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Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

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Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#351

Post by Frogolocalypse »

Non-fiction

The Emperors New Mind - Roger Penrose

Godel, Escher, Bach - Douglass Hoffstadter

Brocas Brain - Carl Sagan

The (mis)Behavior of Markets - Benoit Mandelbrot

The Black Swan - Nicholas Nassem Taleb

Fiction

Gates Of Fire - Stephen Pressfield

Neuromancer - William Gibson

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson

Hardwired - Walter Jon Williams

Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan

Red Mars - Kim Stanley Robinson

Space - Stephen Baxter

Enders Game - Orson Scott Card

Skeleton Crew - Stephen King

I've given away a lot of books. I'm old.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#353

Post by arviewer »

bluejekyll wrote: post #207
MichaelGG wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't this the book that starts off with the guy claiming he (or his ancestors) could transform into Jaguars? IIRC, the book was littered with falsehoods.

Native American traditions often don't distinguish between hallucinations and actual transmorphing into something else. So while it's been a few years since I read it, it wouldn't necessarily surprise me. But the four agreements are what are important: 1) always do your best 2) never make assumption 3) don't take things personally 4) be impeccable with your word 2&3 were the most help to me in both work and dating.

You mixed up 1 and 4, but that's no problem. Doing your best means that you will never be 100% perfect in following up on 1, 2 and 3, so make the best of it and forgive yourself if you forget to follow them.

For me 3 was very important, with many small things that annoyed me, people getting in my way etc. They don't do that to annoy me, and of course I know that, but to fully realise that was important.

Be impeccable is the most important for me. This is more about shouting at yourself than about shouting at other people. Most of the time we shout - silently - at ourselves, and these little punishments that you often don't even notice, take you down and can make your life a lot more miserable. And if you shout a lot at other people, try to figure out why you need to do that.

In the last five years, this was the most important book for me. Whenever I'm having troubles with someone, reading this book helps me get through it.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#354

Post by arviewer »

MichaelGG wrote: post #124
bluejekyll wrote: post #81

"The Four Agreements", I wish I had read it when I was younger, I give it to anyone who seems to feel other people are their problem.

Isn't this the book that starts off with the guy claiming he (or his ancestors) could transform into Jaguars? IIRC, the book was littered with falsehoods.

It's about the intent, not about scientific and factual proof. Skip the first chapter if it annoys you. You don't need to read it to profit from the rest of the book.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#355

Post by Frogolocalypse »

skaplun wrote: post #322
peckrob wrote: post #232

I 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.…

I, robot would probably be easier to get into than foundation :) also "stranger in a strange land" by Heinlein makes for a great gift

Time Enough For Love was my favorite Heinlein book.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#356

Post by Frogolocalypse »

davewasthere wrote: post #151

The most: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. Think I've bought almost a dozen copies over the years. Although that book wasn't really a gift, more a loan I never got back. Others: Lord of the Rings - I gave this to the guard who detained me in Russia. I thought it was the best revenge. The life changing magic of tidying - to my partner. We're both messy. I've read it, she hasn't... neither of us have changed. 1Q84 by…

Enders Game was on my list of books I've given to people too. I've lost how many copies of bought, but at least 10.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#357

Post by Frogolocalypse »

gooseus wrote: post #133

This is the sort of thread that hits me right in the wallet. Here are some books I've given as gifts recently: * The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm, Lewis Dartnell[1] * The Black Swan, Nassim Taleb[2] * Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse[3] * The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris and Steven Hayes[4] * Code, Charles Petzold[5] [1] https://www.amazon.com/Knowledge-Rebuild-Civilization-Afterm...…

The Black Swan is on my list too.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#358

Post by DavidSJ »

ktRolster wrote: post #338
morgante wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Not sure how old you are, but when Bush 2 was in power the same comments were made. I'm sure there are some who complained of that, but nobody I know did. There is a categorical difference between merely having a different policy agenda (most Republicans) and outright rejecting basic Constitutional principles (ex. religious equality, free press, no torture). I didn't vote for Romney in 2012, but I certainly didn't…

I'm sure there are some who complained of that, but nobody I know did. Look up "Bush Hitler" and you'll see plenty of images. It's the American national past-time to compare our president to either Hitler or the Antichrist, depending on your persuasion.

All the crying wolf from the left about Bush being a fascist is one of the reasons why, now that we have a real wolf and many conservatives are calling the Republican candidate a fascist, lots of people aren't listening.

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#359

Post by henrik_w »

peckrob wrote: post #232

I 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.…

+1 for The Martian - fantastic book!

Re: Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?

#360

Post by henrik_w »

qwertyuiop924 wrote: post #44

I don't have any friends who haven't read it who would appreciate it, but Clifford Stoll's The Cuckoo's Egg is both a highly entertaining thriller, a fascinating look at how computer security was, and is, viewed, and a highly personal story about a man trying to figure it all out. It's very funny, entirely true, and taught me a lot. Oddly, a lot of people hated the various more personal aspects of the book, as you se…

+1 for Ghost in the Wires! It reads as a thriller, and the amount of social engineering in it was amazing.
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