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Ask HN: Good books?

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Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#91

Post by RockyMcNuts »

rglullis wrote: post #33

Am I the only one who is very libertarian-inclined but hated Atlas Shrugged? Instead of creating characters that are human (with flaws, weaknesses, subject to emotional reactions) but that manage to "win" by sticking to some ideal, she creates characters that are the personification of that ideal, completely out of touch of reality. I mean, not even Greek gods were perfect if you know basic mythology. Yet, you want m…

You have to view it as a thought experiment -

only individual freedom matters -> libertarianism

only equality matters -> communism

only arbitrary values and efficient pursuit of them matter -> fascism

behind every form of government lurks an oligarchy that has to make workable tradeoffs between those ideals, while of course pursuing their own interests

Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#92

Post by serverdude »

coderholic wrote: post #52

"Fooled By Randomness" by Taleb is one of my favourite books of all time! I found it really eye-opening. I'm currently reading "Outliers" by Gladwell, and it's a great read! I'll probably try and pick up a copy of his "Tipping point" next. Another good psychology/behaviour/economics book is "Freakonomics", and it's sequel "SuperFreakonomics". Both interesting reads. If you haven't read "Fooled by randomness" yet thou…

I am a big fan of both Fooled by Randomness and Black swan. I especially love the fallacies he discusses w.r.t. human brain!

I also recommend Sudhir Venkatesh's "Gang Leader For a Day".

Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#95

Post by tomwalker »

RockyMcNuts wrote: post #67

Philosophy The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers, by Will Durant. Written in the 30s, it covers some philosophers who would not be considered influential today, and doesn't do justice to the 20th century. But it's a relatively easy read, and clarified some guys I either didn't read or didn't appreciate in my freshman great books seminar. Walden and Civil Disobedience, by…

The Naked Ape is a fantastic read!

Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#97

Post by macrael »

danilocampos wrote: post #24

Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything . It's a history of human reasoning, tracking the emergence of science into what we know today. Fills in a lot of meaningful gaps you may have forgotten from your various science courses, while providing the human side of major advances (rivalries, disappointments, hoaxes, all of it). Science from a new perspective is excellent, but it's also such an interesting windo…

Another lovely counterpoint to Ayn Rand is "Sewer Gas and Electric" by Matt Ruff. It is absurdist science fiction that is hilarious and full of fascinating characters.

I really enjoy Atlas Shrugged as well, I've read the whole book twice, actually. But I don't believe it is a good code to live by. My favorite quite about her books comes from The Daily Show. On the back of America The Book there is a fake blurb from Rand: "just like one of my books, reading this book will make you an asshole for two weeks."

Her books are seductive because they intentionally oversimplify life. Her characters are not realistic and are completely binary. Everyone is either a superhero or a weasel. This makes for entertaining reading, but not much else.

Read "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner. It is a brautiful book about an intense relationship forged between two couples. It's my favorite thing I've read recently.

Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#98

Post by bherms »

jakevoytko wrote: post #62

If you liked "Atlas Shrugged", you will love "East of Eden" by George Steinbeck. It has some passages on self-determination that puts anything found in Rand to shame. It's a tome, and it starts slow - do yourself a favor and make it through the introduction of one of the villains, Kathy (chapter 8 or so). It doesn't slow down after that. "The Watchmen" by Alan Moore. It may be a graphic novel, but the issues it raise…

Every one of those is on my list :)

I've read Watchmen, Everything is Illuminated, and Slaughterhouse Five. All were fantastic. The film adaptation of Everything is Illuminated was actually very good too.

Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#99

Post by bherms »

Hovertruck wrote: post #66
jakevoytko wrote: post #62

If you liked "Atlas Shrugged", you will love "East of Eden" by George Steinbeck. It has some passages on self-determination that puts anything found in Rand to shame. It's a tome, and it starts slow - do yourself a favor and make it through the introduction of one of the villains, Kathy (chapter 8 or so). It doesn't slow down after that. "The Watchmen" by Alan Moore. It may be a graphic novel, but the issues it raise…

I thought Slaughterhouse Five was great, but I think I found myself left thinking more after reading Breakfast of Champions.

Really? I've read both (along with several other Vonnegut books), and I thought S5 was much more though provoking. Given how quickly his books read, I might have to reread Breakfast of Champions.

Re: Ask HN: Good books?

#100

Post by alexandros »

Since you mentioned 'eye-opening fiction' I give you my wholehearted recommendation for Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782108/1/Harry_Potter_and_the_M...

Don't be misled by the 'fanfic' tag, it's a mere shell for a very deep piece of work, endorsed by Eric S. Raymond and David Brin. Many have accused the author for slipping in a lot of his own voice, calling it his own 'Atlas Shrugged', but seeing as you liked that, I think you'll find this a pleasure, too.

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