How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute? • Hacker News Board

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#61

Post by billpaetzke » Fri, Jun 04, 2010, 5:57 PM UTC

dwodk wrote: post #24

jasonlotito wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. Very yes. Very, very yes. I use audible.com. Started with a gold account, and jumped right to platinum. Been using it for more than a year, and I've been incredibly happy. The only complaint is that the site sometimes feels slow. But I'm not on it often. Usually just once a month to get my new books, though I've been buying books as well recently to fill in gaps. Couple audiobooks with podcasts and you'll do fin…

It should be noted that Audible's content is under DRM.

And the downloading app only works on Windows and Mac (not Linux).

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#62

Post by corysama » Fri, Jun 04, 2010, 5:58 PM UTC

6 hours into this question and I'm amazed that http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/ hasn't been suggested yet. IMHO, its content seems like it would be pretty relevant/interesting to the HN crowd.

BTW: The only way I've found to browse (not search) through old episodes is paging through the twitter feed http://twitter.com/itconversations Does anyone know a better way?

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#63

Post by mkramlich » Fri, Jun 04, 2010, 6:05 PM UTC

I think it's dangerous for you and the folks around you to be doing something other than driving your car and paying attention to the driving environment.

So instead I'd recommend to try shortening your drive or switching to a passive commute like a bus or train.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#64

Post by billpaetzke » Fri, Jun 04, 2010, 6:48 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #34

There is a company that makes language CDs specifically for drivers . Put "Behind the Wheel" into the Amazon search box to see what's available. About 5 years ago, I had a 60 minute commute each way for about 6 months. So I learned French. It worked really well. Lots of listening and repeating, both in French and English. Increasingly difficult levels. And stuff you'd actually use. I went to Paris and surprised mysel…

Just bought it. Thanks for the advice. My employer is moving this month, and my commute will be 1 hour.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#65

Post by nickpinkston » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 1:16 AM UTC

I love listening to the current week's "The Economist" podcasts (promptly/free on TPB) to get high-quality / succinct insight on the world. The format is great for commutes: you can get through the magazine in a week's driving and the articles stand by themselves - as opposed to audiobooks which are long-format.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#66

Post by aaroneous » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 1:27 AM UTC

This American Life and Radiolab are great podcasts you can find online for free. No commercials, no pledge drives to interrupt your listening, and thought-provoking, interesting content that makes long drives go by remarkably quick.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#67

Post by metaprinter » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 2:34 AM UTC

aagha wrote: post #58

nonrecursive wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a commute that takes an hour each way on average. Some audiobooks I've enjoyed: * I Drink For a Reason - very funny * Stumbling on Happiness (sounds self helpy but is actually a great book on our inability to predict how we will feel about situations in the future) * A Brief History of Everything - one cool story after another * A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - hard to bear, but eye-opening * Gettin…

Read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and sit back while your mind gets blown--more true if you have children.

I have kids and I've read The Road. It is moving.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#68

Post by metaprinter » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 2:35 AM UTC

Wow, lots of great ideas. Thanks!

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#69

Post by kachhalimbu » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 7:33 PM UTC

I have a 3 hr daily commute to work. I normally just take a nap or listen to soft music. Occasionally though I listen to Are We Alone http://radio.seti.org/ podcast.

Re: How can I keep learning on my 1.5 hr commute?

#70

Post by lovskogen » Sat, Jun 05, 2010, 8:09 PM UTC

vinhboy wrote: post #37

No one said NPR, so I am going to say NPR. The only bad side effect is that you will become very cynical about politic. But seriously, sometimes a 1.5hr hour commute seems like too short when I am listening to NPR. I commute 2 hours each way and NPR is how I roll.

I'd say No Agenda beats NPR in the morning.