I'm sure many of us sigh with delight when we hear an open call like our "top ten most influential books." We are readers here as well as writers. And not only do we like to read, we like others to tell us what they are reading and why.

And so without further ado, my top 10 most influential books:

1.  The Realms of Gold by Margaret Drabble. English writer Margaret Drabble is an excellent novelist and her sister is the famous novelist and critic A.S. Byatt.This book has never left my consciousness since I read it. The main character is a woman who is divorced, has a lover, is raising 3 children, is an archeologist and lives in England. This book is about her life and is just as timely today as when it was written. An enjoyable, enjoyable read I highly recommend. And go on to read the rest of her works, in order, just for fun!

2.  Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I just discovered Atkinson in 2009 when another bibliophile introduced her to me. I read her novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum a lovingly told account of a dysfunctional middle-class English family which I thoroughly enjoyed and am now making my way through all of her books. She is currently influencing me by her writing and her subject matter: both excellent, creative and stimulating. Hmmm, my top 2 authors are both English and write of the English life. What deep meaning does that hold?

3. Dave Ramsey's book: The Total Money Makeover. I credit my current husband and Dave Ramsey for getting me out of debt and keeping me debt free. Ramseys best advice which I followed religiously was this: pay off all debts from smallest to largest. He explains how it psychologically helps you to pay off the smaller debt and then take that cash you've been paying out and apply it to the next highest debt. It works and you feel virtuous and like you're making headway while you do it. His system is simple: work hard, pay what you owe and stay out of debt. He was the original man who cut up your credit cards. God bless you Mr. Ramsey.

4. The Bible. I was raised Catholic. I attended the Lutheran church. I converted to Judaism. I studied zen meditation for 6 years. I came back to Christianity. Throughout it all, the Bible remains a bedrock of advice, philosophy and operating instructions.

5. The 4 volumes by Carlos Castenada: Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge. Separate Reality. Journey to Ixtlan. Tales of Power. I read and re-read these books throughout the eighties and maybe once in the nineties. I plan on reading them again. These books are mind-expanding and challenge your day to day belief system.

6. Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott. I have read and re-read this book many times both for the writing style, the laugh out loud humor and the truth of parenting for the first time. This is an excellent gift to give to any first time mother. Her sons first year of life is played out against her best friends illness. If you want to read about Lamotts version of life consisting of babies, God, quirky friends and family and writing - it's all here.

7.  Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I will never forget this book. I will probably re-read it every few years to keep it fresh in my mind. For the first time Ali articulates beautifully and brilliantly why Western acceptance and tolerance of Islamic oppression of women is wrong and globally detrimental to every person on earth. It is both her autobiography and her reason for living. She points out that we in the west want to treat Islamic treatment of women as a lifestyle choice instead of the oppression it is. And she begs us to stop it as it is aiding and abetting the killing of thousands of women and it is indeed just looking the other way. She escaped from a life identical to millions of other muslim women treated as slaves in their families just because they had the bad luck to be born into a muslim family. And she has become an internationally renowned spokeswoman for the rights of Muslim women. The attacks on 911 opened her eyes up even more as she found most of Osama bin Ladens statements against the United States were direct quotations from the Quran. She accuses fanatical Islam with creating a culture that generates more backwardness with every generation. This is a book you don't want to pass up.

8. All of Caroline Myss' work. Sacred Contracts comes to mind foremost. She brings us on a souls journey  that requires we become fluent in the language of symbols and archetypes so that we can interpret our own lives as we go along. She teaches us to recognize our own personal 12 archetypes that lead our lives. She is an intuitive healer and teacher and bestselling author. While each of us is controlled in different ways by four "survival" archetypes: Child, Victim, Prostitute and Saboteur, we get to choose the rest that we see influencing our lives on a daily basis. I use what I learn from her all the time in my life and it makes me a better person. Talk about influence!

9. Expecting Adam by Martha Beck. This is an autobiographical tale of a Harvard couple who conceive a baby with Down's syndrome and decide to carry him to term. Martha and her husband John experience all kinds of miracles and paranormal experiences all throughout the pregnancy, challenging their academic and methodical lives. Beck is a wonderful writer and I couldn't put this book down. This book gave me goosebumps and hope, a wonderful combination and also the knowledge that you are never punished for having faith.

10. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Oh, I have re-read this book and it never gets old. It's like opening up an old friend and settling down for what you know will be a magical experience. Bradley tells the tale of the rise and fall of Camelot from a feminine perspective and it's just delicious. We are witness to the political and religious conflict between the "new" Christianity and the old ways of goddess worship. If you love all stories King Arthur and the round table, don't pass this book up.