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Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?

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Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?

#212

Post by playing_colours »

credit_guy wrote: post #207

If you like SciFi, and you didn’t read The Martian yet, then now’s a good time. In my opinion this is by far the best SciFi book of all time. Hard SciFi, in the style of Arthur C Clarke, but packed with 10 times the “sci” of the Odyssey or Rama. If you already read this, go for Andy Weir’s second novel, Artemis. Not the level of The Martian, but still better than 99.9975% of all the SciFi books out there.

On the topic of Mars, may I suggest The Martian Chronicles by R.Bradbury. It's on the other end of the spectrum from hard SciFi - more like lyrical and poetic SciFi.

Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?

#213

Post by MattLeBlanc001 »

Tokiin wrote: post #185

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou The ride to the top and then rock bottom for Theranos is a wild one, and the author does a great job of not letting you put this book down once you start.

One of the best books I've read this year. Highly recommended, read like a well written hollywood movie.

Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?

#214

Post by tootie »

hannob wrote: post #67
jor-el wrote: post #34

Thinking, fast and slow - by Daniel Kahneman It is a great book and talks about two systems in which we can divide the working of our brain. Kahneman also talks exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behavior. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-a...

Others already wrote that lots of the studies this book is based on have been called into question, here's a summary: https://replicationindex.com/2017/02/02/reconstruction-of-a-... Please note also that Kahneman himself left a comment there stating: "I accept the basic conclusions of this blog."

Kahneman, like any scientist, can only really present our best thinking at the time of writing. It's not like anything he wrote about was conjecture or pseudoscience. There are studies to back everything he wrote about. In most cases, there was and still is ample evidence. Some are now considered questionable after contrary evidence was found. None have really been "disproven" but are much less certain. And I don't think he presented any of it with an air of mathematically certainty. Still a great book.

Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?

#215

Post by shuaib »

tmaly wrote: post #174

I really enjoyed Never Split the Difference. The stories are good, and I still use the practical tips on negotiation and conversation all the time.

+1

I am glad this is mentioned here, as I was about to. One of the most useful book I have read. Lots of practical advice.

Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?

#217

Post by nikk1 »

Improvotter wrote: post #161

Why everyone is recommending even more work for on your summer leave is beyond me. I'd personally recommend Ready Player One, perhaps use an audiobook (I love them). I personally listened to the one voiced by Wil Wheaton and it was fantastically done. Definitely recommended! It is a lot better than the movie in case you're wondering.

You have every right to enjoy this book. But for anyone who has read Ready Player One and absolutely hated it as much as I did, there is a hilarious podcast called 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back (from the guys of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Rifftrax) that mocks the book chapter-by-chapter.
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