For me it is the book Anthem by Ayn Rand.
During my Junior year in High School, I discovered stacks of books in my English teacher's closet. Papers backs most of which seemed well worn. I ask my teacher what were the books and if they would be part of our curriculum sometime in that school year. He told no they would not be read by the class they were a fiction authored decades before. I found it odd he had several stacks of a book he would not use and ask why. He said he did used to use them for his junior class but could no longer. Me being inquisitive, I persisted with another question even though the bell for the last class had sounded and the day was over. Could no longer? "Yes no longer." At this point I ask to take one home for reading. He pointed and nodded. I grabbed the book on the top and hurried out the door, waving the book as my good bye.
An impact is not a suitable word for my experience that evening at home. Profound fits the bill precisely. I started reading the book on my walk home which totaled about 25 minutes. Small town, I was not far away like others at the opposite end of the borough for taking a bus. The Autumn leaves were mostly turned and many had fallen on to the sidewalks from the previous nights chill.
It was at this point a pivotal moment began unknown to me. A book with no cover and notes throughout the pages as I leafed through them quickly. Understanding dawned on me that this was the teacher's book. Did he know? What were the chances for me to have chosen his book? Or... did he place it there intentionally? Hard to say to be honest. I found it a weird book where people didn't have usual names for any language I could recognize. Names like Equality 7-2521, I found eerily strange and became distracted at this proposition. I stuck the book in my jacket pocket and finished my walk home.
Later after dinner, I couldn't get the name in the book out of my mind and resumed reading. To move along quickly. I stayed up late through the night and finished the book. Fell asleep with the book at my side whilst I slept. Early the next morning, I sat for breakfast and this reality (Anthem) invaded my mind and stayed with me all through the morning. The idea of a place where individuality was non existent. A world where no one had an opportunity to express creativity and indeed punished for doing, so struck me in a way words can't define. The notion the word "I" is not part of the vocabulary seemed to me to be heretical. Last period, I entered my English class and there sat my teacher rather disinterested in the shuffle ensuing by students to find their places. I had taken my seat and as often looked at my desk top when the class started and our teacher began the days lesson. Five minutes, ten minutes passed I don't know it could have been an epoch in time, this is when I stood and waited for the teachers attention. His look discernible, understood by others in the class began to look about and finally found his gaze. There I was standing with a moment of hesitation and lack of surety, held up the book and shouted I! Knowing no classmate understood, I sat down and in that moment my teacher showed a slight grin. Ever so slight no one else may have noticed it. The class and the day ended, I placed the book in now open closet back where I had found it. He ask if I enjoyed the book as he looked upon the papers on his desk oh so seemingly uninterested in any answer. I responded very much so. I exited out the door with my newly discovered profundity.
Days passed. More days passed and this book would not leave my mind. It began slowly like the incoming tide until you understand the rising water will drown you if you do not retreat to safe ground. It was there looking at the surface of my world from below, I went to my guidance counselor and inquired about the book Anthem. He looked at me and changed his expression several times then finally said "are you trying to be smart or intelligent?" I replied "Both". He explained in some adult speak about how the book was no longer taught because of School funding. He ask me if there was anything else. I was taking up his time, if not, I was to exit claiming he was a busy man.
Days,months,years pass, I had forgotten about this book but never the experience. I look at today and see the world of Anthem become ever more present ever more invasive.
The most relevant and important letter in the English alphabet is the letter "I".
https://genius.com/Rush-2112-lyrics
[IV. Presentation]
I know it's most unusual
To come before you so
But I've found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you