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Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

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Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#71

Post by tzs »

I read a lot in 2022, but almost all of it was individual articles for my nonfiction reading and short stories or chapters of serialized longer stories for my fiction reading. I think there were only two books that I read in 2022. They were:

• Excel VBA Programming for Dummies

• The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method Volume I -- The Art and Technique of the Classical Guitar

They were both good. I can't really say which was best because they are about such different topics.

I read the VBA book because I wanted to automate some tasks in my food tracking spreadsheet that went beyond what I could figure out how to do with the macro recorder.

I read the guitar book because after a long gap I got back into playing guitar, and decided that it would be best if I just pretended I was a complete beginner and started over. Also even when I had been playing regularly I was never good at reading music, so I also wanted to start over and pay more attention to the sheet music.

I don't know how good the Parkening book would be for an actual true beginner, but for a pretend beginner it worked out great and I'm playing better than I ever did before, and reading music way better too. I feel I'm good enough now that it is finally time to upgrade my guitar from the Hohner HG-13 I bought new around 1980. Next week my new Cordoba C9 should arrive.

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#72

Post by Wolfenstein98k »

jargnar wrote: post #54
unmole wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Debt: The First 5000 Years by David Graeber Graeber misinterprets the history and ideas of mainstream economics, calls the safest securities on the planet a debt that will never be paid and spins bizarre conspiracy theories about the Iraq invasion. You might learn about the quaint cultural practices of remote tribes but a lot of the ideas presented are complete nonsense. You might say it has good and original parts…

> Graeber misinterprets the history and ideas of mainstream economics Can you provide a well researched body of literature that counters Graeber’s thesis as opposed to just stating an opinion?

A non-economist makes economic claims that just so happen to reflect the political views of his political contemporaries, but it is the job of anyone who disagrees to cite an entire body of literature, reviewed to a high but unspecified standard?

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#73

Post by anotherevan »

Ten Steps to Nanette, Hannah Gadsby - Autobiography of an Australian comedian I like. (If you like audiobooks, she reads it herself which is a treat.)

True Biz, Sara Nović - A year in the life of a boarding school for the deaf.

Upgrade, Blake Crouch

Blindsight: The (Mostly) Hidden Ways Marketing Reshapes Our Brains, Matt Johnson & Prince Ghuman - Interesting angle of examining neurology.

Treasure & Dirt, and The Tilt, Chris Hammer - Good Australian rural crime fiction.

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, Eliezer Yudkowsky - Alternate fan fic depiction of Harry Potter as a hyper-rationalist. My review linked below.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60034663-ten-steps-to-na...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58395049-true-biz

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59838811-upgrade

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52225003-blindsight

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58520598-treasure-dirt

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61413297-the-tilt

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33951086-harry-potter-an...

(My review) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5124124732

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#75

Post by throw0101c »

* Prompt and utter destruction : Truman and the use of atomic bombs against Japan: the decision making process of the US leadership leading up to August and why the US / Truman thought the use of atomic weapons was 'necessary'. Related: American Prometheus, a bio on Oppenheimer.

* Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin: the story of the people of Eastern and Central Europe during the early 20th century.

* Man's Search for Meaning: An Holocaust survivor explains on how to find hope and meaning even in the darkest of times.

* Why civil resistance works: the strategic logic of nonviolent conflict: Examining on how most resist movements in the last one hundred years have tended to be more successful when they eschew violence.

* The origins of Canadian and American political differences: On how two very similiar-seeming countries right next to each other could diverge in their cultures. (I'm Canadian.)

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#76

Post by jacksonkmarley »

Listened to a lot of audiobooks this year, and can recommend:

A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon by Neil Sheehan (Biography and background to the development of the ICBM)

The American War in Afghanistan: A History by Carter Malkasian

One Minute to Midnight by Michael Dobbs (about the Cuban missile crisis)

Chip War by Chris Miller (about the semiconductor industry and it's place in geopolitical competition)

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#77

Post by richk449 »

mymythisisthis wrote: post #15
mariusseufzer wrote: post #2

Classic: Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Entertaining and deep thoughts included! The only philosophical, sci-fi comedy book you need.

Read Voltaire's Candide https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19942

Or Independent People if you want a slightly more modern version.

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#78

Post by AnimalMuppet »

theRealMe wrote: post #17
daVe23hu wrote: post #3

Quoted post unavailable.

I’ll preface this by saying that I have no problems with fauci and so I’m definitely not the target market for this book. I wonder, though, what would make a person want to read a book about someone that they hate? I can’t imagine a more useless use of my time than that. Even if the book was true (which I highly doubt given some of the other notable books by the same author “Profiles of the Vaccine injured”, “A lette…

> Sounds like concentrated rage-fuel to me…

That's what you gain. You get a cardboard villain to hate.

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#79

Post by JoyfulTurkey »

Non-fiction: Finally got around to reading The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder. A great read that captures the feeling of being on project with great teammates that care and want to “win” Haven’t felt that way in a while at work, but currently kicking around a project with some friends after hours and it feels good to have people that all care about the project.

Fiction: Red Crosses by Sasha Filipenko

Re: Ask HN: Best books read in 2022?

#80

Post by jargnar »

Wolfenstein98k wrote: post #72
jargnar wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Graeber misinterprets the history and ideas of mainstream economics Can you provide a well researched body of literature that counters Graeber’s thesis as opposed to just stating an opinion?

A non-economist makes economic claims that just so happen to reflect the political views of his political contemporaries, but it is the job of anyone who disagrees to cite an entire body of literature, reviewed to a high but unspecified standard?

I'd totally agree with you had Graeber not been an influential anthropologist (wherein one academically studies human activity, culture, trade, economics, social structures, institutions etc. from a rigorous historical lens)
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