For me, there are four and here they are in order:

  • The Hero’s Journey and Transformations of Myth Through Time: Joseph Campbell changed everything about the way I thought and lived my life. I have read every book Joseph Campbell wrote and published (even posthumously). I own several first print editions of the books and have many audio recordings of his lectures and radio interviews. When someone asks me who my hero and role model is–this man’s name is the first one out of my mouth.
  • Carl Sagan’s Cosmos: Possibly one of the most important pieces of popular science from a man I consider to be the premier scientist of the latter half of the twentieth century. I was introduced to Carl Sagan by Mr. Duff, my Earth Science teacher in high school who had a huge blown up picture of him shaking hands with Carl Sagan above his office door in his classroom. Even twenty-seven years after its inital production, the science still holds up and it’s still accessible to people of all ages. I make a point to watch this series at least once a year.
  • The Ascent of Man: I picked up a few episodes of this series from the library about ten years ago and was so impressed that I began a five-year quest to find the book. One day, I finally found a first edition hard copy of the book in a used bookstore for like $10. I snatched it up like it was free money. Bronowski’s storytelling ability and his immense knowledge is so enlightening that you don’t realize you’re getting a PhD in history, science and sociology while you watch.

Of course, these documentaries are much more effective when you watch them afterinhaling precisely three hits of marijuana from a one foot glass water pipe with a ceramic base. Of course, that’s only supposition and in no way reflects the author’s personal experience. Ahem, cough…cough.

So, what’s the most important documentary you’ve ever seen?

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