Hey fellow HN people,
What are some life changing books have you encountered?
You can state the why as well and how it mattered.
For e.g. Almanack of Naval Ramakant is a good starting point.
Thanks.
Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
1–10 of 234 posts
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#2It depends on what you're after?
For me I would say The Lean Startup, On Writing Well, and Atlas Shrugged for very different reasons.
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#3It depends on what you're after? For me I would say The Lean Startup, On Writing Well, and Atlas Shrugged for very different reasons.
I kept the post contextless actually.
For different purposes, different books can be life changing.
Career or Non-career can be one context.
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#41. Start with no - this is an awesome primer on negotiating
2. Never split the difference - ditto . IMO, "start with no" is a sub set of this but it is worth separately anyway
3. Fooled by randomness
4. The black swan
5. Books on intermittent fasting by Dr Jason Fung
6. All books by Noah Harari but start with Sapiens
7. Security Analysis by Ben Graham
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#51. Start with no - this is an awesome primer on negotiating 2. Never split the difference - ditto . IMO, "start with no" is a sub set of this but it is worth separately anyway 3. Fooled by randomness 4. The black swan 5. Books on intermittent fasting by Dr Jason Fung 6. All books by Noah Harari but start with Sapiens 7. Security Analysis by Ben Graham
Amazing, Thanks!.
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#6The Histories by Herodotus was life changing for me (see my handle!). But, be aware that it has to be a good translation: the online free ones are not the ones you should read.
Why? Because until I read it my only other experience with writing of that era was the bible readings from when I attended synagogue (before I realized that there was no god). I always found the bible stuff strange, but I forgave it, because I thought that people were just like that at that time in human history. Well, Herodotus changed my mind. He is brilliant, skeptical, humorous, and inquisitive. Attributes that, until I read the book, I somehow thought belonged to we moderns. Now I know how wrong I was, and I think about things differently.
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#7The power of now by Eckhart Tolle changed my life when I was young. It shifted me from being extremely outwards oriented, to re-discovering the joy of the little things. I had discovered that there is always space between feelings, thoughts and 'you', always available, which was a huge relief since I was living in a torrent of uncertainty and disappointment for years up until then.
The undeniable fact that there is only ever 'now' was also a bombshell of a realization. What a wonderful book that one, for those who have the disposition to grok it.
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#8Books that have changed my life:
- How to win friends and influence people. Helped me understand the dynamics of relationships in a unon manipulative and empathetic way.
- Sapiens. Changed my view on human organizations and religion
- the monk who sold his Ferrari
- meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- the screwtape letters. Letter 15 specifically changed me
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#9How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism
I've listened to dozens of self help type books, and this one had an immediate and permanent effect on me. It changed my life. I don't think it will do the same for everyone, but it did for me. I think most time spent listening to these self help type books goes to waste, but there is the occasional book or insight that resonates with a person and makes it all worth it. This was one of those book for me.
Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?
#10How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Near magical in how it can teach you to connect better with others in a real, lasting way.