Non Violent Communication
I found it as a recommendation on HN sometime ago and I would recommend it to software people especially as we can be an argumentative bunch.
It helped me with relationships at home and at work
Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
301–307 of 307 posts
Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
#302The Godfather -Mario Puzo
The Running Man -Richard Bachman (A Stephen King pen name)
Never Split The Difference -Chris Voss
"The Godfather" is a classic that features my 2nd favorite evil genius Don Corleone (Hannibal Lecter being the 1st). Great character development and a fine tale to boot.
"The Running Man" isn't Kings best, but there's something about it, well that book and "The Long Walk"--also by Bachman, that makes it an entertaining read.
"Never Split the Difference" is the best negotiating book I've ever read and, I have negotiated deals for a living at various times in my career.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
#303Patrick Collison, co-founder of Stripe, keeps a cool reading list with tons of books, color coded by the impact they had on him. He's clearly a voracious reader on a wide range of topics. I happened to find it yesterday and found tons of books and authors to add to my Amazon wishlists: https://patrickcollison.com/bookshelf If you're interested in games / startup stories, I have to recommend Masters of Doom, about the…
love this list
Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
#304"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" and "The Pleasure of Finding Things Out", also by Richard Feynman. He worked on the Manhattan Project among other things, writes in a very engaging way and shares a huge number of funny anecdotes. Yet he is also thought-provoking, for example introducing the idea of nanotechnology, explains why he is against pompous titles and posing, and how he struggled with staying creative. Bes…
Richard Feynman inspired Ralph Leighton to get curious about Tannu Tuva, an area in central Asia. Which led Leighton to write, "Tuva or Bust!" about his travels there. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60349.Tuva_or_Bust
Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
#305I've really enjoyed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila by Robert M. Pirsig. EDIT: Also, The Phoenix Project is very very good if you are into IT management: funny, and although a novel then the content will make you want to fix your company and perhaps even think bigger about your carrer. But this one won't last you a summer since if you read it that slow you'll forget what was going on. :)
Fun fact: Pirsig never once mentions which make and model of motorcycle he rides in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
#306Earlier quoted context omitted.
I started reading "The Master and Margarita" this year after seeing this title pop up on HN so often. I could not finish it, I found it rather boring. I'm curious, am I the only one? What does everyone find so great about this book?
I read it earlier this year and also can't understand why it's so highly recommended. If I were living in the Soviet Union during the time it was written it would probably be the greatest book I had ever read, but as someone just looking for something to read nowadays, I mean, so, so many other better choices.
That is an incredibly limited view. How many amazing books written in "add country" during "add time" which are classics and amazing books. Sure, there is always an opportunity cost, but what does it have to do where you are living and the time it was written? Does it mean you can only read books written after the new millennia?
Re: Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?
#307Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 "we…
My specific complaint with the dialogue is that nearly every character talks in the same way: robotic and professorial. It's a symptom of Liu's poor character design, especially when it comes to female characters. His characters' motivations are often opaque so their actions are inexplicable. I could forgive this (even Arthur C. Clarke wasn't much interested in characters) if it wasn't for some of the laughably absur…
This way of speaking is believable for Chinese scientists and militaries. The cop had a very different tone.