Ask HN: Best books read in 2022? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#21

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 1:54 AM UTC

daVe23hu wrote: post #10

guzik wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for sharing your recommendation, but I'm afraid that this book contains misinformation and promotes conspiracy theories that are not supported by evidence. I would kindly ask that you refrain from posting recommendations for this book in the future, as it is not in line with the standards and guidelines of HN.

Sorry for the posting and thank you for the reply. I would recommend you read this book as RFK Jr references many of the facts in this book. More and more evidence is being revealed to directly support RFK's assertions. Please send me a few of the "conspiracy theories that are not supported"? Have a pleasant day.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#22

Post by hardwaregeek » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 1:54 AM UTC

I really loved Exhalation by Ted Chiang. Too often sci-fi feels cold, and detached with characters that feel akin to chess pieces moved in complicated schemes. His stories, even if they are sketches instead of paintings, exhibit a far more heartfelt, human ethos. The characters are real people with wants and unfulfilled wishes. The subjects are both technology but also mortality, fate, raising children, loss. It's sci-fi, but also just good short story writing.

Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory: Stories by Raphael Bob-Waksberg is another good set of short stories, more absurd and about love, but equally fun. If you liked the funny-sad combo of Bojack Horseman (which Bob-Waksberg created), you'll probably like this.

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#23

Post by mynameishere » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 1:55 AM UTC

guzik wrote: post #8

daVe23hu wrote: post #3

Quoted post unavailable.

Thank you for sharing your recommendation, but I'm afraid that this book contains misinformation and promotes conspiracy theories that are not supported by evidence. I would kindly ask that you refrain from posting recommendations for this book in the future, as it is not in line with the standards and guidelines of HN.

And I'll thank you for not running in the hall.

Where the hell do people get off?

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#24

Post by __skk__ » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 1:56 AM UTC

Best is subjective, but...

- Travel, Alan de Botton: This got me thinking more than anything else that I read this year - The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester: I read a lot of scifi and fantasy, but this was the standout for the surprising (and in retrospect, obvious) twist. The other interesting aspect was that this was written in the 50s, and you can see how their idea of 'the future' is rooted in the tech of the time

Of more interest to this crowd is probably - Math Girls and Math Girls Talk About Trigonometry, Hiroshi Yuki: Brilliant!

And finally, - Lords of the Deccan, Anirudh Kanisetti: More relevant to people from the Indian Subcontinent, I suppose.

My (still to be updated) list of books I read this year: https://shrirang.karandikar.org/reading-in-2022/

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#25

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 2:00 AM UTC

briga wrote: post #18

mymythisisthis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

> Guns, Germs and Steel is basically a modern eugenicist theory, racist and dumb. Um, run that by me again? It’s been a while since I read it but doesn’t the book specifically argue that the Europeans conquered the Americas because of geographic factors rather than because of race? Do I have the main thrust of the book completely backwards?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#26

Post by Brajeshwar » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 2:00 AM UTC

As parents we wanted to be one of the better ones. A while back, we started with Bringing up Bébé, and since then learnt How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk; we were even Prepared while Reviving Ophelia. This year, we realized, we want to just settle on being A Good Enough Parent.

1. https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Up-Bébé-Discovers-Parenting/...

2. https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Kids-Will-Listen/dp/14516638...

3. https://www.amazon.com/Prepared-What-Kids-Need-Fulfilled/dp/...

4. https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Ophelia-Saving-Selves-Adoles...

5. https://brajeshwar.com/2022/books/

6. https://goodenoughparenting.com/

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#27

Post by chubot » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 2:00 AM UTC

briga wrote: post #18

mymythisisthis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

> Guns, Germs and Steel is basically a modern eugenicist theory, racist and dumb. Um, run that by me again? It’s been a while since I read it but doesn’t the book specifically argue that the Europeans conquered the Americas because of geographic factors rather than because of race? Do I have the main thrust of the book completely backwards?

You're correct and the grandparent is wrong. I'm seeing a lot weird hate for this book by people who haven't read it. I'm guessing there is someone with a ideological bone to pick that spread a mind virus about the book.

Like any book of its scope, there are obviously things that can be criticized ... but at least read it, and state those objections clearly.

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#28

Post by daVe23hu » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 2:04 AM UTC

"the History of Strength of Materials" By Stephen Timoshenko Dr. Timoshenko, the father of thin shell theory in the field of solids of mechanics outlines accomplishments in this field as related to the conquest of land and wars.

Another along similar lines of technology and war "The Arms of Krupp" William Manchester

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#29

Post by unmole » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 2:06 AM UTC

briga wrote: post #18

mymythisisthis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

> Guns, Germs and Steel is basically a modern eugenicist theory, racist and dumb. Um, run that by me again? It’s been a while since I read it but doesn’t the book specifically argue that the Europeans conquered the Americas because of geographic factors rather than because of race? Do I have the main thrust of the book completely backwards?

The book is not racist. But the presented evidence is cherry picked and there's plenty of misrepresentation.

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#30

Post by skytrue » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 2:08 AM UTC

4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. It goes against a lot of societally enforced norms we’re coming up against, and suggests the benefits of living a more aware, intentional life and the benefits of commitment and community. Awesome, awesome book I constantly recommend to people.