A
great book on the subject of
mind over matter and spirituality, written by
Richard Bach in
1977. The
full title is
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah.
The general premise of the book centers on Donald Shimoda, who was born as a "new" Messiah. After a while of curing people, he quits. Just decides he doesn't want to be a Messiah anymore. So he takes up a career of barnstorming. He meets the narrator along the way and teaches the narrator all about being a Messiah. There is even a Messiah's Handbook.
As for what Bach really "says" in the book, the general idea is that the world, and the things around you, are what you make it. You can do what you need to do, and live how you want, as long as you choose to believe you can.
Very uplifting, although sometimes bordering on cheesy, this book can -- and should -- have some impact on the way you view the world.
Bach also wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a masterpiece in its own right.