read a book with an open mind, it can certainly change his opinion.