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Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
141–150 of 529 posts
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#142[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#143"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany" by William L. Shirer. It's a classic history book of our century which, despite its title, primarily focuses on Hitler's raise to power in the early 30s and the long, painful and ultimately futile international attempts at avoiding WW2 in the late 30s. It's a book I wish everyone would read, particularly everyone in a public office and the media. It's…
There's a new trilogy by Richard J. Evans about the same subject. I have them sitting on my bookshelf but have yet to read them.
Apparently Shirer's book has drawn some criticism because he was a journalist and not a historian whereas Evans is a historian.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#144Bradbury: Now and Forever: Somewhere a Band Is Playing & Leviathan '99 Gleick: The Information Michener: The Source Martin: A Song of Ice and Fire (all of them, digital)
Just read The Source. What an epic whirlwind of historical fiction. Good call.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#145No kids books have been listed, but I have found them all too often enlightening. Sometimes even more than an adult book.
I and my kids have enjoyed all of Graeme Base's books, but The Eleventh Hour is particularly good and have given it to many kids and adults: http://graemebase.com/book/the-eleventh-hour/
I am also thinking about giving Yertle the Turtle By Dr. Seuss out to anyone I meet before the election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yertle_the_Turtle_and_Other_St... I have given many Dr. Seuss books away as well.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#146I don't have any friends who haven't read it who would appreciate it, but Clifford Stoll's The Cuckoo's Egg is both a highly entertaining thriller, a fascinating look at how computer security was, and is, viewed, and a highly personal story about a man trying to figure it all out. It's very funny, entirely true, and taught me a lot. Oddly, a lot of people hated the various more personal aspects of the book, as you se…
I am just on the final few pages of The Cuckoo's Egg, and was planning on finishing it tonight. I too would say that it is a fantastically written page-turner, and it has taught me a lot about the old-school networking scene.
How do the other two books you mentioned compare?
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#147My favourite is "The New Way Things Work" by David Macaulay. Loved this book as a kid, it really got me into trying to figure out how the world worked (the title really nailed it).
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#148Fiction, because it is so funny:
* Good Omens, by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman [1]
I wish Pratchett and Gaiman had written more books together.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060853980?ref_=sr_1_1&pld...
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#149"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany" by William L. Shirer. It's a classic history book of our century which, despite its title, primarily focuses on Hitler's raise to power in the early 30s and the long, painful and ultimately futile international attempts at avoiding WW2 in the late 30s. It's a book I wish everyone would read, particularly everyone in a public office and the media. It's…
There's a new trilogy by Richard J. Evans about the same subject. I have them sitting on my bookshelf but have yet to read them. Apparently Shirer's book has drawn some criticism because he was a journalist and not a historian whereas Evans is a historian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_Reich_Trilogy
This is true, however I think its safe to say that most of his work was from primary sources, he kept extensive journals during the period and was also lucky enough to talk to several generals of OKW and get access to their journals. Not to mention that he also gained access to the Nuremberg trial records and German records (very well documented) after the war. Well worth the read.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#150East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It's about life. Has become 2 recipients' favorite book so far.