Ask HN: Summer reading

Reality is Broken. Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, by Jane McGonigal (http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Is-Broken-Better-Change/dp/014...)

Depends on what you're interested in. Do you want something heavy and factual?

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Epic-History-Medicine-Commerce/d...

Do you want a first-hand account?

http://www.amazon.com/Surely-Feynman-Adventures-Curious-Char...

http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Naked-Mind-Field-Mullis/dp/067...

Any particular area of science that interests you?

Also, if you want something non-fictional and thrilling, look into accounts of epidemology.

http://www.amazon.com/Virus-Hunter-Thirty-Battling-Viruses/d...

Also, I read alot of medical thrillers which are fiction by the author Robin Cook. There are many true facts about science mixed in so you might want to consider that.

How much of it is "been there, done that" knowledge for your average HN reader?

I'm actually kind of bored of reading business and tech books. A couple that I've read lately that I've enjoyed are listed below. I'd love to read about what other people have been reading that's sort of "off the beaten path", but interesting to someone who is not an expert in the subject.

The New Geography of Jobs: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008035HQQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... - a lot of it won't be all that surprising to readers of this site, though. Basically he says that innovation industries are highly concentrated geographically. This is probably not new territory for those who read a lot of economics type of stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UG9JFQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... - a book about copy writing. Not great so far, but something I could stand to learn more about. Other recommendations in this vein would be welcome!

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W5MINK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... - in time for the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812. Very interesting, and lots of things I didn't know.

Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LW5JL2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... - same author as the above book.

Why must it be non-fiction? I'll stick to non-fiction since you asked, but I think its an odd limit to put in place in this discussion.

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In my opinion the essential book for anyone interested in science and technology would be How To Win Friends and Influence People. By far the most important book. By far. I really can't overstate the importance of learning to interact with other people in polite, persuasive and friendly ways.

In my four years at an engineering university (RPI) the amount of people I ran in to that couldn't relate to others in a meaningful way and carry a normal conversation blew my mind. It was surreal. And I don't know what percent of them were aware of this but I would guess it can't be too high.

The number one thing I wish I saw more of in engineers isn't an understanding of other sciences or deep domain knowledge. It's consideration. Plain, pure consideration for other people and how they might feel about things.

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The Selfish Gene would perhaps be a close second.

Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining Table and Beyond is also a good read for people in STEM fields.

The Emperor of All Maladies, a book about the history of cancer. Extremely fascinating read, and accessible regardless of your level of biology knowledge.