Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan: A good introduction into the history of psychedelics, the war on drugs, and the re-emergence of research into the potential medical benefits of psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT.

The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi: An introduction into Alderian psychology. The title refers to the "freedom" one feels when you accept that some people will dislike you and to concentrate on those who like you and not try to win over those who do not.

12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson: Life advise told through stories that mix science and common sense.

1. Creative Selection by Ken Kocienda - Great insight into how Apple teams develop products, and creating a “demo culture”

2. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou - Gripping prose and an altogether incredible storyline

3. It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and DHH - Some great lessons in here (interspersed with other not-so-great ones) for creating a “culture of calm” within organizations

4. When The Bubble Bursts by Hilliard Macbeth - Insightful look into the fragile structure of the Canadian real estate market (a bit hyperbolic at times, though)

Some good ones I read this year:

- _SPQR_, by Mary Beard. Engaging book surveying the history of ancient Rome, mostly Republic and early Empire if I recall correctly.

- _To Explain The World_, by Steven Weinberg. History of physics from the ancients to about the time of Newton. Don't skip the technical notes! Actually do the problems!

- I reread _Wolf Hall_, by Hilary Mantel, it was as good as I remember. This time through, I also spent some time on the Internet tracing the histories of the major characters before and after the events of the book, and it really enhanced my appreciation of it. (I also read, for the first time, its sequel, which was fine but not quite as good.)

= Finished =

* Homo Deus, Yuval Noah Harari

* Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt

* The Quants

* All About ADHD: A Family Resource for Helping Your Child Succeed With ADHD

* Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide To Getting It Done

* Why Does He Do That? Inside The Minds of Angry And Controlling Men

* Killing Pablo

* Blackhawk Down (re-read)

* Revelation Space. Banks. (re-read)

= Finished Chapters Required For A Course =

* Essential University Physics, Volume 1. Wolfson.

* Linear Algebra, A First Course. Kutler.

* A Concise Introduction to Linear Algebra. Schay.

* Biology I: Cells, Molecular Biology, and Genetics. Custom Text (York University, BIOL 1000).

* Chemistry, A Molecular Approach. Tro et. al.

= In Progress =

* 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari

* Time Reborn: From the Crisis In Physics to the Future of the Universe. Smolin.

* Freemium Mobile Games: Design & Monetization

> Harry Potter #1 (too low of a reading level)

The series is great and worth a read, even for your superior reading level.