131–140 of 231 posts
Everytime I read a very good fiction book (or series) like Asimov's Foundation, Simmons' Hyperion Cantos or (currently reading) Stephenson's Cryptonomicon I think 'hey, this one is going to be my favorite'.
spooky
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Pirsig Asterix in Britain - Goscinny, Uderzo
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one of the few books I've ever read where I practically celebrated when I finished because I didn't have to read it anymore. I read it (and forced myself to finish it) because so many people seem to absolutely love it, but I found myself having to force myself to pick it back up like a job. So, if I may ask someone who cites it as his/her favorite book: would you mind writ…
It's been many years since I read it, but I can still remember the terror of identifying with its hero and his struggle against insanity and alienation. His struggle to create a connection with his son, his deep sense of caring for him and yet not being able to fully reach him.
Pirsig's genius was to get us to identify with its hero Phaedrus, a deeply damaged human being fighting to make sense of his world. Phaedrus is rather clearly an INTP/INTJ personality type, which should only deepen the identification with him by HN readers.
His clear explanations of the scientific method in terms of motorcycle maintenance are a big plus as well, especially for me. I worked for several years repairing electronics and, being a philosophical type, was often struck by how similar the process was to scientific experimentation and theory formation. Great read.
My books:
The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand -- A sharp, bitter, and ultimately soaring defense of the individual against the conformity of the compact majority, without the didacticism and moralizing that marred Rand's later novel, Atlas Shrugged.
Ecce Homo, Nietzsche (Kaufmann translation). Nietzsche's last full work, completed days before his descent into insanity. Shatteringly beautiful prose that will rearrange your soul, from one of history's most original (and misunderstood) thinkers. One of history's great fighters against political and cultural correctness. This boy could write.
A Story About a Real Man by Boris Polevoi. A wartime russian novel about love and courage told in a simple and endearing style, based on a true story.
Surely, you're joking, Mr Feynman!
The Inmates Are Running the Asylum by Alan Cooper
The (Mis)behavior of Markets - Benoit Mandelbrot
The Stuff of Thought - Steven Pinker
The Logic of Scientific Discovery - Karl Popper
The Four Steps to Epiphany - Steven G. Blank
1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
And, sorry, but I have 3 "number 1 fav" books:
1. 1984 by George Orwell
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Dune probably had the greatest effect on me as a person.
GED was probably the most thought provoking.
Heart of Darkness influenced basically all 20th century literature.
Tolstoy may have been the most thorough.
Darkness at Noon may have been the best political critique ever.