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Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?

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Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?

#34

Post by ArtWomb »

Video / Art - The First Fifty Years, by MoMA curator Barbara London.

“Today when I walk along the urban sidewalk, I see pedestrians who are no longer confined to their physical bodies. They circulate among virtual communities, slipping in and out of their online lives using the latest software on their portable devices”

Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?

#35

Post by e15ctr0n »

chillacy wrote: post #12

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel was published just a few months ago. 20 short stories about money, how to think about saving vs investing, risk and leverage, time in the market vs absolute returns.

Agree. The psychology of money (https://www.amzn.com/0857197681) is a take on personal finance through the lens of history and human behavior, quite different from the usual in this genre.

I found the postscript absolutely fascinating: 'A brief history of why the U.S. consumer thinks the way they do'. http://reader.epubee.com/books/mobile/ac/acc521dcbf15f206f9b...

Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?

#36

Post by squadm-nkey »

JHonaker wrote: post #28

I'm about halfway through both of these, but I think they're both great. Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (Book 4 in the Stormlight Archives series) Love him, or hate him, BS is prolific. He somehow maintains a superhuman level of efficiency in writing. This is the 4th of a planned 10 book epic fantasy series. I can't possibly summarize the 3.5 books I've read in the series so far, since each is approximately 1200…

Hate brando sando? O.o

I also read Dune this year and loved it and gave up on Dune Messiah. Will power through if things get better.

I really enjoyed Asimov's Foundation Series and Le Guin's Hainish books (specifically Dispossessed and Left Hand of Darkness) this year, check them out of if you haven't yet.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?

#37

Post by frombody »

JHonaker wrote: post #25
frombody wrote: post #23

Non Fiction: The War on Normal People - Andrew Yang Fiction: Name of the wind - Patrick Rothfuss

Wise Man's Fear is also excellent. The Slow Regard of Silent Things was... interesting. I wouldn't say it was bad, but I definitely think it's a love it or hate it kind of book/novella. I liked it, but your enjoyment of it isn't necessarily a reflection of your enjoyment of the rest of the series. Welcome to the long wait for Doors of Stone.

I wasn't sure if I would continue the series or not based on some of the reviews, but now I think I will give the second book a shot.

Thanks for your comment. :)

Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?

#39

Post by cafard »

Hard to say.

Fiction: Anna Karenina. Recent fiction: The Index of Self-Destructive Acts by Christopher Beha.

Philosophy: From a Logical Point of View by W.V.O. Quine, a collection of concise essays. Or Naming and Necessity by Saul Kripke. Or Being and Logos by John Sallis.

For some reason, I didn't get around to reading new (to me) history this year. This may be because I'm used to stopping by bookstores after work and taking pot luck there. That ended mid-March.

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