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Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

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Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#161

Post by claudiawerner »

wazoox wrote: post #109
ChrisSD wrote: post #47

Since many other people have mentioned ancient essays I like, I'll go for something more "modern". Some of Bertrand Russell's earlier works are well worth a read even though they're obviously dated. * The Problems of Philosophy (1912) gives a short introduction to philosophy that he at the time considered "positive and constructive". https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5827/5827-h/5827-h.htm * Mysticism and Logic and Oth…

His History of Western Philosophy is really great, too.

That book has a large number of criticisms for its (in the opinions of the views it criticizes) misguided polemics; if it's worth reading, it's also worth reading its criticisms.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#162

Post by soldeace »

gjango wrote: post #94

I've seen Meditations being mentioned a lot on this thread but for me, 'letters from a stoic' (or 'moral letters to lucillius' ) by Seneca has been more approachable than Meditations.

'Letters from a Stoic' is indeed a masterpiece, and I've found that the Penguin Book's translation is fantastic. It made me feel like I was reading my own grandpa's letters with warm-hearted instructions on how to be a good person when I become a grown-up.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#163

Post by scoobyyabbadoo »

rramadass wrote: post #91
DoctorOetker wrote: post #54

Maxwell's book on electromagnetism, it shows his hindsight perspective on interpreting the phenomena. One can look at the papers and works he wrote that led up to it, but they are full of detours and unbalanced attention with small dead ends. When he writes his book he tries to convince the audience of his time in one comprehensive work. What I love especially, is that he is very careful and systematic about his conc…

Which book is this? I believe reading the original masters who came up with the discoveries is the way to understanding. It is said that when the Great Mathematician Gauss was asked as to how he made his discoveries, replied; "By studying the Masters and not their Students". There is something about the process of trial and error, testing various hypothesis', going down dead ends and then doubling back and finally li…

>Which book is this? I believe reading the original masters who came up with the discoveries is the way to understanding.

I agree. There is a great book series: Great Books of the Western World, that accumulates all the fundental texts written by subject area founders. They are green bound tomes. There is also a homeschooling curriculum built on using them, I am jealous of anyone who received such a great education growing up.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#165

Post by brlewis »

It's been a long time since I was acquainted with Uncle Tom's Cabin. I remember clearly how the opening presented an idyllic scene that could have been written by a proponent of slavery, but things went quickly downhill precisely because the slaves were not free. I was struck by how this was a judo-like persuasion technique. I don't remember the rest of the book well, but my curiosity is piqued by controversy surrounding the book that I found trying to verify a quote. I wish I had time to pick it up again. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jala/2629860.0030.104/--lincoln...

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#168

Post by vo2maxer »

I’m intrigued by the scarce mention of Spanish authors and their work, particularly those from the Spanish Golden Age. Other than Cervantes, I didn’t find any other coeval authors: Francisco Gómez de Quevedo, Luis de Góngora, Calderón de la Barca, Lope de Vega, and many others.

What are the reasons for this oversight? Is their work too archaic for modern taste? Are translations too poor to convey some of the originals’ virtuosity? Lack of exposure? I’m truly curious as to why this phenomenon happens, and HN is not the only forum where I’ve observed it.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#169

Post by test1235 »

henrikeh wrote: post #112
ComputerGuru wrote: post #90

The Count of Monte Cristo , hands down. Published 1844 by Alexandre Dumas, one of the greatest writers to have ever lived. I’m an avid reader and I always laughed at the idea of having a “favorite” book.. until I found mine. I loved the book so much, I resolved to learn French (et je l’ai fait!) just so I could someday read it in the original French.

This is going to sound weird, but... I remember your comment from four years ago (!) [0] and it really stuck with me. However, I could never find the thread, so when I saw this thread, I simply had to check if you wrote a comment again; and here we are! I recently began reading it and is really enjoying it. Thanks for the recommendation! [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12245036

Ha ... not as weird as you might think, 'cos I also thought the same, unless there're a few others on this site dedicated enough to learn French to read this book ...

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#170

Post by vo2maxer »

I’m intrigued by the scarce mention of Spanish authors, particularly those from the Golden Age. Other than Cervantes, I haven’t seen any of his coevals listed: Lope de Vega, Francisco Gómez de Quevedo, Luis de Góngora, Calderón de la Barca and many others.

What are the reasons for this phenomenon, which is not unique to HN? Are the the works too archaic for modern taste? Are the translations just not good enough to convey the virtuosity of the originals? Lack of exposure? I’m truly curious to hear from this audience of why this phenomenon.

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