Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier? • Hacker News Board

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

#231

Post by bobbington » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 7:43 PM UTC

The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius. Actually I read this in school, but most schools don't teach it. It's a brilliant book written by a man who was thrown in a dungeon in the middle ages for standing up for what is right. He brilliantly, logically shows step-y-step how neither money, nor power, nor fame can make you happy and where true happiness lies.

Diamonds have to go through tremendous heat and pressure to become beautiful. I think the suffering this man endured brought about an amazing work.

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

#232

Post by BJanecke » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 8:59 PM UTC

Software

The Mythical Man Month && Design Of Design by Fred Brooks

Everything else

Hitchhikers Guide (Existentialism does not have to be edgy) The Foundation Series (Bureaucracy and Institutionalization will never undermine Ingenuity) Dune Series (Plans within plans)

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

#233

Post by zeroer » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 9:14 PM UTC

andai wrote: post #200

udkl wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm audiobook-ing "Harry Potter And The Methods of Rationality" by the same author. It presents some of the ideas from "Rationality" but from the point of view of Harry who is portrayed as a rationalist. In-fact the first chapter is titled "A Day of Very Low Probability" where Harry tries to think probabilistically about the new magical world he is being introduced to when he is still living with Aunt Petunia. I reco…

One hundred and twenty two chapters :o

So worth it. If you read it, you'll wish there were more.

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

#234

Post by zeroer » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 9:15 PM UTC

maaaats wrote: post #182

Joeri wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rationality is good, but I found Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality to be a much more pleasant read about the same topics by the same author. Both books suffer from the same problem, the lack of an editor. They could be half the size and it would make them a much more convincing and entertaining read.

The HP books also suffers a bit from being written one chapter at a time. But at the same time, it's an interesting concept seeing a story evolve that way. I found some of the first chapters a bit long-winded, but after that I think the book found its direction.

Yea, I agree. Yudkowski found his voice starting around chapter 20. The initial chapters could use a good rewriting.

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

#235

Post by johnsmith21006 » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 9:20 PM UTC

The Goal and then the Phoenix project.

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

#236

Post by d0mine » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 9:26 PM UTC

"A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science" by Oakley http://barbaraoakley.com/books/a-mind-for-numbers/

Despite the title it is useful for learning how to learn in general (not just math). Simple techniques supported by the research. I wish I didn't had to reinvent them in high school, college.

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

#237

Post by ebcode » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 9:53 PM UTC

"Out of the Crisis" by W. Edwards Deming. The author was one of a handful of people who helped the Japanese apply methods of statistical control to their manufacturing processes, which in turn helped them to become an economic superpower after their country's occupation by the Allies. In the book the author takes a deep look at the problems of management in the United States, and provides a list of reforms that would lead businesses "out of the crisis". I only recently learned of W. Edwards Deming, and I wish that I had known about him much earlier.

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

#238

Post by ThomPete » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 10:01 PM UTC

"The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" by Julian Jaynes

It was the first time I read someone who was thinking about the mind like I am and was able to put into words some of my own more vague thoughts.

It's definitely going to leave you thinking.

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

#239

Post by innocentoldguy » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 10:31 PM UTC

rtx wrote: post #166

innocentoldguy wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you mind explaining why? I'm not looking for a heated argument. I'm just curious what aspects of it drove you away.

Maybe, logical thinking.

That's overly broad. I was hoping for something more specific. Again, not trying to be contrary. I sincerely want to understand why some highly intelligent people can read this book and be convinced of the existence of God, while other highly intelligent people can read it and end up convinced otherwise. I find that outcome interesting.

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

#240

Post by tutufan » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 11:51 PM UTC

abalashov wrote: post #211

I wish I had read Real World Divorce , much of which can be found on realworlddivorce.com. It's notable for the fact that Philip Greenspun is a major contributor to it, which I found most surprising and intriguing. I don't want to duplicate a lot of text, so I'll link to my Amazon review of it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2UKHDY7L4NPSV/re... TL;DR it's the only bit of literature I've found that's got…

Haven't read this specifically, but agree with the concept. Also recommend The Psychopath Code by Pieter Hintjens (the ZMQ guy). Most books are ultimately quite abstract. A few are useful when the shit really hits the fan.