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Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

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51–60 of 280 posts

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#51
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK0PICK/ref=kinw_myk_...

It's about tidying up, but also about making your living space harmonious without clutter. It's not one of those get a box and put your pencils in it and then label it.

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#54
Non-Fiction:

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, because it changed my understanding of people for the better.

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman, because it gave me a model for how to enjoy life.

"Models" by Mark Manson, because it helped shape my understanding of heterosexual relationships.

"An Introduction to General Systems Thinking" by Gerald Weinberg, because it illuminates the general laws underlying all systems.

Fiction:

"Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert A Heinlein, because it showed me a philosophy and "spirituality", for lack of a better word, that I could agree with.

"The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, because they showed me how human systems break, and they provided human models for how to see and live in, through, and past those broken systems.

"Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality" by Eliezer Yudkowsky, because it set the bar (high) for all future fiction, especially when it comes to the insightful portrayal of the struggle between good and evil.

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#55
post #18

i discovered 'the phantom tollbooth' in grad school (for some reason, it was pretty much unknown in india when i was growing up). i'm pretty sure kid me would have loved it even more than adult me did.

I still remember being engrossed by this as a 10 year old, looking forward to reading this again with any kids I have of my own.

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#56
post #48

The Holy Bible Start With Why The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Think Like a Freak SmartCuts

I'm about 75% of the way through SmartCuts and I love it! I really enjoy this type of format, but the people and stories Shane chose are just great. +1 recommendation.

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#57
"The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald Norman.

Technically this book is about how humans interact with things, but actually it covers a lot more topics that one can think: how humans act, err, how they make descisions, how memory works, what are the responsibilities of conscious/subconscious. Also you'll start to dislike doors, kitchen stoves and their disigners)

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#58
1) Superintelligence. This is a really great read about the implications of AI, or general intelligence. It's really intriguing and brings up so many scenarios I've never thought about. Anyone interested in AI should definitely read this.

Similarly, On Intelligence is an absolutely brilliant book on what 'intelligence' is, how it works, and how to define it.

2) Hooked. Although it's very formulaic, Hooked provides a lot of good ideas and approaches on building a product.

3) REWORK. If you're a fan of 37 Signals and/or DHH, this is a succinct and enjoyable read about their principles on building and running a business.

Currently I'm reading SmartCuts and The Everything Store - both of which are great so far.

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#59
post #54

Non-Fiction: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, because it changed my understanding of people for the better. "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman, because it gave me a model for how to enjoy life. "Models" by Mark Manson, because it helped shape my understanding of heterosexual relationships. "An Introduction to General Systems Thinking" by Gerald Weinberg, because it illu…

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, because it changed my understanding of people for the better.

Absolutely everyone should read this book. I wish it had a better title. "Understanding People" would be an excellent one.

Re: Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?

#60
post #27

Mans Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, especially good if you're feeling down or disallusioned.

Mans Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

Amazingly powerful read. It is simultaneously completely saddening to read what some humans are capable of doing to others, but also inspiring to see those who were victims of the holocaust and how they looked out for their fellow man during times when they themselves had absolutely nothing.

A tale of the absolute worst and best of humanity.

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