Ask HN: What books are you reading

#1

Post by yread » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 9:11 AM UTC

What non-programming non-technical books are you folks reading? I'm looking for something interesting to read and I would appreciate your suggestions.

To make it fair I'll start: I just finished reading the Omon Ra that pavlov linked to in http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2590980 and Dubliners by James Joyce and I'm currently laughing my way through Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee in the court of King Arthur. I would very much recommend it - its language is surprisingly modern (people are twittering and lolling and you can hear an occasional jabber) an even the satire is modern (poking fun at the patent office!). Besides the Yankee is an engineer so you can sympathize with him.

Re: Ask HN: What books are you reading

#2

Post by hooande » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 9:24 AM UTC

"The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World" http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Menlo-Park-Thomas-Invented/dp/1.... Highly recommend

Re: Ask HN: What books are you reading

#3

Post by latch » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 9:30 AM UTC

Just started Light by M. John Harrison

The Takeshi Kovacs novels, by Richard Morgan, are next on my list.

Re: Ask HN: What books are you reading

#4

Post by krmmalik » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 9:54 AM UTC

I'm currently reading Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin. It talks about how, just like the industrial revolution did away with the local blacksmith, the new marketing revolution is going to do away with the need to interrupt people through Tv/Radio/Advertising etc.

He also says that as the way to market a business has and is changing, this also means the way companies organise themselves and run has to fundamentally change too. Its a very interesting read.

The second book i am reading is called "Too nice for your own good" by Duke Robinson. It's for people who are either passive/aggressive or not very assertive. I have yet to make a judgment on this one, but it seems ok so far.

Apologies if you were looking for some interesting reading in terms of fiction. I havent read fiction in years.

Re: Ask HN: What books are you reading

#5

Post by limmeau » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 10:14 AM UTC

I'm somewhere in Un Lun Dun by China Mieville right now. I cannot recommend his imaginative writing enough. (Un Lun Dun is a children's book in the same way the Potters are children's books).

Re: Ask HN: What books are you reading

#6

Post by Sodaware » Fri, Jun 03, 2011, 10:29 AM UTC

Currently reading The Power of Full Engagement (after hearing about it on HN). It's not bad, and has already encouraged me to look at my eating & working habits.