“The Effective Executive” by Peter Drucker.
I’ve never even been an “executive” but have found that nuggets from this book have helped me navigate the working world for 25 years.
Ask HN: What book changed your life?
51–60 of 539 posts
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#52https://mises.org/library/anatomy-state
I'm sorry to hear that book changed your life. My sincere condolences to your family and friends.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#53Getting Things Done By David Allen. I feel like everything I do is a decision and not a reaction now.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#54The Hithchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Catch 22. They helped me work through my teenage existential crisis.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#55As a young teenager, Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World. A brilliant series of essays about critical thinking.
More recently - I hesitate to recommend it because the trilogy is unfinished, but still - Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle books have redefined what is possible with fantasy fiction, with incredible depth and subtlety and literary flourishes. It has flaws for sure, but I can't think of anything that remotely compares to it, and I've read an enormous pile of genre fiction. A real eye opener if you're doing any kind of creative writing.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#56How to win friends and influence people - Carnegie Think and grow rich - Napoleon Hill That last one made something click in my head but I find it hard to describe what it is exactly. The key concepts that I learned from this book are in my thoughts and actions every single day.
Think and Grow Rich has been absolutely phenomenal in spearheading the mindset shift I've had over the past couple years, and I could not recommend it any more to anyone who wishes to have financial success in life.
Some may consider the book and its ideologies excessively materialistic, but I personally find that outlook refreshing especially considering the subject matter: making money; furthermore I think that take is a little baseless as the viewpoint on willpower etc. that Napoleon Hill provides can apply to far more than just accumulating wealth if utilized correctly.
All in all though, it was easily one of the most life-changing books I've ever read and I'm glad to see it's affected others positively too, cheers!
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#57The Tao Te Ching has given me more contemplative moments per page than anything else I've read.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#58A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by Irvine
Gave me a new perspective.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#59I think the only book I can recall having a direct impact on my conscious awareness was The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle[0]. The book is very easy to read and quite enjoyable with everything that it includes. I definitely recommend to check it out. [0]: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenme...
I was very skeptical about this book, and even while reading along I'd get the feeling of "uh, this is way out there wacko", but I decided to just take it at it's word and follow along.
And now I am able to briefly enter a state of complete acceptance and feel pure love flowing through me, like the perfect hug from a perfect being that understands me in every way. The first time I actually teared up a bit, the feeling of being accepted the way I was with no judgement.
It could be God, it could be "collective consciousness", it could be me just tricking my brain into releasing endorphins (and I'm leaning towards that explanation). But the result is amazing, it has seriously helped me with anxiety, fear, self hatred, etc.
Re: Ask HN: What book changed your life?
#60Heal your wounds & find your true self by Lise Bourbeau
Being Geek by Michael Loop
Very good at putting into words my introspection efforts and try to devise action plans for both personal and professional growth.