Mine are : Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, I just love this book! Greatest Trade Ever by Gregory Zuckerman. And I read manga , so include One Piece as well :D
Atlas Shrugged is a must read for any entrepreneur.
Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
191–200 of 313 posts
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#192Earlier quoted context omitted.
As someone who's made the transtion from muslim -> atheist, I was disappointed, confused and terrified when I first read a translation of the Koran. I'm genuinely curious as to what you've learned from it that's of any use, apart from perhaps, a deeper understanding of the thought-process and ethos of Islamic fundamentalists.
Your reaction seems very strange. Can you explain why you had never read the koran if you were muslim?
Perfectly valid question with a simple answer. I wasn't born with the ability to read, so between the time I was born and the time I could read and comprehend a translation of the Koran, I was a muslim who hadn't read the Koran.
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#193Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Wheelan, Charles
Economics explained in the most intuitive way.
On a related note I started an account at goodreads.com at the start of this year. It is great for keeping track of what you read and to find books for future reading.
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#194"The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin. It really challenged many of my beliefs about the underpinnings of society. Quite relevant in the year of Occupy Wall Street as well. Feminist Science Fiction for the win.
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#195"Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger" by Peter Bevelin. Excellent read.
I've been trying to get a hold of this book for a while in the UK, but it seems very tough to get a copy of without paying through the teeth for international shipping. Anyone have any tips?
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#196"A little history of the world" by E.H. Gombrich. I've never been too enthusiastic about History in general, but I couldn't put this book down until finished.
His "Art and Illusion" is very good too.
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#197"The God Delusion" - Dawkins
Very blunt and mean. But also convincing...
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#198Rene Guenon's Man and His Becoming according to the Vedanta
Bhagavad Gita - Recension by William Quan Judge
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#199It isn't a proper book, but Eliezer Yudkowsky's Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality was incredible. Don't judge it by the fact that it is a fanfic.
How interesting will this be if i've never read the Harry Potter series? (i've seen a couple of the movies)
I hesitated to start. Partly because I found the original Harry Potter kind of boring/frustrating. And partly because it's fanfiction, a sort of writing I do not normally enjoy.
Still, I found it enjoyable and worth my time. Even though I thought Harry's portrayal was pretty uneven (swinging between "scientist/genius in an irrational world" and "arrogant prick demigod").
I liked Drako's additional depth far better than Rowling's one dimensional jerk.
http://www.elsewhere.org/rationality/
(rehash of my previous comment: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3231266 )
Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011
#200"To Kill a Mocking Bird", "Logicomix" in English. A play called "Andha Yug" (The Age of Darkness) in Hindi. English translation is also available for those interested. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198065221/
I just finished Logicomix (got it as a Christmas gift), in French though. It's a great read for anyone looking for a refreshing take on the history of mathematics in the early 20th century.