Some (hopefully obvious) caveats before we begin.

1. By definition, everyone sharing examples here has not deeply engaged with the source material, so they're likely to have misconceptions from cultural osmosis.
2. If you have read the source, feel free to share whether the common knowledge is accurate, a common misconception, or the first time you've seen it interpreted that way.
3. If it was a video game, classical music, or other non-book that influenced you, those are also welcome.

Some answers from asking a similar question elsewhere

• Marx
• The Bible
• F.A. Hayek
• Aristotle
• Milton Friedman
• Socrates
• Plato

I'll post my answer as a comment to give it equal weight to the others.