What's the best book you read in the current year, and why? For me it was Range, by David Epstein. The combination of surveys, research data, anecdotes, and the ease of reading was fantastic! It helped me see many things in a more positive light than I had before. What about everyone else?
Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
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Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#2I did like Range (and am biased because I'm a generalist myself so I "wanted" to like it) but found it a bit belabored after the first few chapters, like most non-fiction books.
My pick would be Intrapreneurs by Gib Bullock, a first person perspective of building a new venture in a large business while challenging whether large businesses are good for the world, and ending up in a mental ward from the stressful introspection https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39730555-the-intrapreneu...
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#3Thoroughly enjoyed "Greenlights" by Matthew Mccounaghey. It's a brilliant read (and listen - he's a great narrator). Lots of interesting little stories that made me think about my own life!
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#4I mostly read fiction books (particularly fantasy and sci-fi). Best for me this year was Wintersteel by Will Wight [0]. This is a progression fantasy book (think anime like Naruto, Hunter x Hunter, etc but without fillers, harem, etc). Power-ups, training and fights are the major draw of such books, and Will manages to deliver them nicely along with interesting characters, awesome humor, twists, etc.
See my blog post [1] for other books I enjoyed this year.
[0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52135463-wintersteel
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#5Barbarian Days probably, it was recommended on here as on from Obama's reading list. I love the sea and surf and it brought back memories of travelling.
From last year (but even more relevant this year), Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh. I must have read it over 20 times when I was going through hard times.
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#6The Elephant In The Brain and A Philosophy of Software Design!
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#7David Deutsch: The Fabric of Reality
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#8The murder of Roger Ackroyd
For what it is, it was great. Did not read a lot of books this year due to children and covid!
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#9Tough one! I have to choose two:
"Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat" - Samin Nosrat
"Walking: One step at a time" : Erling Kagge
Re: Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?
#101) Non-fiction: Common Lisp: A Gentle Introduction to Symbolic Computation
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/LispBook/
Entire e-book available free online. The recursion part is especially fun. If you haven't tried Lisp, this is a great book to start with, and it will open your mind to new approaches to computing without the tough academic grinding of SICP.
2) Fiction: The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.
It's dark fantasy. Emphasis on dark. Feels like real life, except less victimology. I find the darkness a palate cleanser, excellent for when I have to deal with the realities of people and their burning desire to avoid responsibility for their own actions.
You can read some short bits by Joe free at the publishers site
https://www.tor.com/2016/01/12/twos-company-joe-abercrombie/