81–90 of 282 posts
The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch and The Three-Body Problem Trilogy by Liu Cixin. I especially recommend reading this combination. Both books fill up with optimism about humanity. First one by providing framework for infinite progress of humankind. (written by acknowledged quantum physics professor). Second one by by outlining how we can overcome difficulties on the way (written by talented Chinese science…
It’s about the search for alien life, but it blends science with philosophy which is a very unique way of approaching the issue. It’s also very well researched.
The Man who solved the market, by Gregory Zuckerman
It’s the story of Jim Simons and Renaissance, the hedge fund with the best returns in the industry. Very informative and it approaches the development of the firm from the viewpoint of different people.
This is how they tell me the world ends, by Nicole Perlroth
This is about Zero Days and the environment they get developed and the consequences for society. It’s very well researched, although as with every book that’s written by a non-tech person it has its flaws. But overall enjoyed it a lot.
In the garden of beasts, by Erik Larson
The story of the US ambassador to Germany while Hitler was in power. You get a first hand glimpse of the environment and the atmosphere of the era, as also the intricacies of the Nazi party.
I Choose Elena and My Body Keeps Your Secrets by Lucia Osbourne Crowley. Can highly recommend these to any man who is wanting to better understand issues of sexual assault against women, in terms of how normalised it is, the challenges women face in being believed by other men and the long term health effects that manifest themselves after such attacks and after hiding the truth. Wanted to mention it here because I b…
There's enough understanding that things need to be changed, now the doing is needed. > because I become more aware each passing week of the blindspots in the HN community regarding the struggles and perspectives of women That's presumptuous and plain insulting. I've no evidence many guys here on HN are keeping women down in any way - that needs verifying (though it may be true). I've personally seen too few women in…
Not what the OP said, at all!
I haven't read a single book in 2022. Somehow, over the years, I've lost the habit of reading.
I've also found reading just before bed helps me tremendously. If I read until the words are a blur I usually have a very good night of sleep.
Mostly science fiction, and most Adrian Tchaikovsky science fiction at that: * Elder Race - Tchaikovsky's Hugo-nominated novella does this really neat thing where it tells the same story from two different perspectives, which happen to perfectly meld fantasy with hard scifi in a super clever conceit. * Children of Time - A hard scifi-meets-entomology-study take on how shifting perspectives work and the no-stone-left-…
Very funny yet insightful. One of those unpretentious books that is actually a lot less stupid than the cover suggests.
× The Cyberiad (English translation) by Stanisław Lem. It's the most hilarious science fiction I've read. It hits a special note with me, I actually immediately started reading it again from the start as soon as I finished it. × The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber & David Wengrow. An amazing rethinking of archeology, a denunciation of social orthogenesis and an invitation to dream of a better world Other mentions…
It is the third instalment in his epic fantasy decalogy, The Malazan Book of the Fallen.
To say that I've shed a couple of tears during the finale of the novel is an understatement.
The thing with the whole series for me is that the books don't feel consistently good throughout.
However, the endings are often heart breaking and the more I read, the more I am drawn into the history of the world and destinies of the characters.
Not to mention that there are at least 5 deeply moving quotes in each of the novels. Ones that make you stop reading, drop the book and run to your loved one to share the quote with them.
Currently finishing book 4, with book 5 already waiting for me on my bookshelf.
Can't wait for book 6 though, people say it's the best.
A book about a kayak journey around the Atlantic coast of the UK and Ireland that the author undertook in 2016. Published in 2018. The author (who is a historian) develops essays about the history of the coastal communities with a lot of references to earlier work and current writers. There is a Web site with additional material. [1] The book starts off with the mechanics of kayaking through coastal waters and slowly edges into quite deep historical reflections.
I'm working my way around the Atlantic edge of the UK slowly as currently disrupted travel allows.
I haven't read a single book in 2022. Somehow, over the years, I've lost the habit of reading.
No shame in that, I say. I've completely lost any interest in reading fiction, because it's almost always a letdown. Good ideas with poor writing. Good writing with poor endings. The disappointments go on and on, and that's hours wasted. I've tried my friends' suggestions, best-of lists... the stories are consistently lame, except for the handful of masterpieces like Dune. On the other hand, I'll gladly curl up with…
There are plenty of classics that people still recommend; I find they're generally a better read than anything current, and they have utility in exposing you to the context/background/meaning for things people reference from them.