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

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261–270 of 307 posts

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

#261
Darwin's Dangerous Idea, by Daniel Dennett, one of the two most important (IMHO, of course) books I've read (Thinking, Fast and Slow is the other, already recommended, below.

Dennett is a practical philosopher of science; the book is a detailed analysis and extension of the idea of "designer-free design", evolution by incremental random change. Among other things, he thoroughly presents the implications of Darwinian evolution, discusses the concept of "design space" and how some evolutions preclude whole swaths of that space, then speculates carefully on how the idea could pertain to other fields, e.g., the evolution of physical law (assuming that each "big bang" resulted in a universe with slightly different physics.

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

#262
"What is Real" by Adam Becker. He presents the sociology of why the Copenhagen interpretation persisted for so long, despite strong opposition early on and refutations of Von Neumann's work on why it had to be true.

Once into the modern world, he provides an overview of current interpretations and their experimental support.

Becker's book is, I think, the best lay person's explanation of the problems QM was invented to solve, the Copenhagen Interpretation itself, and several of the more modern interpretations.

Great, mind bending read.

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

#263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Three Body Problem (all 3 books) - Liu Cixin These are great and helped me re-discover my love of sci-fi from when I was a kid, they are often recommended in these HN book threads. I just ordered the other 3 books that you mentioned so thanks for the recommendations!

TBP is probably the worst sci-fi book I've ever read. It's hard to say how much one should blame Cixin vs. the translator regarding the inept, wooden dialogue, but we can certainly blame Cixin for terrible character development and absurd plot points.

Well, there's no accounting for taste I suppose - needless to say I disagree, but if it wasn't for you, so be it. I do note the books seem a little divisive; people either love them or hate them, much like Stephenson.

I do understand how some people might find the dialogue somewhat strange, especially if they haven't had much exposure to foreign media before. The translator always has a choice as to how much they "westernize" the dialogue. This translator did indeed try to keep as much of the Chinese "tone" in there as he could, and as such if you were expecting totally normal English, I can see how you'd be disappointed.

So yes, anyone thinking about picking this up should be aware - it doesn't read like a Tom Clancy novel. If that doesn't scare you off, though, I think you'll find it most rewarding.

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

#264

Inner Engineering by Sadhguru. For me it was an unexpectedly transformational when I read it 6 months ago. Unlike the stoicism books that teach you to condition yourself to be unaffected by external events, this is a method for taking charge of what goes on inside the body and (in my case) in the mind and emotions. As an aside, if you haven’t tried audiobooks, I would recommend trying. I find that after a while day o…

Not to take away anything from your experience. Obviously Sadhguru and his teachings worked for you. To me Sadhguru comes across as a person who made a good living for himself by telling others what they want to hear. As a person of science, I can't tolerate his 'scientific' theories which are downright wrong. This is person who said he can figure out if a food is spoiled by looking at the direction of rotation of a…

Your perspective is yours to chose.

I chose to see him as a great human being who inspires many people to do a lot of good for his country and the world. [1] Really, the state the world is in, the fact that he is really big on planting trees means I don’t care if he’s into Xenu - just keep planting those trees man! ;)

Jokes aside though, my perspective allowed me to benefit from his teaching and yours precludes you from doing so. Interesting, isn’t it?

As for “science”: the only thing I care about is what I know through direct experience. So I follow the simple rule of practicing something for 3 months without questioning and evaluating the results. If it works, I keep at it - so I’m keeping at it. I also recently took the opportunity to meet Sadhguru in person. This to me is better “science” than theoretical discussions.

[1] https://isha.sadhguru.org/sites/default/files/uploadpdf/OUT1...

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

#265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always found that book shallow. I only read it because of Elon Musk being mentioned

I found the name dropping (Elon Musk etc) rather tedious. The book wasn't as good as I expected it to be.

Yes and that's the only reason I picked up the book. Because back in the day I was obsessed (2017-2018) with him and the book literal advice is getting a job not like musk but a special skill that automation can't replace

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

#266
post #239

Inner Engineering by Sadhguru. For me it was an unexpectedly transformational when I read it 6 months ago. Unlike the stoicism books that teach you to condition yourself to be unaffected by external events, this is a method for taking charge of what goes on inside the body and (in my case) in the mind and emotions. As an aside, if you haven’t tried audiobooks, I would recommend trying. I find that after a while day o…

I’d also recommend searching for Sadhguru on YouTube and watching any of his answers that peak your interest. I can’t help but feel that he has tapped into some stream of wisdom we can only hope to catch a glimpse of.

His answers such as water retaining emotional memories? Trapping spirits in boxes after Tantric rituals like Ghostbusters?

No thanks, it's plainly nonsense.

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

#268
Kundalini — An Untold Story by Om Swami https://www.amazon.com/Kundalini-Untold-Story-Himalayan/dp/0...

If you fancy about metaphysical and mystical stuff, If you think there's more to a living being than blood and tissues, and if you want to keen on not just entertaining but possibly learn to experience the truth (if any)s behind the claims of superhuman faculties, then read this book.

>>> Kundalini is your polar opposite within you. When it awakens, you realize how immensely powerful you already are. You experience how there is a whole universe within you. It is your feminine energy if you are a man and your masculine energy if you are a woman. It is your passage, your path to eternal fulfillment within you.

>>> Awakening of the kundalini is realization of your pure abstract intelligence, the type that is not conditioned by your fears, emotions and worries. It is your pristine nature. When you are able to tap into this latent source of energy, you truly become the master of your universe. You can manifest whatever you wish in your life because your scale of consciousness is no longer limited to your body alone; it envelops the whole universe.

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

#269
post #13

My to-go favorite for relaxed summer evenings is "The Master and Margarita" by Bulgakov. It is a literature masterpiece that magically adjusts to my current inner state. It can be both easy reading when I'm tired and just want to unwind, and thought provoking when I'm ready to be thoughtful. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/117833.The_Master_and_Ma...

i actually just finished reading it last night. probably one of the best bits of fiction ive read.

Why?

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

#270
post #217

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.

Why did you finish the book? I just don't finish the books that I find a drag to read. I won't listen to the podcast, but everyone is free to have their own opinions.
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