Ask HN: Life Changing Books? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#81

Post by franczesko » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:34 PM UTC

"Clash of Civilizations" by Samuel P. Huntington

It's remarkable how universal this book is, despite being written long ago. It changed my perspective on the West-centric world.

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#82

Post by mdoms » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:35 PM UTC

If you're interested in fiction I'm going to say,

Anathem by Neal Stephenson

It's not even my favourite Stephenson book (that would be Seveneves) but it's the one that made me reflect the most on philosophy and meaning.

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#83

Post by progend » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:35 PM UTC

rookie123 wrote: post #42

alecst wrote: post #40

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. I delayed for too long reading this thrilling book. It was like getting a brain massage. So many wonderful lessons in rational thinking packed into a truly enjoyable and memorable story. In response to some questions: It's not a kids book. It's a fan-fiction inspired by the original books, but written with adults in mind. You can read it for free at http://www.hpmor.com/ .

Is it fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction.

http://www.hpmor.com/

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#84

Post by mox111 » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:36 PM UTC

This is going to be an unusual answer for this forum, but... the Harry Potter series

Firstly, I read it as a kid, in my formative years, when it was most likely to have an impression on me.

But I remember reading the books and feeling completely enraptured by this magical world. I also remember feeling a a bit annoyed at what I perceived as Harry's laziness and ingratitude! I would think "if I was him, I would spend all my days in the library, learning all the coolest spells, potions etc., and make the most of all this magical power"

As an adult, this has unintentionally become the frame through which I view my job as a programmer. You can call me a romantic, but I've been doing this for years and I still think it's wonderful. At any time I can open a book or a man page and learn some amazing new spells.

With our computers, we _all_ have access to magic, it's just about learning to use it.

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#85

Post by ohCh6zos » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:37 PM UTC

genjipress wrote: post #17

Gödel, Escher, Bach

This book changed my life. Throughout high-school I hated math because I thought it was just memory work. I ended up going into computer science and then higher maths because of reading this.

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#86

Post by thejackgoode » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:38 PM UTC

snaveen wrote: post #76

A Master's Secret Whispers: For those who abhor the noise and seek The Truth about life and living https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Secret-Whispers-those-living/... Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735211299/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b... Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness https://www.amazon.com/Alman…

Are there other people who think Naval Ravikant has zero original ideas and his real competence is speech?

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#87

Post by chernevik » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:42 PM UTC

A few:

"The Once and Future King", T.H. White -- best novelization of the problem of power

"Don Quixote", Miguel de Cervantes -- why stories matter

"Essence of Decision", Graham Allison -- how views of a historic episode vary with the theory you apply

"Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings", Basler/Sandburg -- The application of reason to the problems of law, morality and politics

Re: Ask HN: Life Changing Books?

#88

Post by yissp » Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 5:42 PM UTC

bsrhng wrote: post #48

d0mine wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is obvious in hindsight but it was a revelation for me that the ancients were not idiots/have something to teach us, and how little progress there is in a non-technological sphere since then (e.g., political social issues from many 100s years ago are still relatable or the stoics wisdom is still applicable at the personal level)

One follow up question you might want to be asking is why you thought that in the first place and what it has to do with current societal views.

Well, we genuinely do have a far better understanding of the natural world than the ancients. Many practical problems they faced have been effectively solved by technology, like food scarcity, communication, transportation etc. To me it seems more surprising that there hasn't been similar progress in our understanding of society and the human condition. We're still struggling with most of the same issues they were.