• Books That Changed the World - Amazon.com


• 50 Books that Changed the World - Amazon.co.uk

This is a list of 50 books that have changed the world.

Alex Ferguson - Achieved more trophies than any other manager. Taking Manchester United to numerous Premiership titles, European Cup victories and becoming the biggest club in the world. When he took over Manchester United were experiencing a lull in winning trophies, being eclipsed by their near neighbours - Liverpool F.C. Alex Ferguson also achieved success with Aberdeen. A rare occassion when another team have beaten the Old Firm Rivals Celtic and Rangers

Brian Clough - Achieved great success with two very modest sides. Derby County and Nottingham Forest. Took both teams into top flight of English football. With Nottingham Forest won 2 League Championships and 2 European Championships.

As Cloughie said of himself:

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one." Looking back at his success.

Sir Matt Busby - Manager for Manchester United during 1960s

Sir Alf Ramsey - World Cup Winner in 1966

"If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there." On the importance of passing to feet. "

"Beckham? His wife can't sing and his barber can't cut hair."

"Don't send me flowers when I'm dead. If you like me, send them while I'm alive."

"I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud."

"I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed. I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me."

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one." Looking back at his success.

"Manchester United in Brazil? I hope they all get bloody diarrhea." On Man Utd opting-out of the FA Cup to play in the World Club Championship.

"I can't even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball - he might grab mine." On the influx of foreign players.

"I bet their dressing room will smell of garlic rather than liniment over the next few months." On the number of French players at Arsenal.

"Who the hell wants fourteen pairs of shoes when you go on holiday? I haven't had fourteen pairs in my life." On the contents of Posh Spice's missing luggage.

"Rome wasn't built in a day. But I wasn't on that particular job." On getting things done.

"On occasions I have been big headed. I think most people are when they get in the limelight. I call myself Big Head just to remind myself not to be." Old Big 'Ead explains his nickname.

"At last England have appointed a manager who speaks English better than the players." On the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as England manager.

"If he'd been English or Swedish, he'd have walked the England job." On Martin O'Neill.

"Anybody who can do anything in Leicester but make a jumper has got to be a genius." A tribute to Martin O'Neill.

"The ugliest player I ever signed was Kenny Burns." A Clough complement for a talented player.

"Stand up straight, get your shoulders back and get your hair cut." Advice for John McGovern at Hartlepool.

"Take your hands out of your pockets." More advice, this time for a young Trevor Francis as he receives an award from the Master Manager.

"The Derby players have seen more of his balls than the one they're meant to be playing with." On the streaker who appeared during Derby's game against Manchester United.

"I only ever hit Roy the once. He got up so I couldn't have hit him very hard." On dealing with Roy Keane.

"Walk on water? I know most people out there will be saying that instead of walking on it, I should have taken more of it with my drinks. They are absolutely right." Reflecting on his drink problem.

"I'm dealing with my drinking problem and I have a reputation for getting things done." A comment which speaks for itself.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes." Reflecting on England's exit from Euro 2000.

"We talk about it for twenty minutes and then we decide I was right." On dealing with a player who disagrees.

"I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed - I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me," On how he would like to be remembered.

"It was a crooked match and he was a crooked referee. That was a tournament we could and should have won." On the 1984 UEFA Cup semi-final Forest lost to Anderlecht.

"I'm sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I'd want to run the show. They were shrewd, because that's exactly what I would have done." On not getting the England manager's job.

"You don't want roast beef and Yorkshire every night and twice on Sunday." On too much football on television.

"If a chairman sacks the manager he initially appointed, he should go as well." On too many managers getting the boot.

"I thought it was my next door neighbour, because I think she felt that if I got something like that, I'd have to move." Guessing who nominated him for a knighthood.

"For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn't got two of what I've got. And I don't mean balls!" Referring to Sir Alex Ferguson's failure to win two successive European Cups.

"I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud." On women's football.

''That Seaman is a handsome young man but he spends too much time looking in his mirror, rather than at the ball. You can't keep goal with hair like that." On England goalkeeper David Seaman.

"I've missed him. He used to make me laugh. He was the best diffuser of a situation I have ever known. I hope he's alright." On the late Peter Taylor.

"He's learned more about football management than he ever imagined. Some people think you can take football boots off and put a suit on. You can't do that." On David Platt's first season as Forest manager.

"He should guide Posh in the direction of a singing coach because she's nowhere near as good at her job as her husband." Advice for David Beckham.

"Barbara's supervising the move. She's having more extensions built than Heathrow Airport." On moving house in Derbyshire."

- Brian Clough

• The Damned United by David Peace

• Damned United DVD

• 20 Years with Brian Clough

The Damned United

In 1974, Brian Clough accepted a decision to become manager of Leeds United. His acerbic cocky style created immediate conflict with the players and executives at Leeds United. His spell at Leeds lasted only 44 days before the players united to get rid of the boss they loathed. In damned united, David Peace weaves a compelling tale of egos and clashes of personalities. Based on the complex character of Brian Clough, it provides great room for fascinating dialogue and the interaction of one of England's most successful yet difficult coaches.

It has received widespread praise. Alastair Campbell said. "It is not every day I read a book which I then want to recommend to everyone.. The novel brings to life a huge, dark and fascinating character.

A film has been made of his short episode at Leeds - the damned United based on a book by David Peace.


Damned United

• The Damned United by David Peace

• Damned United DVD

• 20 Years with Brian Clough

Some of my favourite Yorkshiremen include:

Captain James Cook - Dogged determination and Yorkshire grit helped him become the most famous explorer of the eighteenth century.

Geoffrey Boycott - Typical Yorkshireman. Strong willed character who says what he thinks; his determination at the crease was legendary one of England's best test batsmen

William Wilberforce. Influential campaigner against the slave trade. Helped to see the slave trade abolished in the UK through his persistent efforts.

David Hockney. One of the most popular and influential modern artists. Helped develop a new genre of 'popart'

Fred Trueman - Another great Yorkshire cricketer. Fiery temper and awesome fast bowler.

Amy Johnson - Interprid Flying ace. Set many landmark aerplane flights in the 1930s

For examples of other Great Yorkshiremen and women see:

• Great Yorkshire People

Magdalen College Oxford. Photo taken by Tejvan Pettinger February 2009

More Oxford Photos

Radcliffe Camera Photos

Photos from South Parks

Photos of oXford Colleges

View from Jesus College Oxford

The Dreaming Spires of Oxford

1. Bill Gates: No 1 (last year: 3) $40bn, down $18bn
2. Warren Buffett, $37bn
3. Carlos Slim Helu and family $35bn
4. Larry Ellison $22.5bn
5. Ingvar Kamprad and family $22bn
6. Karl Albrecht $21.5bn
7. Mukesh Ambani $19.5bn
8. Lakshmi Mittal $19.3bn
9. Theo Albrecht $18.8bn
10. Amancio Ortega $18.3bn

Who would you choose as the greatest classical composer of all time? The first two who spring to mind are Mozart and Beethoven. I would give the choice to Mozart because of his sheer range of musical output, from the light hearted sonata to the mystical Choral works. Choosing between the great composers seems almost foolish - how can we separate and judge such colossal figures?

My Top 10 Classical composers

1. # Mozart.
2. # Beethoven.
3. # Schubert.
4. # J.S. Bach.
5. # F. Chopin.
6. # Pyotor Tchaikovsky.
7. # Rachmaninov.
8. F. Liszt
9. # Joseph Haydn.
10. # Antonio Lucio Vivaldi

Other choices for the top 10 could include:

George Frideric Handel, Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn.

Swans make light work of the wintery climate.


Battersea Park Pagoda in snow

Photos by Pavitrata

"We cannot understand what happens in the universe. What is glorious in it is united with what is full of horror. What is full of meaning is united to what is senseless. The spirit of the universe is at once creative and destructive — it creates while it destroys and destroys while it creates, and therefore it remains to us a riddle. And we must inevitably resign ourselves to this."

"When in the spring the withered gray of the pastures gives place to green, this is due to the millions of young shoots which sprout up freshly from the old roots. In like manner the revival of thought which is essential for our time can only come through a transformation of the opinions and ideals of the many brought about by individual and universal reflection about the meaning of life and of the world."

" It is the fate of 'little faiths' of truth that they, true followers of Peter, whether they be Roman or the Protestant observance, cry out and sink in the sea of ideas, where the followers of Paul, believing in the Spirit, walk secure and undismayed."

"Christianity has had to give up one piece after another of what it still imagined it possessed in the way of explanations of the universe. In this development it grows more and more into an expression of what constitutes its real nature. In a remarkable process of spiritualization it advances further and further from naive naiveté into the region of profound naiveté. The greater the number of explanations that slip from its hands, the more is the first of the Beatitudes, which may indeed be regarded as prophetic word concerning Christianity, fulfilled: "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

"When Christianity becomes conscious of its innermost nature, it realizes that it is godliness rising our of inward constraint. The highest knowledge is to know that we are surrounded by mystery. Neither knowledge nor hope for the future can be the pivot of our life or determine its direction. It is intended to be solely determined by our allowing ourselves to be gripped by the ethical God, who reveals Himself in us, and by our yielding our will to His."

"Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly if they even roll a few more upon it. A strength which becomes clearer and stronger through its experience of such obstacles is the only strength that can conquer them. Resistance is only a waste of strength.

"Not one of us knows what effect his life produces, and what he gives to others; that is hidden from us and must remain so, though we are often allowed to see some little fraction of it, so that we may not lose courage.

"The deeper we look into nature, the more we recognize that it is full of life, and the more profoundly we know that all life is a secret and that we are united with all life that is in nature. Man can no longer live for himself alone. We realize that all life is valuable, and that we are united to all this life. From this knowledge comes our spiritual relationship to the universe.

"Never for a moment do we lay aside our mistrust of the ideals established by society, and of the convictions which are kept by it in circulation. We always know that society is full of folly and will deceive us in the matter of humanity. ... humanity meaning consideration for the existence and the happiness of individual human beings"

"The great fault of all ethics hitherto has been that they believed themselves to have to deal only with the relations of man to man. In reality, however, the question is what is his attitude to the world and all life that comes within his reach."

Albert Schweitzer Biography

I am my own woman.

"I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Peron and my people."

"I demanded more rights for women because I know what women had to put up with."

"I had watched for many years and seen how a few rich families held much of Argentina's wealth and power in their hands. So Peron and the government brought in an eight hour working day , sickness pay and fair wages to give poor workers a fair go ."

"I have one thing that counts, and that is my heart; it burns in my soul, it aches in my flesh, and it ignites my nerves: that is my love for the people and Peron."

» I know that, like every woman of the people, I have more strength than I appear to have.

» Suffer little children and come unto me.

"The nation's government has just handed me the bill that grants us our civil rights. I am receiving it before you, certain that I am accepting this on behalf of all Argentinean women, and I can feel my hands tremble with joy as they grasp the laurel proclaiming victory."

" There are some oligarchs that make me want to bite them just as one crunches into a carrot or a radish."

"Time is my greatest enemy."

Eva Peron Biography

Jesse Owens was one of the great Olympians, famously winning four gold medals in the 1936 German Olympics.

"To me, we must learn to spell the word RESPECT. We must respect the rights and properties of our fellowman. And then learn to play the game of life, as well as the game of athletics, according to the rules of society. If you can take that and put it into practice in the community in which you live, then, to me you have won the greatest championship."

- Jesse Owens

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."

- Jesse Owens

"After I came home from the 1936 Olympics with my four medals, it became increasingly apparent that everyone was going to slap me on the back, want to shake my hand or have me up to their suite. But no one was going to offer me a job."

- Jesse Owens

"The black fist is a meaningless symbol. When you open it, you have nothing but fingers — weak, empty fingers. The only time the black fist has significance is when there's money inside. There's where the power lies."

• Said to Tommie Smith and John Carlos who had given the black power salute while receiving their Olympic medals.

Jesse Owens biography

"The hero of my tale, whom I love with all the power of my soul, whom I have tried to portray in all his beauty, who has been, is, and will be beautiful, is Truth."

- Leo Tolstoy

"A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral. "

- Leo Tolstoy

"The vocation of every man and woman is to serve other people. "

- Leo Tolstoy

"If you want to be happy, be. "

- Leo Tolstoy

"Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly. It is the one thing we are interested in here."

- Leo Tolstoy from War and Peace

"Love hinders death. Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone. Love is God, and to die means that I, a particle of love, shall return to the general and eternal source."

- Leo Tolstoy

"The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by contributing to the establishment of the kingdom of God, which can only be done by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man."

- Leo Tolstoy

- Biography Leo Tolstoy

Some of the most famous Women poets:

Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

- Emily Dickinson

• Poems of Emily Dickinson

In vain you try

To smother my song:

A million children

In chorus sing it

Beneath the sun!

- Gabriel Mistral

Lone in the light of that magical grove,
I felt the stars of the spirits of Love
Gather and gleam round my delicate youth,
And I heard the song of the spirits of Truth;
To quench my longing I bent me low
By the streams of the spirits of Peace that flow
In that magical wood in the land of sleep.

- Sarojini Naidu

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

- Maya Angelou

• Female Poets at Poetseers

I watched a rosebud very long

Brought on by dew and sun and shower,

Waiting to see the perfect flower:

Then, when I thought it should be strong,

It opened at the matin hour

And fell at evensong.

- Christina Rossetti

• Women Who Changed the world
• Famous people of the Twentieth Century
  

View: List of Famous People of the Twentieth Century

Princess Diana is probably the most famous women of the twentieth Century. It is a very subjective issue of who is the most famous (or even infamous). But, it has certainly been a century of celebrities and fame. In previous centuries, fame was generally restricted to royalty, great generals, religious / spiritual figures and perhaps the odd writer or scientist.

The twentieth century has seen the rise of sport, music, science, literature and business. Not only that but it is the twentieth century that has seen people born in previous centuries become famous.

Poets and artists like Emily Dickinson, William Blake and Vincent Van Gogh were generally not well known during their lives. The twentieth century has seen these obscure figures from the past become famous - helped by the age of media, mass communication and fascination with celebrity.

View: List of Famous People of the Twentieth Century

• 1oo People who changed the world