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Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

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Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#71

Post by mturmon »

sowbug wrote: post #46

When I was seven years old, my mom got ensnared by a door-to-door World Book encyclopedia sales pitch. That set, in turn, ensnared me. It was the closest thing in the 1970s to today's internet. I could look up almost any topic that came to mind. I could research any topic we were learning in grade school. When I was bored, I could flip through any volume and learn about whatever subject happened to present itself. I…

Similar thing here. Years later I purchased a used Encyclopedia Brittanica to see if it could bring some of that magic back. It didn't work, I didn't really engage with the articles in the same way.

I think the World Book editors encouraged some kind of writing that was more engaging to grade school/teenage me. The set is still in my parents' house, but I'm scared that the spell might break if I open it again now.

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#72

Post by mturmon »

sumo89 wrote: post #35

As a white CIS male from a middle class family in Western Europe I've found it eye opening reading studies and articles based around global gender studies. For example the journal Gender, Place and Culture https://genderplaceandculture.wordpress.com/ . It's an analytical window to a world that would otherwise pass me by and has helped me be more empathetic to the struggles that of those born in different situations.

Similar experience for me reading Gyn/ecology, the meta-ethics of radical feminism by Mary Daly. She is coming from a very different perspective from mine. It helped me a lot.

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#73

Post by TechnicolorByte »

lnwlebjel wrote: post #68

For me it's a book I am reading now: Outlive, the science and art of longevity, by Peter Attia MD. The book is a summary of the many podcasts which I have been listening to for a couple of years now, a result of which I am happier, healthier (by arguably the right metrics), fitter, and better able to navigate life and the prospect of getting older. If you are over 40 I highly recommend it, and if you're over 50 it's…

Does it say anything that isn’t already common knowledge on healthy living and best practices? E.g., exercise several times a week, avoid processed food and red meat, eat mostly veggies and lean protein and fish, get enough high quality sleep, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#74

Post by ChildOfChaos »

sumo89 wrote: post #70
qzx_pierri wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s the point of specifying “cis” ? That’s the default. Because it appears that adding that bit serves as a low effort social grift.

Cis means I identify now as I did when I was born. I was born male and still identify as male. As such I haven't had the struggles of someone who has had to discover their identity. "Low effort social grift", sorry I thought we were in a place of normal conversions with like minded nerds, I didn't realise this was actually twitter.

I like this. This makes sense to me, thanks for explaining. I actually cringe normally when I see someone saying 'Cis' but it makes sense from your explanation that it's a good term to use in this kinda conversation and not just some token to please woke people. I guess I have a lot to learn! Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#75

Post by ChildOfChaos »

shubhamjain wrote: post #39

_Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals_ and _Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!_. I always thought myself as a deeply ambitious person who wanted to do something significant. The mindset did help me grow, but it came at the cost of my mental health. Doubting every second if you're making good use of time isn't a great way to live. Both of those books helped me appreciate having a decent carefree life, wher…

Four Thousand weeks is great, I'm still trying to comprehend it's lessons and also that shared by the Author in his excellent newsletter.

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#76

Post by SirensOfTitan »

Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson, surprised to be the first to mention him in this thread, but in high school his ideas changed how I think about everything from mysticism to subjectivity to how I engage with ideas and being wrong.

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#77

Post by sowbug »

mturmon wrote: post #71
sowbug wrote: post #46

When I was seven years old, my mom got ensnared by a door-to-door World Book encyclopedia sales pitch. That set, in turn, ensnared me. It was the closest thing in the 1970s to today's internet. I could look up almost any topic that came to mind. I could research any topic we were learning in grade school. When I was bored, I could flip through any volume and learn about whatever subject happened to present itself. I…

Similar thing here. Years later I purchased a used Encyclopedia Brittanica to see if it could bring some of that magic back. It didn't work, I didn't really engage with the articles in the same way. I think the World Book editors encouraged some kind of writing that was more engaging to grade school/teenage me. The set is still in my parents' house, but I'm scared that the spell might break if I open it again now.

Fascinating! I wrote an old blog post about the very same fear: https://sowbug.com/posts/time-out-of-mind/

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#78

Post by mikewarot »

The Boy's Second Book of Radio and Electronics - by Alfred Morgan (1957).[1]

I had almost failed 4th grade, and it was strongly suggested (I don't know the details, but it happened quickly) that I should be set loose in the school library, and allowed to pick out any book and read it. This very book got me into electronics, and later when the personal computing revolution arrived, I was all set to join in.

---

Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805.[2]

It was the love story wound into this quite fascinating look into the lives of young men in that time period, that inspired my decision to propose to my Wife.

---

[1] https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Technology/The-B...

[2] https://store.doverpublications.com/0486436667.html

Re: Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?

#79

Post by qup »

mikewarot wrote: post #78

The Boy's Second Book of Radio and Electronics - by Alfred Morgan (1957).[1] I had almost failed 4th grade, and it was strongly suggested (I don't know the details, but it happened quickly) that I should be set loose in the school library, and allowed to pick out any book and read it. This very book got me into electronics, and later when the personal computing revolution arrived, I was all set to join in. --- Diary…

> and it was strongly suggested that I should be set loose in the school library

Can you elaborate why strongly suggested?

I really like your examples.

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