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Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

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Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#191

Post by taeric »

perseusprime11 wrote: post #138
taeric wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you read him? More, are you even trying to represent his position? I don't think you have to fully understand or agree with him. In large, I don't. Your paragraph, though, is a gross deliberate misunderstanding of his view. :(

I actually read the book. Not sure what you mean by deliberate. I am being very clear. Instead of trying to bridge the gap or modernizing religion and continue to spread the myth in some shape or form, can’t you not use religious references to state your arguments?

You represent him as taking religion over family. This seems counter. And a false divide. Rather, he seemed to push to use religion to strengthen self. Strengthen self to strengthen family. Strengthen family to strengthen society.

Again, I don't necessarily agree. In large, I think he is familiar with a different nihilism than I am. I grant, however, that he probably knows the topics better than I. I certainly plan to dive deeper on it. In large because I disagree.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#195

Post by always_good »

tryonqc wrote: post #126

Book: Vagabonding: an uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel. Why ? Opened a world of possibilities to me. Changed my mindset on a lot of topics. His books don't offer many answers, but helped me put my goals / life into perspective. excerpt: “There is still an overwhelming social compulsion — an insanity of consensus, if you will — to get rich from life rather than live richly, to “do well” in the world…

Vagabonding and Tim's book planted the seed that is responsible for my immigration to Mexico.

I'm not yet successful on the front of making money off my own projects, but I was successful in pulling the trigger and finding my own adventure in life instead of feeling like I was slaving away.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#196

Post by iamben »

trentmb wrote: post #163
gajjanag wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fiction is in general severely underrated among STEM people today, with many arguing for how it is a waste of time, etc. I was fortunate enough to grow up in an environment where I had good access to it, and a healthy level of support for my interest. THe thing I find funny about this is that many of the "STEM legends" such as von Neumann, Ulam, Einstein and others had read a lot of classical literature. Einstein him…

I wish I had the discipline to read more. Even when I finally get myself to sit down with a book I always find myself zoning out.

Yeah, I feel you. Used to read a huge amount. Found myself zoning out and reaching for my phone to check (ironically) HN, or my email. Solved by turning my phone off and leaving it in another room. Checking it becomes more effort than not checking it - habit quickly broken.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#197

Post by nathas »

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford.

I've often questioned if spending 8+ hours a day writing software was the right thing for me to do, when I get so much more gratification from physically manipulating something. It was a welcomed read.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#198

Post by sshine »

nathas wrote: post #197

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford. I've often questioned if spending 8+ hours a day writing software was the right thing for me to do, when I get so much more gratification from physically manipulating something. It was a welcomed read.

So did it make you work less than 8+ hours a day?

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#200

Post by WhompingWindows »

emodendroket wrote: post #176
WhompingWindows wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did it change your worldview? I tried to start it and couldn't get into it, despite knowing it's important to 40% of the world and is referenced in other sources very commonly.

Well, I went from being curious to read it for the reasons you mentioned to being a practicing Christian. I just ended up finding it a compelling sort of moral system to think about the universe, I suppose. It took getting to the New Testament before I thought of it as anything more than a curiosity, though. There are definitely parts that are a slog, especially in the Old Testament, and just picking it up and readin…

You're a practicing Christian, I don't know many, can you indulge my curiosity? Do you believe in the literal truth of the bible, creationism, the big bang? I am a scientist and I doubt I'd ever be convinced to follow a religion whose followers believe in some stories and myths that are essentially anti-scientific. I don't mean to be harsh or barbed, I'm just saying I'd view the book as a mythological artifact from 2000 years ago, and not set of morals for viewing the world, especially when that set of morals includes stoning adulterers or not wearing a diverse set of fabrics in my clothes. Maybe it's possible to pick and choose things like be kind to others, golden rule, don't focus on possessions and wealth, focus on making good. But how is that exclusive to the Christian faith? To me, I find those moral goods very easy to employ with absolutely no faith in the less credible activities going on in the bible.

I hope this a not mean response, I just view the Bible as an inherently different document than most Christians, I think, and I want to establish dialogue outside of my little bubble.

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