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Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

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Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#211
post #51
post #18

I read "Wheel of time" series by Robert Jordan this year. The books in this series are just so addictive.. wasn't able to stop till I read all thirteen books :)

Just one left to go, I've been waiting for a very very very long time.

Apparently it's finished. It will require numerous rewrites and edits, but the book is essentially finished. Sanderson said to look for the final book in the fall.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#212
I often got back to Playing to Win by David Sirlin - http://www.sirlin.net/ptw/

Though it's certainly aimed at competitive gaming, I also use it at times as an inspiration for my business. It helps whenever I need to take a second look and play the devil's advocate about my own decisions. Reading it also earned me an extremely effective weapon against procrastination.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#213
post #119

"The 4-Hour Body", by Tim Ferriss. Because of that book, within 3 months I went from running completely out of breath after 2 minutes of running, to finishing a half-marathon in 2 hours. And during the prior 3 months, I had lost 15 kilos by following the "slow-carb diet" described in the book. Reading it seemed to flip a switch in my brain: before, I would think of my body as something I had little control over, whil…

On a similar note I'd nominate Good Calories, Bad Calories as my book. Ferris gets my back up, especially the received wisdom that others quote from him, but Taubes really opened my eyes to the fact I could change what I eat and feel ten times better.

I initially thought Good Calories/Bad Calories, and "Why we get Fat" were revelations - until I read http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-h....

Turns out Taubes just masquerades as a scientist - he's more like gladwell in his approach to writing - it _appears_ to be correct, but if you dig a little deep at all, you discover there isn't really much substance.

So - in that sense, "Good Calories, Bad Calories" was a great book for me in 2011. It showed me how easy it was for you to to be taken in by fraudulent writing. Lesson learned.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#215
Particularly memorable books I read (or re-read) this year:

- Don't Make Me Think by Krug: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/032134...

- Apartment Therapy by Gillingham-Ryan http://www.amazon.com/Apartment-Therapy-Eight-Step-Home-Cure...

- Presentation Zen by Gar http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Design-Deliver...

- Belisarius Saga by Flint and Drake http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalt...

- Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss http://www.amazon.com/Wise-Mans-Fear-Kingkiller-Chronicles/d...

- Wizard of Oz by Baum http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Oz-Puffin-Classics/dp/014132102...

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#216
It took me 2010 as well as 2011, but I really enjoyed Godel, Escher Bach now I've finally got through it. It's hard going, but I can't think of a book that chnaged what I think about the world as much as that book has.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#217

For me, I had a few that I really liked: * The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell. Probably one of the best books I've read, even for people who don't want to make games, it was really good. * Business Model Generation by Osterwalder and Pigneur. One of the better business books I've read through. Also one of the most creative. And I finally read: * The C Programming Language by K&R. 'nuff said.

Too bad this comment is too down, but The Art Of Game Design is a fantastic book about design and user experience, even if you're not into games, there's some interesting psychology to learn and to apply in whatever you're doing.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#218

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.

I'm not going to debate the merits of Rand's philosophy in Atlas Shrugged, but as a novel, I found it horrible. I found that all the characters fall into one of two groups, those who agree with Rand's philosophy, and those who don't, and there is no credible character that disputes Rand's philosophy. There is also a lot of repetition, as if the novel is simply trying to indoctrinate the reader.

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#219
I'm guessing most HN readers won't be too interested in this list, but here goes:

Instant Karma: The Heart & Soul of a Ski Bum

Wild Snow: 54 Classic Ski and Snowboard Descents of North America

Roof of the Rockies: A History of Colorado Mountaineering

Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets

Computational Geometry: Algorithms and Applications

Re: Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011

#220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Atlas Shrugged is a must read for any entrepreneur.

I'm not going to debate the merits of Rand's philosophy in Atlas Shrugged, but as a novel, I found it horrible. I found that all the characters fall into one of two groups, those who agree with Rand's philosophy, and those who don't, and there is no credible character that disputes Rand's philosophy. There is also a lot of repetition, as if the novel is simply trying to indoctrinate the reader.

There were grey characters too. Dagny Taggart did not truly agree with Rand's philosophy.

In addition to that, Lord of the Rings must be terrible for the same reasons too. As well as most of the other popular books I can think of.

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