Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#351

Post by psalminen » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 6:28 PM UTC

plants wrote: post #319

stochastic_monk wrote: post #152

As for me —- 0: Jorge Luis Borges, Labyrinths Anyone interested in information theory, intelligence (artificial or otherwise), many-worlds interpretations of quantum mechanics, metafiction, the nature of art, or even probabilistic sequence modeling should read Borges’ short stories. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. 1: Hero With A Thousand Faces A classic book collating world mythologies and psychoanalytical tho…

Many of my lit-savvy friends have never heard of Borges - I had never caught wind of him until about a year or two ago. I was blown away when I read Labyrinths. His writing style strikes a really nice balance between analytical and artistic/philosophical. I found that I got the most out of his stories when I read them in their entirety and reflected upon for a while afterwards. I would HIGHLY recommend him to other t…

> read them in their entirety and reflected upon for a while afterwards.

This. My HS Physics teacher introduced my to Labyrinths. Still the best book recommendation I've ever received. Giving time for each story to absorb is essential. I'd also like to add "The Lottery in Babylon" is an excellent story.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#352

Post by psalminen » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 6:36 PM UTC

oxymoron wrote: post #221

rayalez wrote: post #123

Here are the best books I've read over the last few months: - Lost and Founder - the founder of Moz shares his advice and experience from building a 40M/year company. I found the things he says about building a startup extremely insightful and practically useful. Reading it feels like having a dinner with a friend who shares with you the things he has learned in a very honest, down to earth way. Highly recommend it.…

I recommend ”A short history of nearly everything” to everyone, regardless of background. It covers a range of scientific fields and their history. My favorite part is his description of biological taxonomy. I also rememver enjoying his chapter on the history of plate tectonics. ”Our mathematical universe” is a fun and interesting book, but probably more of interest to someone with an explicit interest in physics. I…

The beginning of "Our Mathematical Universe" was a great high-level description of a lot of popular modern physics concepts for a layperson to understand.

Then it goes really downhill IMO. It (pretty much) only gets worse from level 4.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#353

Post by psalminen » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 7:12 PM UTC

pbnjay wrote: post #14

For sci-fi recs: I recently read The Three-body Problem by Cixin Liu (a trilogy) and thought it was really good. Also just started another sci-fi trilogy with A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge which has some really fun and interesting (if hand-wavy) ideas about deep space physics.

Tom Holt - Doughnut is a really fun, easy sci-fi read I recently enjoyed.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#354

Post by larntz » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 7:18 PM UTC

fanclocker wrote: post #259

carrollgt91 wrote: post #240

The Power of Vulnerability, by Brené Brown. Given the amount of imposter syndrome, internalized shame, and unhealthy posturing that I've seen in the startup space, it seems especially relevant for folks here. This really changed my relationship towards vulnerability as a leader. Also, it's quite entertaining. She's very charming in her delivery, and she does a good job exemplifying her findings in the presentation of…

She wrote a book on the subject too: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead I assume you would be interested.

I really enjoyed Daring Greatly. I would recommend this also.

I feel I was able to apply a lot of it to my day to day family life.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#355

Post by larntz » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 7:23 PM UTC

ProfDreamer wrote: post #208

"The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage" by Clifford Stoll is my all time favorite for vacation reading.

I read this book about 20 years ago when I was in high school. It was one of my favorite books at the time. I think I read it 3 times during my high school years. It was a great read at the time.

I haven't read it recently but anyone that lived experienced technology of the 80s/90s or wants a realistic feel for what it was like should read this.

It's a great story about how a guy from Berkley (I think) tracked down a hacker. I don't remember the specifics but it was very War Games-esque but based in reality.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#356

Post by m-i-l » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 8:06 PM UTC

Aeolun wrote: post #316

m-i-l wrote: post #305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The sci-fi book that anticipated what rouge blockchain like programs can do. It would have to be a fantasy book to truly go rogue - if it was sci-fi it would get bogged down in network congestion or high transaction fees, or consume all of the planet's energy production, before it could do much damage.

It's not a block chain, just a rogue distributed network. But saying too much more would ruin the plot. It gets a little bit over the top, but the concept is very entertaining.

Sorry, was just a sarcastic comment about the limitations of blockchain tech. If it is about a distributed network in general that makes much more sense. Have checked it out.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#357

Post by projproj » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 8:37 PM UTC

sadema wrote: post #253

carrollgt91 wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll second Waking Up - I've been interested in mindfulness meditation for years, and this book is what finally helped frame it in a way that went down nicely for me. I sometimes enjoy the podcast by the same name as well, though the conversations are more hit or miss.

Have you read any other mindfulness or meditation books? Waking Up wanted me to read more in that area, but I'm not sure what to pick up next.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64369.Mindfulness_in_Pla... was good. I read it twice in a row. It actually delivers on the promise of being for beginners.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#358

Post by ajhurliman » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 8:47 PM UTC

-Godel, Escher, Bach / There was an article on here a short while back writing about how they didn't like the book. I figured if the book was important enough that it was noteworthy when someone wrote that they DIDN'T like it, I should check it out.

-Salt, fat, acid heat / A no-nonsense approach to cooking that's made me feel a lot more confident in the kitchen

-It's your ship / Required reading for a PM class

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#359

Post by gandhium » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 9:13 PM UTC

amarant wrote: post #128

The Culture series by Iain M. Banks. Cannot be recommended enough! it's brilliance is unoverstatable. I'm still a bit hyped about these books ;)

If you liked Banks, I can recommend Alastair Reynolds's "Revelation Space" and "Poseidon's Children" series.

Re: Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?

#360

Post by gandhium » Fri, Jul 13, 2018, 9:14 PM UTC

pbnjay wrote: post #14

For sci-fi recs: I recently read The Three-body Problem by Cixin Liu (a trilogy) and thought it was really good. Also just started another sci-fi trilogy with A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge which has some really fun and interesting (if hand-wavy) ideas about deep space physics.

Since nobody recommended them yet: Alastair Reynolds's "Revelation Space" and "Poseidon's Children" are wonderful sci-fi series.