How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis
Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
291–300 of 365 posts
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#292Earlier quoted context omitted.
This idea sounds like “tiny habits”, elaborated in the book by BJ Fogg? Have you read both? If so which would you recommend?
There's also atomic habits. It seems authors were in search of the smallest habit possible. Probably smaller = easier for readers searching for shortcuts to build willpower Can't wait for subatomic habits!!
I'm actually writing a book called "Quantum Habits".
I've only gotten to the title, so far.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#293Since we can only pick one -> "Animal Farm", no question about it. Easy read, succinctly describes human nature.
But if I could, I would supplement it with these two, because they were so prescient in describing what happened to us in the past 30 years:
Erich Fromm - "Escape From Freedom"
Aldous Huxley - "Brave New World"
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#294I decided to learn/understand why Religion is the center-stage for almost every event that happens to humanity. This year, I’m planning to read the books, at least, of the top 5 religions of the world. Read Bhagavad Gita[1], had read the Bible[2] in hotel stays but will read it again, and the Quran[3] is waiting in the book-shelf. No, not religious at all; in fact, very far from it. Some time back, someone did a nice…
as an atheist, the new testament was a pretty fun read. if you put aside all the stuff about Jesus being God and also his son or whatever, the character was very revolutionary and anti-establishment. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
> "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
There he implicitly refers to the creation week, that is the rationale for keeping the sabbath: "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:11)
Jesus stresses that God gave an example to rest on the seventh day, for in his time it had been turned into a religious ordinance with strict rules to follow. IOW people were on their toes to avoid doing anything banned instead of resting.
> the character was very revolutionary and anti-establishment.
I guess you can get that impression depending on how much you put aside as "stuff about Jesus being God and also his son or whatever".
In Matthew 23 he says: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."
I would say that he opposed the establishment to the extent that it was wrong, but he definitely opposed rebellion:
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:51-52)
That was when Jesus was being captured.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#295Never even heard of Chimpanzee Politics. Sounds great. Thanks for the tip.
non-fictional: everything Robert Greene
fictional: everything Dostoevsky
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#296It's probably cliché, and there are so many good books.. I must say "1984" because I read that as a kid, and it was not only the first "real book" i read from cover to cover, but also the one that I felt most strongly influence my thinking.
I know people love 1984 but I found it exceedingly boring when I tried to read it. But it does have some very interesting ideas. My issue with 1984 may have been prior exposure to it's best ideas elsewhere. Orwell is a great writer, highly recommend both "Homage to Catalonia" and "Animal Farm". Complex topics written in an accessible style.
1984 is not boring; it takes commitment to read and think about the idea of "Power" it paints. Once you "get it" it can be Worldview altering. It may talk about "The Party" but that is just a stand-in for any Group; for example, think of any "Religion" and its hold on its followers.
Here is O'Brien's monologue on "Power"; read it and see how widely it is applicable - https://artist-tyrant.tumblr.com/post/69668613937/obriens-mo...
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#297Earlier quoted context omitted.
I didn’t say it was an easy read. For good or for bad - those books require efforts. But once you dig to at least 1% of the stories and ideas - you save weeks skipping tons of shallow books out there.
Reading something unenjoyable just for the sake of not having to read something else that you might enjoy doesn’t sound like a particularly compelling reason to read the first book. Besides, if all you’re trying to do is compress lessons in story writing then you’re better off skipping the Bible and picking up a collection of kids stories - particularly for ages 6 and below because those will often also follow the sa…
> Even Christians these days pick an choose which parts of the Bible to read and then distil those down into short stories and songs rather than reading the texts in full.
It is lamentable if true. They don't know what they miss.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#298Earlier quoted context omitted.
You realize it’s the books you dont agree with that are most worth reading? The capitalist should read Marx’s work. And the diehard communist should read Hayek. To filter out a work like the Bible (or Koran, etc) because it goes against the grain of your current politics is retarding your intellectual growth, not expanding it.
I wasn’t saying I don’t agree with any political messaging. I was saying it’s an objectively bad book to read by modern literary standards. Even those in this thread defending the Bible has literally said it’s not something you’d read cover to cover.
I have read it cover to cover multiple times and plan to continue reading for the rest of my life.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#299Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
It is waiting its turn on my table btw.
Re: Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?
#300The Enchiridion, aka The Handbook. Simple language. Simple lessons. Life changing guidance that has stood the test of time.
Good suggestion.
My favourite translation with commentary is Keith Seddon's Epictetus' Handbook and the Tablet of Cebes: Guides to Stoic Living.