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Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

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Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#151

Post by davewasthere »

The most: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. Think I've bought almost a dozen copies over the years. Although that book wasn't really a gift, more a loan I never got back.

Others:

Lord of the Rings - I gave this to the guard who detained me in Russia. I thought it was the best revenge.

The life changing magic of tidying - to my partner. We're both messy. I've read it, she hasn't... neither of us have changed.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami to the friend who lent me Wind up Bird Chronicle all those years ago and started me on the path.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#152

Post by amiramir »

SwellJoe wrote: post #137
omaranto wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With Strunk & White I think you should ignore their advice which is often confused or nonsensical and just imitate their prose which is delightful. This review explains it better than I could: http://chronicle.com/article/50-Years-of-Stupid-Grammar/2549...

Is there a more correct book that is similarly concise and similarly well-written? I would love to read it, if so. Edit: I found this blog post that lists some alternatives http://thewritingresource.net/2011/09/22/forget-everything-s... About half of the titles are punny or plays on words, which I'm somewhat suspicious of (even though I like puns). And, all are at least twice the size of Strunk and White. I understan…

I'm not sure if this is "correct" but "Eats, shoots & leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation"[1] is a fun read on an adjacent topic. It too gets berated by some but I enjoyed it and learned a thing or two.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuat...

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#153

Post by passivepinetree »

feiss wrote: post #41

"A short history of nearly everything" by Bill Bryson. The best science book I've ever read, recommended for anyone.

Bryson has a wonderful way of dealing with academic subjects that most would find boring and making them both interesting and approachable. I recommend this book as well.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#154

Post by jfoutz »

cyphar wrote: post #130
huehehue wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to be that guy, but could you elaborate further?

Exploitation of the public's fear, promises to make the country great again, rejection by their own party once they figured out that they might come to power. Those spring to mind as examples.

He really doesn't have the rhetorical flair. Hitler was a monster, but that poem about mothers was very pretty. Trump is charismatic, but not really at that level.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#157

Post by qwertyuiop924 »

joshschreuder wrote: post #131
qwertyuiop924 wrote: post #44

I 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 thought I recognised the name... turns out Cliff is the guy from the Numberphile videos who loves klein bottles. He is such an enjoyment to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k3mVnRlQLU

The TV adaptation of the novel, The KGB, The Computer, and Me, will be right up your alley then.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#158

Post by caretStick »

Homotopy Type Theory: Univalent Foundations of Mathematics

It's a book I wish everyone would read, particularly everyone in a public office and the media. It's a great book for friends with kids under 6 or so. If you find the tactics in this book reprehensible and vile, it's even more important that you read it so you are not taken in by them. People do these things because they work. Several scifi books have also been gifted to friends, mostly Asimov. Stopped smoking six years ago and haven't had the desire to start again since. It feels great.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#159

Post by entilzha »

davewasthere wrote: post #151

The most: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. Think I've bought almost a dozen copies over the years. Although that book wasn't really a gift, more a loan I never got back. Others: Lord of the Rings - I gave this to the guard who detained me in Russia. I thought it was the best revenge. The life changing magic of tidying - to my partner. We're both messy. I've read it, she hasn't... neither of us have changed. 1Q84 by…

Funnily enough, same here with Ender's Game (not as many copies though)
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