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Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#641

Post by rtkaratekid »

DantesKite wrote: post #303
rtkaratekid wrote: post #184

“Crime and Punishment” was by far the best book I’ve read this year. Not that I necessarily agree with all the ideas presented by the author, but I found it to be written so well that I couldn’t put it down. Really didn’t expect that for classical literature.

I don't mean this in a cynical way, but how come you didn't expect a literary classic to be well-written?

I didn’t say I didn’t think it would be well written, I just didn’t expect it to be as good as I found it to be. I had just been reading “Paradise Lost” and found “Crime and Punishment” written so well (not that PL isn’t) and in such an approachable way (PL certainly isn’t very approachable) that I couldn’t stop. Often with classic literature I get bogged down with flowery language, what seems like over emphasis on points, or dialogues that seem to stretch for eternity. Especially classic European literature with their “classic” translations. Often I push through those points and am rewarded by that, but with “Crime and Punishment” I felt almost no friction while reading, which was a surprise to me because I often do feel that friction with classic literature. I hope that answers your question.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#643

Post by christensen143 »

mongol wrote: post #435
janvdberg wrote: post #297

Here are all books I read (this year so far I read 50 books): https://books.j11g.com/search.php?log=3 Three books from 2021 stick out: - If This Is a Man by Primo Levi. I would urge everyone to read this. This history should be known to everyone. - Defying Hitler (the story of a German 1914 - 1933) by Sebastian Haffner. Masterfully written autobiography that explains the rise of nazi Germany more than any other histo…

How much time do you read per day? How long time to finish a book? I really should pick up reading more but there is so much that distracts me. This website for example.

I never used to be a "reader" but have built the habit through reading at least a section of a book everyday. I have had days where I rattled off 120 pages and days that I read 3 pages. With any habit it is about starting and building it.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#644

Post by christensen143 »

My favorite non-fiction book of the year was Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste" but I tried to spend some time reading some high quality fiction this year and stumbled upon Kristin Hannah's "The Four Winds." This says a lot since I read some classics this year including "Anna Karenina", "All the Light We Cannot See", and "Where the Crawdads Sing." I enjoyed "The Four Winds" the most. So beautifully written and so much emotion. I managed to read 50 books this year which was huge because I have never considered myself a "reader" but I received several books for Christmas because my family considers the "reader" of the family. For my fellow ADHD friends skip the Kindle and get the actual book. Then use your finger to read. Life-changing. Happy New Year!

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#645

Post by rasulkireev »

For me it was "How to Take Smart Notes" by Sönke Ahrens. This may be a little cliche answer, but to me it was very surprising to discover a person who reached such high productivity in Academic Publishing with the help of a smart system.

I have started to implement the Zettelkasten system in my own life. Hope that will use that system to publish more work on my website.

I published my thoughts, learning and notes on this book -> https://rasulkireev.com/how-to-take-smart-notes/

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#646

Post by renfbatista »

ohbleek wrote: post #561
michaelbarton wrote: post #63

“How to change your mind” by Michael Pollen. I read a lot of books, and this is one that caused a change in my life. The succinct summary is that psychedelics are misunderstood and there is more and more research showing their potential, especially in the treatment of trauma. I had a difficult childhood. It’s something I still struggle with personal interactions because of this, even after years of therapy. After rea…

As someone that works in psychedelic research I must say that this book did more for the acceptance of psychedelics as a legitimate therapy with mainstream America than anything, ever. The number of “straight-laced”, “9 to 5” people that have mentioned this book to me when they find out what I do is so high I pretty much expect it at this point. I personally was bored reading the book but only because I am so familia…

I had a similar experience with ayoaska. It removed some traumas that were blocking my self awereness and in some way growth. This helped me in my personal and professional life. I recommend it but should be taken with caution and in a security manner.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#647

Post by renfbatista »

michaelbarton wrote: post #63

“How to change your mind” by Michael Pollen. I read a lot of books, and this is one that caused a change in my life. The succinct summary is that psychedelics are misunderstood and there is more and more research showing their potential, especially in the treatment of trauma. I had a difficult childhood. It’s something I still struggle with personal interactions because of this, even after years of therapy. After rea…

I had a similar experience with ayahuasca. It removed some traumas that were blocking my self awareness and in some way growth. This helped me in my personal and professional life. I recommend it but should be taken with caution and in a security manner

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#648

Post by wsaryoo »

"A CONSTITUTION FOR LIVINGS - Buddhist principles for a fruitful and harmonious life"

download free pdf here

There is also the English version

https://www.watnyanaves.net/th/book_detail/211

The divided into 4 well structured sections that co-related to people life

Section One: People and Society Section Two: People and Life Section Three: People and People Section Four: People and the Way

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#649

Post by lysecret »

nimrody wrote: post #505
lysecret wrote: post #368

Veronica decides to die. Amazing book about what it means to be crazy. How to live an authentic life. Written in a funny and easy to read way. And it has the most important quality of any book IL really like. It's short and to the point haha

If you liked Veronica you'll probably also like other Paulo Coelho novels. Specifically, I can recommend "Eleven Minutes" and "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept".

hehe I am halfway through Eleven Minutes. Really like it. Also I have read the Alchemist, but didn't like it too much. Do you have further recommendations ?:)

Re: Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?

#650

Post by cben »

Rebelgecko wrote: post #259
OnionBlender wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it worth the effort? I've picked up snow crash a few times in the past 20 years and found it a hard read. I really want to enjoy it but I find it hard to swallow. I suppose it has been hard because it doesn't take itself seriously. My sci-fi reading history has been: - several William Gibson novels between 1995-2008 - Most of the ender's game series and home coming from 80's to 2008. - Between 2008 and 2018 I read…

A protip for Snow Crash is that you can just skip ahead 5-10 pages whenever there's an info dump about Babylonian grammar or the history of herpes simplex. You'll miss a bit, but not much. However if the first chapter doesn't get your interest at least a little piqued you probably won't enjoy the rest of the book any more.

Funny — I've been recently re-leafing through it to find _just_ the Babylonian infodumps. (though I failed at "skip ahead 5–10 pages whenever there is an action scene", because they're too good :-)

For me the blurring of religion/biology/code boundaries was brilliantly interesting (even if factually unconvincing). If you skip these infodumps, consider going back later.

-> for those who like that meta-liguistic angle, Laundry Files series by Charles Stross may be fun. It has some similar "Enochian" language used for programming zombies / magic / etc. (the tone is quite different though, more of a horror comedy, and varies between books as he's parodying different material.)

-> on the "collapse of government" angle, Diamond Age by Stephenson is almost a direct continuation. plus very cool nano-tech. (2nd half has few scenes using humans bodies in a gross way.)

-> if you like a large Quest crossing both physical and intellectual world, well, almost any Stephenson book :)

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