Capital in the 21C - Thomas Piketty
Because it changes the way you see the world.
Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
241–250 of 529 posts
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#242The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#243River-Horse, William Least-Heat Moon. It's a wonderful account of a classically idiosyncratic journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific, through the waterways of North America.
Speak, Memory, Vladimir Nabokov. The pinnacle of the memoirist's art. I find it nearly uncreditable, Nabokov's facility with English, his 5th language.
Lyonesse, Jack Vance. Vance is the greatest stylist in 20th century American letters, and Lyonesse is probably his greatest achievement. Fantasy indebted to Celtic mythology, not Tolkien. Marvelous, poetic, pungent language in service of a wonderful story.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#244I've given this as a gift several times -- "What Should I Do with My Life" by Po Bronson.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FBFMKC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?...
Had a run-in with serious burn-out about 12 years ago and had considered leaving software entirely and starting a landscaping business. This book was inspirational in that it helped me figure out what I might LOVE doing, and then made me realize it was right under my nose the whole time. I just needed to get a new job that appreciated and challenged me
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#245One book that works well for techy parents who have kids is The Number Devil. It's fantastic read-with-your-kid-at-bedtime material.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#246I read a lot of Science Fiction for fun. These are a few of my favorites that I've given to other people: 1. Vacuum Diagrams by Stephen Baxter. When I think of epic hard science fiction, the Xeelee Sequence books spring to mind. With a story line that spans millions of years (and a few dozen books), this collection of short stories is a good introduction to one of the best and most underrated sci-fi series out there.…
Those are all great. I've also given Dune, the Forever War, and The Stars my Destination.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#247I tend to either give "The Belgeriad" or "Mistborn" as a gift to people who want to get into Fantasy. I think when Rothfuss releases his final Kingkiller Chronicle book it might be my new intro series :)
Why did you have to remind me about Kingkiller Chronicle :(
Also Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings (fantasy and same author as Mistborn). The audio books are really good.
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#248I've given out a few copies of Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know---and What to Do About Them. So far, the recipients have done well after reading it. It really clued them into the hidden meaning behind common corporate-speak.
https://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Confidential-Secrets-Compan...
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#249* How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, Anglesmiths, & Civil Servants
* Ulrich Haarburste's Novel Of Roy Orbison In Clingfilm
Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?
#250A People's History of The United States by Howard Zinn. Given it at least 5 times.
All students should realize that history is written by the "winners" see US history from the perspective of the oppressed - Native Americans, slaves, women, the poor.