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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?

#311

Post by LyndsySimon »

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.

> 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.

Even as a confident Christian, there are many people who profess to be Christians but who have a very different understanding of what that means than I.

To me, being a Christian is about having faith in Christ's divinity and the truthfulness of His message, and striving to live my life as is asked of me. I often fail, but I persist.

To others this seemingly cannot be the case, because they attribute words, actions, and attitudes to Christ and to God that serve only themselves and are at odds with scripture.

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

#312

Post by LyndsySimon »

inputcoffee wrote: post #10
LyndsySimon wrote: post #6

Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein There were many other books that influenced me, but the concept of a "Fair Witness" stuck with me - specifically, the idea that one should be aware of what is known versus what is inferred. > Fair Witnesses are prohibited from drawing conclusions about what they observe. As a demonstration, Harshaw asks Anne to describe the color of a house in the distance. She responds, "I…

But why not go further with some radical solpsism: 1. Why assume it is a house at all and not a facade? 2. Why assume that your eyes are not defective as to color? 3. Why assume your memory of the word "color" and "white" are correct? 4. Why assume that you heard the question properly? 5. How do you know the meanings of words haven't changed since you learned them many years ago?

You know it's a work of fiction, and that Fair Witnesses don't exist, right? :)

In real life, this is neatly addressed by Ayn Rand:

"Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong."

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

#313

Post by LyndsySimon »

f1gm3nt wrote: post #139

Atlas Shrugged A book I revisit every few years. It's taught me to be honest with myself even if the social norms aren't in alignment with I'm doing. It's also gave me a deeper understanding of my fellow man and why some are fine with handouts from others. It's also where I learned the $ symbol is made from the U and S from United States.

IMO The Fountainhead is a much better novel, while still adequately conveying her worldview.

> It's taught me to be honest with myself even if the social norms aren't in alignment with I'm doing.

Especially this.

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

#314

Post by LyndsySimon »

johngalt wrote: post #263
f1gm3nt wrote: post #139

Atlas Shrugged A book I revisit every few years. It's taught me to be honest with myself even if the social norms aren't in alignment with I'm doing. It's also gave me a deeper understanding of my fellow man and why some are fine with handouts from others. It's also where I learned the $ symbol is made from the U and S from United States.

It showcases some interesting dynamics regarding businesses becoming involved with politics and power. It's a good walk through of how "we just want the government to make companies give their fair share" can easily turn into something darker. I certainly wouldn't promote objectivist an-cap policy writ large, but there are truthful elements in both Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. I specifically like how Ayn Rand…

> objectivist an-cap policy

Objectivism and Anarcho-Capitalism are distinctly different, though they share much.

Objectivism accepts that a government is necessary, and places in it the legitimate use of force.

Anarcho-Capitalism holds that government is not necessary, and that no individual or organization may legitimately initiate force against another.

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

#315

Post by aml183 »

mtreis86 wrote: post #39

Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl The book was written by a psychologist who survived the Holocaust camps. The paragraph that always sticks with me goes something like "for sure, the best amongst us never left the camps - they (the guards) would need to pick (kill) a dozen people, and the best wouldn't let it be their friends or family, even if it meant their own death."

There aren't words to describe how good this book is. Must read!

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

#316

Post by hollander »

cJ0th wrote: post #158
hollander wrote: post #19

The Four Agreements by Don Ruiz. It's a short and simple book about four rules of life which you can use anywhere. 1. Be impeccable with your word. You can read this as "don't swear", but it's not about that. It is about the constant and continuing things we say to ourselves that make us feel bad. We don't even know we do this. And it's not about big things, it's about the thousands of small reprimands we give oursel…

I've only read it in a hurry but it had some rather odd bits For example, re 1. : > Every human is a magician, and we can either put a spell on someone with our word or we can release someone from a spell. We cast spells all the time with our opinions. An example: I see a friend and give him an opinion that just popped into my mind. I say, "Hmmm! I see that kind of color in your face in people who are going to get ca…

Well, don't take it too literally I think. It's not magic which he talks about. The introduction about the Toltecs is similar.

The example he gives here is very simple and direct with cause and effect. It's too simple, but shows the principle. That's what this is about.

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

#317

Post by jonathansizz »

pklausler wrote: post #306
jonathansizz wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But please continue by reading more rigorous work on evolution, or you run the risk of being badly misinformed. I suggest, at a minimum, a decent textbook. Here I'd recommend Douglas Futuyma's Evolution . Follow this up with some key works in the field, such as Gould's early critique of naive adaptationism, The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme . Also consi…

When I comply with a request to name a single book, please don't assume that I've read but a single book. Thanks!

The problem arises with those people who read The Selfish Gene and assume they now understand all there is to know about how evolution works.

I'm sure you're not one of them, but nevertheless they are quite common, well-educated and intelligent though they often are.

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

#318

Post by [deleted] »

pklausler wrote: post #306
jonathansizz wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But please continue by reading more rigorous work on evolution, or you run the risk of being badly misinformed. I suggest, at a minimum, a decent textbook. Here I'd recommend Douglas Futuyma's Evolution . Follow this up with some key works in the field, such as Gould's early critique of naive adaptationism, The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme . Also consi…

When I comply with a request to name a single book, please don't assume that I've read but a single book. Thanks!

[deleted]

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

#319

Post by king_panic »

bshimmin wrote: post #208
king_panic wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I like the film a lot too. I'm not certain whether the impossible-to-film gore of the book would've changed the message of the film had they somehow been able to include it (for those who haven't read it, the book has passages which are far nastier I think than any film that's ever been made), but I think the film still has a strong message, and is undeniably beautifully shot and well-acted. Anyway, I have to return…

The book is entirely first person. The more I read from Patrick Bateman's point of view the more I related to him in a deep and horrifying way. I've heard the unthinkable gore in the book described as 'language as violence', which puts it in a new perspective. It represents the pain and hatred within him more than it's literal content. I agree with that. To me, the book is about a man lost in a world he doesn't understand. As a young person, I related to that deeply.

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

#320

Post by libx »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #311
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.

> 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. Even as a confident Christian, there are many people who profess to be Christians but who have a very different understanding of what that means than I. To me, being a Christian is about having faith in Christ's di…

Hi LyndsySimon, I read your post in another topic where you said that you were loosing weight by eating a ketonic diet. Got curious, followed your profile and arrived here, just to tell you two things. One that I can see that you're thinking different, and I congratulate you for this, as it's not easy to do so. Second, that regarding religions you can perhaps take a step ahead, too. God is universal. Religions are man made and serve to divide. You may be interested in a six book volume set that really enlightened me: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Teaching-Masters-East-Volume/dp/.... Please read the comments. ;-)
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