Ask HN: Book Recommendations? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#61

Post by arunaugustine » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 5:32 PM UTC

criddell wrote: post #43

billybofh wrote: post #37

Not really non-fiction, but Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is always a good read. Also if you're just interested in 'stuff', Plato's The Republic is very worth reading : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_%28Plato%29

> Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance I really enjoyed the parts of that book that were actually about the motorcycle trip. Pirsig's thoughts on quality didn't resonate with me, at all.

I had the same experience when I read it for the first time, I was skipping over the "philosophy" part to just read about the motorcycle trip.

Then I read it the second time.

And the "chautauqua" (what the author calls the philosophical discussions) blew my mind!

I have read the book 3x so far, and the insights keep deepening.

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#62

Post by arunaugustine » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 5:36 PM UTC

nathell wrote: post #21

Just finished "Love's Executioner" and "Creatures of a Day," both by Irvin Yalom. A deeply touching glimpse into the world of psychotherapy. Highly recommended.

May I also add "The Road Less Travelled" by Scott Peck to books on Psychotherapy. Excellent read.

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#63

Post by nextos » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 5:44 PM UTC

goc wrote: post #6

I am reading CTM by Van Roy/Haridi and watching Van Roy's edx vids. Very nice explanations that require a lot of filling in the holes. If someone else is familiar with Oz/Van Roy stuff, I have a question.

I am, but I read it many years ago, so I might not be able to help

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#64

Post by antonislav » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 6:43 PM UTC

Derek Sivers has compiled a list of books in your preferred field of interest. I find it quite helpful.

https://sivers.org/book

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#65

Post by kqr2 » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 6:57 PM UTC

climber_mac wrote: post #11

Creativity Inc., by Ed Catmull (co-founder of Pixar). A book on the structure and processes used at Pixar to sustain the creative process - It's one of the best books I've read on business/management and personal development. Ed is an incredible human being! Go read it!

> Ed is an incredible human being!

He was also at the center of a wage fixing scandal.

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-rights/ed-catmull-on-wage-...

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#66

Post by jgrodziski » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 7:07 PM UTC

I've compiled and organised resources, including books, about computing on : http://www.learn-computing-directory.org Also feel free to contribute!

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#67

Post by kmonad » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 7:46 PM UTC

check these out:

http://www.bookbot.io

http://www.hnreads.com

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#68

Post by calebm » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 7:50 PM UTC

The Picture of Dorian Gray (by Oscar Wilde) is just so beautifully written. It was Oscar Wilde's only novel (he only needed one). It also has the absolute best preface of any book I've read: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/174/174-h/174-h.htm#chap00

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#69

Post by ThrustVectoring » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 8:09 PM UTC

Impro by Keith Johnstone

The Inner Game of Tennis

A Guide to Better Movement: The Science and Practice of Moving with More Skill and Less Pain

Punished by Rewards

Microeconomics: Behavior, Institutions, and Evolution by Bowles

Re: Ask HN: Book Recommendations?

#70

Post by scottlilly » Sat, Mar 05, 2016, 9:35 PM UTC

twunde wrote: post #3

The Goal. If you're interested in project management, Making Things Happen is good. I've just started High Output Management and so far it seems good. Of course there are always the classics like Good to Great, What Color Is Your Parachute, etc

I was going to add, "The Goal". I just received two more copies of it from Amazon today. I've given away more copies of that book that I can count (and will give away another one to a co-worker on Monday).