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Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

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91–100 of 389 posts

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#91

Goedel, Escher, Bach - an eternal golden braid. This book is so rich with philosophical content it will change you.

I really struggled to read this. It's so dense, in an almost impenetrable way. Am I the only one? I did some skimming, but never seemed to catch on.

It’s the kind of book you need to sit down and deliberately read for a while, rather than snatched moments here and there or while waiting for something else.

Personally I found it very informative and interesting - though not ‘enlightening’. I did stop reading it for a while and found it difficult to pick up the thread again though.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#93
post #30

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. Promoting “breathing” without thinking and not taking your thoughts too seriously has got me through a lot of emotional turmoil and “life situations”. Incredible even 5 years later.

I completely hated this book.

Why so? It appears to be in vogue at the moment but it doesn’t seem to be saying anything novel.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#95
post #13

1. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Mostly the bits about how our society is mostly built on collective fictions. 2. Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse I remember being very moved reading this, but I can't quite remember why. Looks like it's time to re-read it.

Glass Bead Game by Hesse put academia, and system building of the mind in general, in perspective for me.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, "Flowers for Algernon" is the most frightening story I ever read. It made me realize that whatever intelligence I have right now I got basically by accident and that I may lose it at any time. There's nothing I can do to prevent this and - in case it happens - (EDIT: in the end) I won't even recognize what I lost. The only thing I can do is to leave some kind of a mark on the world, right now, before it hap…

> I won't even recognize what I lost Alzheimer's victims know what they lost, until rather late in the disease. It's part of what makes it a hell.

My maternal grandparents both went that way. Apparently long after they were both essentially 'gone' the nursing home staff would occassionally find them in the main living area, late at night after everyone was meant to be asleep, dancing together. Clearly something of their former selves remained.

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#99
post #3

“A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy” by William Irvine has taught me appreciate what I have and take it easy on myself when things don’t go as planned. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040JHNQG/

Yes, I would suggest Stoicism too (I have a page devoted to it: http://pa-mar.net/Lifestyle/Stoicism.html).

Also, I am working on a page on A Philosophy of Loneliness (https://www.popmatters.com/a-philosophy-of-loneliness-by-lar...) and finally I would suggest "Trust the Process" (https://www.shambhala.com/trust-the-process-1598.html)

All these somehow helped me in dealing with personal issues and/or provide some adjustment to my views.

Finally, maybe this one might help, too https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89200.Pragmatics_of_Huma... (I read it in Italian and many years ago, the current edition is probably updated).

Re: Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?

#100
Wonderful thread! There is most certainly a canon of "introspection" literature. Required for any one who pays heed to the wisdom of "knowing thyself". Gandhi's Experiments With Truth and St. Augustine's Confessions are perfect examples. Absolute honesty. With the single goal of providing future readers many years hence with some guide points in navigating the seas of life.

List of 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century

https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/books/book372.htm

And just a heads up. This June brings the arrival of another biography I am very much looking forward to. Matt Polly's definitive Bruce Lee: A Life. Perfect summer beach reading to provide the inspiration for a commitment to discipline!

https://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Lee-Life-Matthew-Polly/dp/15011...

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