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Good Books for a Lousy Year

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Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#21

Post by yoz-y »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

As a software engineer who didn't read almost any books about software engineering I have a question: How did reading any books about SWE changed the way you work?

I found that reading books on other subjects (from non-fiction I've read some biographies, some economics books, the usual suspects like Sapiens and such). I find that knowing a bit about everything is mainly a good way to keep conversations going because it enables you to chip in on many different subjects while otherwise it might be hard to find a common interest.

It also helps to see some issues that one might overlook. An example would be American Kingpin which shows how a good technical idea with no moral oversight might end up creating something that ultimately makes world a little bit worse.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#22

Post by 1e-9 »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Reading immersive fiction makes me significantly more productive. I believe there are two main benefits: 1) It hones my ability to stay focused, and 2) It exercises the world-simulation part of my brain, which I use heavily for understanding problems and visualizing solutions.

Whenever I go more than a few weeks or so without reading fiction, I tend to notice a drop in my productivity and problem-solving ability. Binge-reading a good book fixes it every time.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#23

Post by robin_reala »

jcynix wrote: post #6

I'm currently reading "The White Plague" (1982) by Frank Herbert, which seems somehow appropriate given the current pandemic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Plague (contains spoilers)

On a similar theme, try A Journal of the Plague Year, The Decameron, and Plague Ship.

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/daniel-defoe/a-journal-of-...

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/giovanni-boccaccio/the-dec...

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/andre-norton/plague-ship

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#25

Post by rob74 »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

There's an (apparently untranslatable) word in German for people who are only interested in amassing knowledge in their own domain and totally ignorant of anything else: "Fachidiot" (see also https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/327748/is-there-...) - it's not really a flattering term. So, in my book, expanding your horizons is a good thing. Of course, Sherlock Holmes would disapprove (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3605300).

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#26

Post by happy_path »

yoz-y wrote: post #21
happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

As a software engineer who didn't read almost any books about software engineering I have a question: How did reading any books about SWE changed the way you work? I found that reading books on other subjects (from non-fiction I've read some biographies, some economics books, the usual suspects like Sapiens and such). I find that knowing a bit about everything is mainly a good way to keep conversations going because…

Reading technical books has helped me pass some interviews and improve my programming skills. It also helps me learn new languages (Go) and do some personal projects. No personal project has helped me get a job though...

Usually the part of out-of-scope of software is dealt by product managers. Maybe it is a problem of working in a big corporation?

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#27

Post by katnegermis »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Ha, initially misread your question as its opposite (~"would reading technical/non-work related books in my spare time be a waste of time") and immediately thought no, of course not! To me, doing non-work related things outside of working is what makes _both_ activities things fun.

Don't be hard on yourself for not spending every waking minute of your life working, preparing for work, or feeling bad because you "should" be doing one of those two. That's a very quick way get burned out.

YMMV, but in my experience, even if you want to optimize your life for doing the best work possible, not working all the time is a winning strategy!

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#28

Post by RMPR »

rob74 wrote: post #25
happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

There's an (apparently untranslatable) word in German for people who are only interested in amassing knowledge in their own domain and totally ignorant of anything else: "Fachidiot" (see also https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/327748/is-there-... ) - it's not really a flattering term. So, in my book, expanding your horizons is a good thing. Of course, Sherlock Holmes would disapprove ( https://news.ycombinat…

Further in that thread https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3605851

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#29

Post by gadders »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Don't let your job run your life. You're more than an employee, even if development is your passion.

And if you read the same books as everyone else, you'll have the same ideas as everyone else :-) Read about other industries - do they have stuff you can re-use? Read some of the great books and learn about history and human nature.

Develop a "hinterland" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterland

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#30

Post by ferkad »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

There is a book that might change your mind and it is actually on the list Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein.
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