Strunk and White. I put my email and phone number in the inside cover. Only for good friends. Have gotten contacts from people I haven't seen in 10 years.
Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
301–310 of 529 posts
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#302Earlier quoted context omitted.
One point I always think of whenever the comparison between current day politicians and Hitler arises; was it apparent to the people when Hitler was elected that this is a man that will start the onslaught of millions of people? When I assume the answer is no, the current political situation seems very scary.
By that logic, anyone might be the next Hitler; no politician can be trusted. The lessons of history are manifold indeed, but it has been my observation that when one reads a good book on any period of history one suddenly discovers its immense applicability to the present. WWII is very popular, therefore its histories are popular, therefore we find Hitlers in 2016. In 2020 there will be a new Hitler. In the past, ev…
I agree with you. It just seems to me that people look at events like the rise of the Nazis as diabolical plots from another world that we -as humans- got rid of, often dismissing obvious warning signs because "it is certainly not that bad".
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#303I found each of these invaluable at different points in my life. YMMV
Biz - the Personal MBA - Josh Kaufman - http://amzn.to/2aFsj3c
Org - the Fifth Discipline - Peter Senge - http://amzn.to/2aNpbQz
SciFi - Perdido Street Station - China Mieville - http://amzn.to/2aNoWFn
Parenting - The Continuum Concept - Jean Liedloff - http://amzn.to/2aZEAAL
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#304Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure if this is "correct" but "Eats, shoots & leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation"[1] is a fun read on an adjacent topic. It too gets berated by some but I enjoyed it and learned a thing or two. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuat...
I've read that, as well. Enjoyed it, but never think of it when I'm trying to name a great book for aspiring writers, and it really only covers an area (punctuation) that I don't find terribly challenging. I've been searching and reading reviews ever since reading omaranto's comment, and the market segment seems to be entirely cornered by Elements of Style . There's simply nothing in the same category, in terms of si…
You can check "Economist style guide"[1]
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#305Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure if this is "correct" but "Eats, shoots & leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation"[1] is a fun read on an adjacent topic. It too gets berated by some but I enjoyed it and learned a thing or two. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuat...
I've read that, as well. Enjoyed it, but never think of it when I'm trying to name a great book for aspiring writers, and it really only covers an area (punctuation) that I don't find terribly challenging. I've been searching and reading reviews ever since reading omaranto's comment, and the market segment seems to be entirely cornered by Elements of Style . There's simply nothing in the same category, in terms of si…
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Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#306I have in the past gifted multiple books written by Terry Pratchett,his Discworld series is an amazing example of social satire.The people who tend to love his stuff most are usually science oriented folks though since he tends to reference a lot of technology in an oblique fashion,including programming.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#307Earlier quoted context omitted.
What career field did you transition from?
I was a talent buyer for the live music industry - booking bands for a music venue. Involved being physically at the space a few times a week.
And here I am trying to transition going from tech into music (as a musician though - we'll see how it goes). Any words of wisdom from your side of the music bench?
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#308Earlier quoted context omitted.
Trump jumps to mind.
Sorry to be that guy, but could you elaborate further?
Consider the many parallels:
Hitler was a failed artist. So is Trump.
Hitler began his entry into politics in his 20s. So did Trump.
Hitler was born poor and stayed poor until his dictatorship. Same with Trump.
Hitler became, in large degree, radicalized by his distinguished involvement in a massive, failed war. Same with Trump.
Hitler explicitly detailed his ambitions for creating a continental empire in Eastern Europe, with plans to colonize much of Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. Same with Trump.
Hitler's Nazi party gained much of its early membership by siphoning off young communists due to similar promises of social revolution. Same with Trump.
Hitler rose to power during a time of foreign occupation (the French invasion of the Ruhr), hyperinflation, economic collapse, and perceived national humiliation from war reparations. Same with Trump.
Trump has Jewish grandchildren. Same with Hitler.
...
Sigh. Their only real parallel is that they appeal to the working class rather than the upper bourgeois and our fetted elite who work in the media. Maybe that's all it takes. Maybe war and Holocaust II are right around the corner.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#309Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#310Earlier quoted context omitted.
He really doesn't have the rhetorical flair. Hitler was a monster, but that poem about mothers was very pretty. Trump is charismatic, but not really at that level.
One point I always think of whenever the comparison between current day politicians and Hitler arises; was it apparent to the people when Hitler was elected that this is a man that will start the onslaught of millions of people? When I assume the answer is no, the current political situation seems very scary.
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