Knuth's "The Art of Computer Programming" - linked lists, state machines. Carlos Castenada's Don Juan series (yes, I know it was fiction) - "one has no choice but to believe. What matters is what you believe". John C. Lilly's "Center of the Cyclone". These three, all around early-mid 70's, ended up moving me from the UK to Los Angeles. Strangely, each adds a different understanding to the others. Together, I guess it just makes me a bit strange. But it works.
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