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Summer Reading List

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Re: Summer Reading List

#161

Post by mecredis »

jackschultz wrote: post #81

I know this is a technical site, but for all of these I always get a little sad with how few fictional books are listed on these types of posts. Going over it, seems like there's just one, "The Nix" (may be more where I just missed them). I like seeing fictional books since I can relate to the people writing them. If I enjoyed some of the fictional books that people talk about, then I'll go along with their non-ficti…

Thanks – I'm the one that picked The Nix for the list (I work for YC on their admissions team).

One reason I picked it is that is indeed a great book that I have been recommending plenty to friends.

Another is that I do think it's incredibly important to be able to enjoy and indulge and make time for fiction, especially when you work in tech. It's too easy to "read for facts / information / theory" and forget the joy that good writing can bring.

It took me some reflection to realize I heavily bias towards non-fiction unless I make an effort. But when I do get the chance to read a great novel, it tends to affect me more than reading non-fiction.

The world needs more literature, poetry, and art, so I also like supporting authors who ship that product too :)

(FWIW, the book probably isn't for everyone, but I think reading great literature is – give it a shot if you haven't in a while!)

Re: Summer Reading List

#163

Post by mtalantikite »

filiwickers wrote: post #137

If you struggle to get diverse voices inside your field, maybe you should read from diverse voices outside your field. I understand it is hard and I also gravitate towards comfortable reading, usually meaning from people that look like me. This is the problem. Start being accountable to yourself about it. 2 of 19 the books in the list are by female authors (both recommended by women). Looking for some good books from…

Agreed on all points. There are too many to list, but I'm currently reading Arundhati Roy's "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" and would recommend it to everyone.

Re: Summer Reading List

#164

Post by philfrasty »

filiwickers wrote: post #152
muninn_ wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, I have nothing against what you've listed here, this is great stuff. What I find interesting for me personally is that it never once crosses my mind who the author is or what their skin color is or anything like that when I'm looking at a book. I just have no idea (and perhaps no interest really, unless it's something I'm REALLY into). Anyway, it's cool that you're listing these. I'm particularly interested in Th…

Me either, and that's exactly the issue. Look at any top books list and it is mostly white males. Either men have an easier time getting published or men are inherently better writers. I believe the former is the case. By seeking out female writers and other diverse voices we can start to tip the balance. Historically, men were the only ones that had the opportunity to write, so any books from older centuries are goi…

„...I BELIEVE the former is the case...“

There is no point to your argument if it is just a hunch.

Re: Summer Reading List

#165

Post by kens »

filiwickers wrote: post #152
muninn_ wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, I have nothing against what you've listed here, this is great stuff. What I find interesting for me personally is that it never once crosses my mind who the author is or what their skin color is or anything like that when I'm looking at a book. I just have no idea (and perhaps no interest really, unless it's something I'm REALLY into). Anyway, it's cool that you're listing these. I'm particularly interested in Th…

Me either, and that's exactly the issue. Look at any top books list and it is mostly white males. Either men have an easier time getting published or men are inherently better writers. I believe the former is the case. By seeking out female writers and other diverse voices we can start to tip the balance. Historically, men were the only ones that had the opportunity to write, so any books from older centuries are goi…

I agree on The Power Broker; it is kind of amazing and changed my view of New York City. To summarize, Robert Moses leveraged a parks commission position to reshape New York City how he wanted it: from bridges and expressways and urban renewal to the Lincoln Center and United Nations buildings. The first key point is how to leverage a minor position into dictatorial power. The second key point is that New York City didn't just end up how it is; many of its good and bad characteristics (including many racial issues) are because Robert Moses made it that way. However, I can't really recommend reading the book since it is very, very long - longer than Infinite Jest.

And yes, Jane Jacobs' "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" is definitely a must-read if you're interested in urban areas.

Re: Summer Reading List

#166

Post by novia »

daveguy wrote: post #102
jackschultz wrote: post #81

I know this is a technical site, but for all of these I always get a little sad with how few fictional books are listed on these types of posts. Going over it, seems like there's just one, "The Nix" (may be more where I just missed them). I like seeing fictional books since I can relate to the people writing them. If I enjoyed some of the fictional books that people talk about, then I'll go along with their non-ficti…

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman is also fiction and one of the best books I have ever read. I read it over 20 years ago and some of the stories in it still flash in my mind. Definitely going to re-read it. It is a fast read.

Seconded. I love this book. I was surprised to see it on the list because I expected them to all be recently published.

Re: Summer Reading List

#167

Post by filiwickers »

philfrasty wrote: post #164
filiwickers wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me either, and that's exactly the issue. Look at any top books list and it is mostly white males. Either men have an easier time getting published or men are inherently better writers. I believe the former is the case. By seeking out female writers and other diverse voices we can start to tip the balance. Historically, men were the only ones that had the opportunity to write, so any books from older centuries are goi…

„...I BELIEVE the former is the case...“ There is no point to your argument if it is just a hunch.

I was being facetious.

Women are better writers.

Re: Summer Reading List

#168

Post by engi_nerd »

filiwickers wrote: post #137

If you struggle to get diverse voices inside your field, maybe you should read from diverse voices outside your field. I understand it is hard and I also gravitate towards comfortable reading, usually meaning from people that look like me. This is the problem. Start being accountable to yourself about it. 2 of 19 the books in the list are by female authors (both recommended by women). Looking for some good books from…

...Or they just asked a number of people to recommend a favored book, and this is the list that they got.

Why does everything have to be about diversity?

Re: Summer Reading List

#169

Post by silencio »

weeksie wrote: post #158
filiwickers wrote: post #137

If you struggle to get diverse voices inside your field, maybe you should read from diverse voices outside your field. I understand it is hard and I also gravitate towards comfortable reading, usually meaning from people that look like me. This is the problem. Start being accountable to yourself about it. 2 of 19 the books in the list are by female authors (both recommended by women). Looking for some good books from…

For pretty _amazing_ sci fi that I just stumbled on, NK Jemisin is amazing. Her Broken Earth series is not only tremendously gripping, original, and epic in scope, but it also does a fantastic job of portraying a world with predominantly non-white characters without being on the nose or ham-handed about it. (incidentally, when I picked up the book I had no idea what race or gender the author was, I was just looking f…

I adore NK Jemisin so much, the awards are all so deserved! It was particularly nice that she won the Hugo in the midst of all the drama, too.

Another author I want to throw out there, is Liu Cixin - his novel The Three-Body Problem won the Hugo for Best Novel the year prior. Not a woman, but scifi from a vastly different cultural/racial angle than a lot of us are accustomed to, I would imagine.

Re: Summer Reading List

#170

Post by [deleted] »

filiwickers wrote: post #152
muninn_ wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, I have nothing against what you've listed here, this is great stuff. What I find interesting for me personally is that it never once crosses my mind who the author is or what their skin color is or anything like that when I'm looking at a book. I just have no idea (and perhaps no interest really, unless it's something I'm REALLY into). Anyway, it's cool that you're listing these. I'm particularly interested in Th…

Me either, and that's exactly the issue. Look at any top books list and it is mostly white males. Either men have an easier time getting published or men are inherently better writers. I believe the former is the case. By seeking out female writers and other diverse voices we can start to tip the balance. Historically, men were the only ones that had the opportunity to write, so any books from older centuries are goi…

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