Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez. Literally changed my life. Also, because of the nature of the program it informs pretty much everything I do and every decision I make. In short: it's not just about money, it's about everything.
Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
71–80 of 110 posts
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#72+1 on "Nonviolent Communication" - if anyone is interested I have some directive like notes from the book here https://blog.abuiles.com/reading-feed/nonviolent-communicati... -- going through the book is important for the context but this can give you a quick overview of what it is about. Other books in my list are: - Punished by rewards by Alfie Kohn - On the shortness of life by Seneca
I have not read the book "Nonviolent Communication," but anecdotally, the several people I know who have mentioned reading this book tend to speak in an abnormally passive aggressive, condescending, and overbearing way. I am curious if this is just a fluke or if others have had the same experience.
Like a lot of concepts that are meant to improve communication and understanding, NVC can be "weaponized" to have the exact opposite effect, especially when put into practice by beginners in highly-charged emotional contexts. It can also come across as passive-aggressive to those who are unfamiliar with the practice. Maddeningly, it can be very difficult to distinguish between these two situations. It really needs understanding and buy-in from both parties to be effective, in my experience. (It's also damn hard to learn from a book. Much better if you have an experienced and empathetic friend who's willing to teach you.)
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#73The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. These two books taught me the importance of being true to one's values and not sacrificing them under any circumstances. They introduced me to Individualism and Objectivism which have profoundly impacted the way I look at the world.
Atlas Shrugged is one of those books that is often life-changing. Whether that is positive or not depends wildly upon the reader and their situation. Other books I'd put in that category are Fight Club and Walden
+1 for Walden. You don't have to go live in a cabin in the woods to get a ton of benefit from that book. One of the books that helped me see the world with new eyes.
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
Have to agree here. It has a unique and valuable worldview.
it's interesting with Yudkowsky - I've never met a person who's lukewarm about his writing, you either love it or hate it. Personally I hate it - it's condescending, weirdly tone-deaf, scientistic (is that the adjective of scientism?), without a trace of human warmth, and way too verbose and over-long to keep me interested. Then again, opinions clearly vary.
I am lukewarm about it. Lots of things to hate. But you have to admit he comes at things differently than most people.
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#75Never Split the Difference. It's about hostage negotiation. A lot of negotiation tricks don't work when dealing with irrational, desperate, insane people. It covers how to build rapport with these people, get them to talk themselves into supporting your argument, and just understanding people deeply enough for them to give you everything you ask for but walk away satisfied with the deal.
I'm listening through this book right now on my daily commute and it's possibly the first time I've clung onto every word in an audiobook.
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#76"What is life?" - Erwin Schõdinger
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#77[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#78This is completely not tech related but I came across a PDF a few months ago called Endgame. I got it when I believed I was having issues with meeting and attracting women. It kickstarted a series of events that’s completely changed my life. Initially for the worse but in a whole a massive positive.
Endgame by Samuel Beckett?
Not OP, but the book he is referring is probably Endgame by Leigh Louey Gung aka "Logun", and he was an Australian "pick-up artist" (I don't think he called himself a pick-up artist, but whatever). He wrote some books, did video courses and writed articles in this site: http://attractioninstitute.com/, but I don't think he is active anymore (altough his site is still online).
I would recommend the book. It wasn't just a bit about how to pickup random women on the streets, it was more about why and how to improve yourself so you could get in a state were doing anything that before could cause you pain or anxiety (like approaching a random women in the street just to ask her what time is it), more easy, but that was just a consequence of improving yourself.
Keep in mind that I read the book 3 or 4 years ago, so I wouldn't be capable to say if is still as good as I remember it, but I'd still recommend anyone to read it.
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#79This is completely not tech related but I came across a PDF a few months ago called Endgame. I got it when I believed I was having issues with meeting and attracting women. It kickstarted a series of events that’s completely changed my life. Initially for the worse but in a whole a massive positive.
link please?
I couldn't find any online link for the pdf, but I think I still have the book somewhere in my laptop.
I can send it to you as an email if you want.
Re: Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
Endgame by Samuel Beckett?
Not OP, but the book he is referring is probably Endgame by Leigh Louey Gung aka "Logun", and he was an Australian "pick-up artist" (I don't think he called himself a pick-up artist, but whatever). He wrote some books, did video courses and writed articles in this site: http://attractioninstitute.com/ , but I don't think he is active anymore (altough his site is still online). I would recommend the book. It wasn't ju…
Pick-up community got me into personality development. IIRC it is often called "inner game" there, in opposition to the "outer game", which is how to approach women, talk etc.
The inner game aspect was very interesting and can be used as a starting point for any personal spiritual development.
But you certainly have to look over the edges of the pick-up community.