Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

371–380 of 389 posts

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#371

Post by lcall »

react_burger38 wrote: post #220

I recommend the Book of Mormon as it is one of the most introspective books you can find. It comes across much clearer than many other religious books like the Bible (even though the Bible I recommend as well) because it has a common narrator who fills in the gaps for you and helps you understand the links between stories. It also is fairly scientific in its premise-- if you do an experiment by reading some of it and…

I have been studying it my whole life, and it has not run out of depth of ways of showing me how and helping me want to be a better, more helpful & growing, more relaxed & happy person, in all the good & bad circumstances of life. (edit: I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet like the ancients, which resolves the issues: he received direction & revelation from God, and we will understand more in the future to resolve this or that issue. The core to me is where does it lead, and across many generations I am observing, I see the good it does among imperfect people. Its central message is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the hope of all mankind.)

(My knowledge manager project, AGPL: http://onemodel.org )

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#372

Post by lsaac »

pro_zac wrote: post #262

"This is Water", a commencement speech by David Foster Wallace. Whenever I'm overwhelmed with life, stressed about work or relationships or whatever, I read this. I keep it in the kindle app on my phone specifically for that purpose. https://www.docdroid.net/n9UgjO3/this-is-water.pdf

This speech made a very strong impact on me as well.

I find listening to the speech even more chilling: https://youtu.be/8CrOL-ydFMI

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#373

Post by staticgarden »

Not related to tech, but "A Guide to the Good Live" (https://www.audible.com/pd/Nonfiction/A-Guide-to-the-Good-Li...) , "Unconditional Parenting" (https://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Unconditional-Pa...). These have really been mind altering. Both the books have challenged my beliefs and they make a lot of sense once you read them completely.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#374

Post by therealdrag0 »

emodendroket wrote: post #288
rgbrenner wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this definitely depends on where you are. In the US, 1 in 4 are evangelical [0].. and 24% believe the bible is the literal word of god [1]. 0. Pew paper, no longer available.. so wayback machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20090304020453/http://pewforum.o... There's probably more up to date poll on this somewhere though. 1. http://news.gallup.com/poll/210704/record-few-americans-beli...

I feel like this is one of those things that people say but, when push comes to shove, don't actually believe. Does anyone actually believe in the firmament described in the creation story?

When you're premise is "the bible is true" and "god can do anything", then what's not to believe? Most Christians I grew up with don't even think about it, they just accept it all.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#376

Post by emodendroket »

therealdrag0 wrote: post #374
emodendroket wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like this is one of those things that people say but, when push comes to shove, don't actually believe. Does anyone actually believe in the firmament described in the creation story?

When you're premise is "the bible is true" and "god can do anything", then what's not to believe? Most Christians I grew up with don't even think about it, they just accept it all.

They believe the Earth is surrounded by water, and the water is kept out because the Earth is enclosed in a solid dome? There are obvious challenges to this idea familiar to even school children.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#378

Post by Rzor »

Kevin_S wrote: post #151
cocktailpeanuts wrote: post #53

"Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics" by Henry Stuart Hazlitt. The title doesn't do it justice because it sounds so cliche, but once you read it, you'll actually agree that this DOES cover everything you need to know about economics (although heavily biased towards austrian economics than keynesian) Also an important side effect: You'll realize how economics is not just…

I could've written this exact comment after I read this book, but I actually wouldn't recommend this. I read it right before I did my economics degree, and it really warped my view of the "right way" to think about econ. It does give you a starting point, but the Austrian view isn't in the mainstream for a reason. It introduces just a bit too much bias into novice readers for my taste.

What would you recommend instead?

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#379

Post by Kevin_S »

Rzor wrote: post #378
Kevin_S wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could've written this exact comment after I read this book, but I actually wouldn't recommend this. I read it right before I did my economics degree, and it really warped my view of the "right way" to think about econ. It does give you a starting point, but the Austrian view isn't in the mainstream for a reason. It introduces just a bit too much bias into novice readers for my taste.

What would you recommend instead?

Unfortunately I can't recommend any particular book to learn economics alone. I don't learn best this way and I feel I got basically all of my knowledge through my coursework. I'd honestly recommend a course. Even an online one may be workable.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#380

Post by phaus »

Balgair wrote: post #340
jonnybgood wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> updated stoic philosophy No, it's not. Stoicism has much more depth and the Stoics would not agree with Peterson on many things. Stoicism also doesn't need to be updated.

I mean, his 12 points are pretty stock Stoicism, with a 21st century spin. By my reading, he's not entirely stoicism, true, but he sits in the adjacent seat. If he is this popular with (as I see it) his re-skinned stoicism, then the conclusion that 'stoicism needed an update' is not unreasonable, as it seems to resonate better with the re-skin than without. Caveats, obviously, apply.

I think its unreasonable. Popularity and quality are often at odds with one another.

Adam Sandler has earned people more money from movies than almost anyone. That doesn't mean Anthony Hopkins needed an update.

Post reply on HN