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Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

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Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#181

Post by btschaegg »

Balgair wrote: post #111
Findeton wrote: post #104

Me thinking: please don't say the Bible, please don't say the Bible! The Bible. Because when I was young and I tried reading it I realized that even though millions and millions of perfectly functioning adults believe in something, it might be absolutely wrong or based on basically nothing.

I'll leave The Bible out of the discussion, but echo the point made. As one human race, we can all come together, try very hard, regardless of class or race or creed or sex, in earnest support of one another, and can collectively make terrible decisions like Daylight Savings Time.

> As one human race, we can all come together, try very hard, regardless of class or race or creed or sex, in earnest support of one another, and can collectively make terrible decisions like Daylight Savings Time.

With proper attribution, I think this statement would be worthy of framing and public display. Keep that in mind in case you get famous :)

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#183

Post by d215 »

Tarrosion wrote: post #12

The Better Angels of our Nature by Steven Pinker. It's a history of macro trends in violence - wars, homicide, rape, etc. The burden of violence in the modern world is much, much lower than it was historically, even fairly recently. The book catches a lot of flak from people who reject the claim that the future will automatically be more peaceful than the past. I think this is poor criticism because that's not what t…

Not a book of anything, but a animatated story inspired by the subject matter of the book: http://www.fallen.io/ww2/

Just see and be humbled by the staggering, staggering losses of Soviet Russia in relation to other allies or Nazi Germany during ww2.

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#185

Post by rchen8 »

"The Road Less Traveled" by M Scott Peck.

By far the best self-improvement book I've read. About discipline, love, growth and religion, and grace. I don't consider myself to be religious, but it's made me apply traditional values and spiritual growth from religion to help me become a better person.

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#186

Post by jbeckham »

Chosen by God from R. C. Sproul.

It explains the sovereignty of God in salvation very well. It is one of the best explanations of Reformed Theology that I've found that is meant for a non-seminary student.

https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-God-R-C-Sproul/dp/0842313354/

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#187

Post by colebowl »

s_kilk wrote: post #152
snikeris wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep this next to my toilet. I can pick it up, choose a random page, and often find something meaningful.

[Shameless plug] If you like randomly leafing through Meditations, I've made a site that would be right up your alley http://directingmind.com/

That sir, is a thing of beauty!

bookmarked!

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#188

Post by netnichols »

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.

It might not actually be my first choice, but this one of the few on my short list that no one else has mentioned.

I read it in my mid teens (not too long after we stopped playing Rambo in the back yard) and it profoundly affected the way I view war, violence, and suffering. I've only read it the once (almost 25 years ago), and I hardly remember the story at all, but I vividly remember the feeling that it gave me.

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#189

Post by king_panic »

bshimmin wrote: post #34

American Psycho , Bret Easton Ellis. I learnt everything I know about fashion and business cards from this important book.

Amazing book that seems more relevant as time passes. It's absurdly hilarious and profound. The movie captures the former, but not the latter.

Re: Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?

#190

Post by rcarmo »

GedByrne wrote: post #89
noir_lord wrote: post #50

Not a single book but the Discworld series of books by Sir Terry Pratchett. In particular the Watch sub-series. I grew up reading them from the late 80's on-wards and I actually can't separate my worldview from them anymore, his outlook on life became my outlook on life. Hope, Cynicism, politics, mortality (Death is a literal character), practicality and absurdity all feature in the series strongly. Some of my favour…

The same here. I so wish that Sir Terry could be here now, helping us to make sense of what is happening with some silly little stories.

I can see it now: Lort Vetinari (temporarily) ousted by Hairy Don Trumpet, former magnate of the Spinward Swamps who muscled in on the sausage-on-a-stick business and promised to "Make Ankh-Morpork Great Again". Having built his electoral platform (literally) atop basalt trolls, he spends his weekends golfing on the Unseen University grounds, to the marked dislike of the Librarian...
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