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Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why

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Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why

#23

Post by joe6pack »

brown9-2 wrote: post #22

"Shogun" by James Clavell. Really great historical fiction about 16th century Japan. Quickest 1100 pages I've ever read.

I finished this recently and could not agree more. I've just started the 1980's miniseries via Netflix (no streaming, unfortunately) - I'm only two hours in, but so far it is a great retelling.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why

#25

Post by alexdong »

bradly wrote: post #14

Into Thin Air. http://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/038... Amazing story, super inspirational, and lots of great history. My wife and I both loved this book and could not set it down.

I second this book too although I read several years ago. AND it's relevant in our startup life in a surprising way.

I often found myself make much better decision when I'm a bit detached, which is one of 'the' lessons people learned from that accident. So now in our startup, my business partner does all the client/customer/user communication works and I had the precious opportunity to sit back and observe.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why

#26

Post by portman »

"Where Good Ideas Come From" by Steven Johnson

I'm fairly stubborn, so it takes a lot for me to change my ways. This book has changed my daily work routine. Johnson outlines 7 environments that have historically produced the most innovative ideas. It's easy to apply the lessons to your typical working day. Best book I've read in probably 5 years.

4-minute Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU

TED Talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0af00UcTO-c

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594487715

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why

#28

Post by tptacek »

bradly wrote: post #14

Into Thin Air. http://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/038... Amazing story, super inspirational, and lots of great history. My wife and I both loved this book and could not set it down.

Krakauer can get really, really shrill --- I mean, really shrill --- but he hasn't written a book I've found that I didn't enjoy at least a little.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why

#29

Post by jemfinch »

tptacek wrote: post #28
bradly wrote: post #14

Into Thin Air. http://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/038... Amazing story, super inspirational, and lots of great history. My wife and I both loved this book and could not set it down.

Krakauer can get really, really shrill --- I mean, really shrill --- but he hasn't written a book I've found that I didn't enjoy at least a little.

What does "shrill" mean in the context of writing?
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