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Ask HN: What book changed your life?

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Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?

#171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was very skeptical about this book, and even while reading along I'd get the feeling of "uh, this is way out there wacko", but I decided to just take it at it's word and follow along. And now I am able to briefly enter a state of complete acceptance and feel pure love flowing through me, like the perfect hug from a perfect being that understands me in every way. The first time I actually teared up a bit, the feelin…

It's the God-focus that immediately turned me off to Eckhart. I've had plenty of people recommend him, and own a copy of the power of now, but I can't get past the feeling that there's a hidden agenda. I'm all about being present and experiencing the world through different lenses - I like new ideas and I'm open to thinking differently, but that higher power thing just puts every synapse I have on high alert.

Yeah, I know something is happening in my brain's state, but it's no proof of anything else "out there". But I can completely understand those people now, and how they can take this feeling and believe there really is something else there.

Though it's infinitely more likely it's all still inside my fleshy brain. :)

Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?

#174
post #86

Atomic habits. Last year I had just came back from 3 days in Hospital for extremely high blood pressure. I took up walking as a daily workout and listened to Atomic Habits audiobook. It provided me enough motivation to continue and build a new habit which has not become a part of my daily routine. I am healthier and in a much better space mentally as well.

I’ve not read Atomic habits, but keep hearing it recommended. If it is appropriate for me to ask, how do you distinguish the motivation derived from the book and that from 3 days in hospital with extremely high blood pressure? I live with a fear of hypertension because of genetics. My diet and exercise (what I can control) is at front of mind and so far so good, but my high level of motivation is driven by knowing where the disease road can lead. Not intending to diminish the book but just curious about how you balance the contribution of those two in your mind.

Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?

#176

Maybe a bit more niche, but these two have been real eye openers. The Book of Why - Judea Pearl. A very down to earth book about causality and related concepts. How Emotions are Made - Lisa Feldman Barrett. Emotions make a lot more sense after reading her book.

Book of Why was a solid recent catalyst for me. Along with Cunningham's Causal Infefence: the Mixtape

Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?

#178
A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L'Engle

I probably read it in fourth or fifth grade, not too many years after it was published. It was definitely the first science fiction novel I ever read. It wasn't until many years later that I saw how foundational to my worldview it was that my first SF book had a female protagonist.

I was going to give a few other examples of truly life-changing works (LOTR, Dune, Neuromancer), but I'm not sure how I would have found them if A Wrinkle In Time hadn't opened by pre-adolescent eyes.

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