Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#1

Post by smarri » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 6:12 AM UTC

Niall Ferguson's the Ascent of Money and Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. The former is extremely informative, the later is a work of art.

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#2

Post by shaban1234 » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:03 AM UTC

how do iget to karma 2

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#3

Post by atlasunshrugged » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:04 AM UTC

Graham Allison's Destined for War about Thucydides Trap with an examination of the US and China was quite good

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#4

Post by arikr » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:08 AM UTC

Alchemy by Rory Sutherland.

"Why is Red Bull so popular, though everyone—everyone!—hates the taste? Humans are, in a word, irrational, basing decisions as much on subtle external signals (that little blue can) as on objective qualities (flavor, price, quality). The surrounding world, meanwhile, is irreducibly complex and random. This means future success can’t be projected on any accounting spreadsheet. To strike gold, you must master the dark art and curious science of conjuring irresistible ideas: alchemy."

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#5

Post by nateferrero » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:09 AM UTC

Psychedelic Information Theory: Shamanism in the Age of Reason

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#6

Post by tunnuz » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:09 AM UTC

Gut by Julia Enders, a pop-sci book on our digestive system.

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#7

Post by znerp » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:12 AM UTC

The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#8

Post by lb1lf » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:12 AM UTC

Just finished Higginbotham's Midnight in Chernobyl on the accident, the cleanup and its consequences. At times it read almost like a thriller, while still being extremely informative.

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#9

Post by donw » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:13 AM UTC

arikr wrote: post #4

Alchemy by Rory Sutherland. "Why is Red Bull so popular, though everyone—everyone!—hates the taste? Humans are, in a word, irrational, basing decisions as much on subtle external signals (that little blue can) as on objective qualities (flavor, price, quality). The surrounding world, meanwhile, is irreducibly complex and random. This means future success can’t be projected on any accounting spreadsheet. To strike gol…

I may be utterly alone here, but I actually like the taste. Reminds me of the white Smarties at Halloween as a kid.

Re: Ask HN: Read any good books lately?

#10

Post by rohitbhats » Mon, Sep 16, 2019, 7:13 AM UTC

'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' can't stop recommending it. I am currently reading the 3rd book 'Life, the Universe and Everything'