The death of Superman (Graphic Novel)
This was literally the first comic book I ever read. Got me hooked.
Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
41–50 of 365 posts
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#42I guess it would depend on the category, like if you are doing any sort of front-end dev then one book I'd recommend over any other is Don't make me think which is still relevant today.
For the smb/indie-hacking I think E-myth revisited really changes your whole perspective about running a small business, especially when you read yourself on the pages.
Also there is one book which I don't think everybody should read but was truly life changing for me was Driven to distraction. It helped me get a evaluation and understand that ADHD is a very real thing (real as something which Doctors can spot on a MRI and it's not something you can overcome with strong will and determination).
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#43The Bible - as an original source of all types of stories and narratives you’ll find in 99% of all fiction books and movies. New Testament — as an original source of most of moral principles and ideas modern european civilization is based upon (also fundamental stories and narratives).
I’ve read the Bible and frankly I wouldn’t recommend. Putting aside that the different translations can sometimes drastically change the meaning of some stories, the English Bible as a whole is harder to grok than Shakespeare.
Then there are issues about how it was written by man, in the literal sense. Female testaments were left out. And some of the male testaments were only included hundreds of years after the death of Jesus. And then you have parts that are routinely taken out of context (because it’s such an massive and hard to read body of works) and other parts that contradict itself.
Regardless of whether you believe in God or not, the Bible isn’t a particularly good book in my opinion.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#44I would not recommend a single book for everyone to read, because people have different tastes and interests - and even if you recommend a single book based on people's interests - if they are really interested in that and the book is important to that interest it's likely they've already read it.
So probably a recommendation on any field should be made based on calculations both of how essential it is, but also how it's reading may change assumptions about the field if the person has not read it. It seems somewhat arrogant.
And in the end it's annoying to get recommended a book one considers essential to the field, as it implies one does not know what one knows.
All that said - for the field of:
Fantasy - Gormenghast
America - Democracy in America
Programming - Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#45The Bible - as an original source of all types of stories and narratives you’ll find in 99% of all fiction books and movies. New Testament — as an original source of most of moral principles and ideas modern european civilization is based upon (also fundamental stories and narratives).
Agreed with this one. But whole chunks of it are incredibly boring. So not one to be read cover to cover. I wonder if someone could point to an annotated bible or even a text book on the historical and culturally important points that are central to the bible.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#46Compound Effect by Darren Hardy.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#471984. Yes, I know you've probably read it already, but it's probably time to read it again.
It seems some people say they have read it even when they haven't. (Citation needed.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y83UkvHpYk
I can believe that more people started to read it than actually finished it. Plot points from the latter half of the book are only referenced very rarely.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#48Maybe not for all but, Bhagavad Gita: As it is. Do not read the explanation which are biased to god and religion. But you can definitely read the stanzas. The idea that we are actor whose duty is to act is a powerful concept, especially when you are feeling low. The book also has some egoistic stuff like "I am god, obey me." But once you filter some of these, you see bigger picture.
Definitely not a recommendation I see often.
I only came to know of the Gita by this quote: "To work you have the right, but not to the fruits thereof". Resonated with me, and brought me to the concept of "karma yoga".
How did you come across it?
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#49Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud by Peter Watson.
Just an amazing survey of how people have thought and created over the course of human history. For me, it put so many periods into context; I finally know the different between the renaissance and the enlightenment!
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#50You Are The One You've Been Waiting For: Bringing Courageous Love To Intimate Relationships by Richard C. Schwartz
Despite the horribly long title it turned out to be a great book on what we actually look for in relationships, and how to deal with the difficulties every relationship causes. A very non-boring psychology book.