91–100 of 248 posts
Reversing: Secrets of Reverse Engineering by Eldad Eilam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversing:_Secrets_of_Reverse_...
It’s really a summary of a single idea, but the most valuable idea I have encountered- how to recognize that the hardships and problems we face mostly come from failing to identify what we actually control, and mistakenly focusing our efforts and concerns on what we can’t control while neglecting what we can.
Not any particular book but: Studying mathematics and physics has greatly improved my thinking and problem solving abilities. Already a semester or two (of real analysis, linear algebra, experimental physics, theoretical physics) would get one very far I think. As for books, https://theoreticalminimum.com/ might be a great starting point.
An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis by Hospers. Provides an approach to thinking about different types of philosophical problems.
Both are accessible and will make you super genius.
From a software engineering standpoint: - Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (doing all the exercises is key). This book helped me think about how programs run, how state is stored, how you can build out asynchronous computation, and how you can build your own languages. - Designing Data Intensive Applications. This book profoundly changed how I think about application performance and data. It describe…
never thought i'd see someone mention HPMoR on HN :D
My top 3 (with a recency bias of course): 1. The Field Guide to Understanding 'Human Error' - most of the book I thought "but it's obvious", but it still made me actively think about system design choices not from the standpoint "how it should be used" but "how can it be misused" 2. Thinking fast and slow - just another reminder that my brain is a lazy bastard and information/awareness hygiene is very important 3. Ho…
I would look for books that either: 1. Increase context on problems being solved 2. Improve tactics/strategies/systemic understanding 3. Improve physical health/mental health If you want to think better, I think physical health and mental health will have the highest return by far. Thinking is kind of like driving. Imagine driving a car where some parts are broken (mental health problem) or a really uncomfortable sea…
I am not able to spend enough time on solving problems and my mind wanders away. What books/resources do you suggest to improve this?
Wonderful lessons therein on:
- thinking from first principles and following the evidence and solid metrics
- being willing to be proven wrong, and keeping an open mind in the face of new facts
- the value of open scientific collaboration
- resisting arguments from authority
- how fundamental skills and intelligence transfer across domains
Ventris did not have a Rosetta stone at hand, so he had to decipher the script from what he could suss out using statistical methods and building up an internal logic. It's also a fun story of a great puzzle.
It's a short and great book and was formative to me. There's newer books on the story that do a better job of highlighting the contributions of Ventris' collaborators (particularly the impressive Alice Kober), but Chadwick's is still the most concise and enjoyable, I think.