Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#61

Post by mial » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:21 PM UTC

madmax108 wrote: post #49

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse Never really been one to enjoy popular books on philosophy (Alchemist was overrated, Monk who sold his Ferrari cliched, The Secret just boring ...IMO) and picked this up at a used book store. The book truly put a new perspective on life for me. Perhaps it was a combination of the time when I read the book: Undue stress, massive imposter syndrome, that feeling of not moving ahead in life, a…

I've re-read Siddhartha at various times of my life and it had a profound impact on me each time. Can't recommend it enough.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#62

Post by qwerty456127 » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:25 PM UTC

is there a similar topic for videos? Some YouTube videos can cause profound changes in yourself an your life in minutes (if you are sufficiently open and actually want the change).

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#63

Post by a-saleh » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:30 PM UTC

Not a book, but a series of lectures on old testament from yale open courses. I found them as a young Lutheran, at a time more evangelical and fundamentalist influences were comming into my community, including young-earth creacionists.

Understanding the origin of my sacred text from scientific point of viewhelped me keep my faith while being able to accept modern, liberal society as my own.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#64

Post by RickJWagner » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:31 PM UTC

The Holy Bible.

Even without the religious aspects, it's an incredible document. A lot of human nature is explained.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#65

Post by leoh » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:33 PM UTC

tbjohnston wrote: post #50

1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - practical advice on how to arm yourself every day. 2. Man's Search for Meaning by Frankl - no matter how bad you think you have it, it can be worse, and you can find meaning. 3. The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen - it's the journey (not the destination) and pay attention!

The Snow Leopard was so beautiful. I read it slowly, over the course of several months. My girlfriend at the time teased me for reading it so slowly. But it was one of those books I didn't want to read quickly because it was so dense with meaning.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#66

Post by _rpd » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:35 PM UTC

madmax108 wrote: post #49

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse Never really been one to enjoy popular books on philosophy (Alchemist was overrated, Monk who sold his Ferrari cliched, The Secret just boring ...IMO) and picked this up at a used book store. The book truly put a new perspective on life for me. Perhaps it was a combination of the time when I read the book: Undue stress, massive imposter syndrome, that feeling of not moving ahead in life, a…

I'll add The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse because it saved me from decades of pointless game playing. (Actually just read everything by Hermann Hesse).

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#67

Post by notacoward » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:38 PM UTC

Don't remember the exact title or author, but it was the first book I read about logic, proof, and fallacies. It allowed me to separate the gems from the garbage in most of the other books I see mentioned here.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#68

Post by nexus2045 » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:39 PM UTC

anthony_franco wrote: post #26

The 4-Hour Workweek - made me quit my job and start a business. Since then I've been able to travel internationally for the first time in my life while working as much as I want.

Interestingly, the biggest eye-opener of reading the 4HWW is the part when Ferriss defines the word muse. I used to only think that it was a dichotomy of 1) boring 9-5 selling out your soul for the rest of your life, or 2) VC-backed startup scaling like mad and ending in a 7+ figure acquisition, but never considered the option in between: lifestyle businesses that are "automated", so you can actually do other things with your life.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#69

Post by monksy » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 9:49 PM UTC

daphneokeefe wrote: post #54

Obligatory "48 Laws of Power". You have to understand the rules, even if you don't want to actively participate. Greene's other books are good, too.

They're not as strong. But to echo that.

21 Strategies of war is good the 51st law is not so great. Mastery Is ok

The last I heard from Robert Greene was that he was working on a book about the motivations of people. However, I haven't heard of any progress.

Re: Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?

#70

Post by anthony_franco » Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 10:09 PM UTC

tmaly wrote: post #33

anthony_franco wrote: post #26

The 4-Hour Workweek - made me quit my job and start a business. Since then I've been able to travel internationally for the first time in my life while working as much as I want.

I would second the 4-Hour Workweek, yet I am still searching for a profitable idea. How long did it take you from reading the book to reaching the ability to quit your job?

It took me about four years. It would've been faster if I knew then what I know now.