Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#161

Post by SandraBucky » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 9:47 AM UTC

Six Faces of Globalization by Anthea Roberts and Nicolas

"The origins of this book go back to the twin shocks of 2016: the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and the presidential election in the United States. Like many others, we were struck by how deeply fundamental critiques of economic global- ization appeared to resonate among voters in these two countries. We were also concerned about the dismissive reactions of many establishment figures toward the competing narratives. Some seemed to view the logic of economic globaliza- tion as beyond question and focused their energies on discrediting the critiques put forward by populist politicians as economically illiterate and xenophobic."

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#162

Post by marktani » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 9:56 AM UTC

mikhailfranco wrote: post #140

Just finished The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, a tremendously accomplished music producer. It's a beautifully written guide to artistic work, but also a manual for a mindful life. Savor every page packed with insight, subtlety and poetic aphorisms. Also recommend The Dawn of Everything by Graeber & Wengrow, previously cited on this page. Next will be The Matter with Things by Iain McGilchrist. The two…

I loved The Creative Act: A Way of Being. The book is organized into short chapters, each about a certain part of the creative process or perspective of the author.

While I don't agree with everything shared, the crisp and clear way it's written allows for great reflection and inspiration.

I've described it to friends as a work book for artists and creatives. Every chapter simmering for days and helping to refine the creative process.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#163

Post by derangedHorse » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 9:59 AM UTC

baron816 wrote: post #46

It’s been probably a year since I read The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich, but the ideas in there have really stuck in my head. The WEIRD acronym stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. The thesis is that the Christian Church inadvertently created modern society by prohibiting polygamy and cousin marriage. The topic of polygamy is what’s really stuck in my head. Polygamy is…

>Polygamy is a more natural state for civilized human societies than we think it is

I really don't think it is, but I also disagree with using the word "natural" in a way to argue its merit.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#164

Post by vlad_ungureanu » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 9:59 AM UTC

How the World Thinks: A Global History of Philosophy - Julian Baggini [1]

The author does an amazing job presenting the different views about the world and some important differences between cultures. If you are like me and haven't interacted that much with other schools of thoughts outside of the Western world, but are interested in learning more about them, you'll enjoy the introductions to Indian thinking as well as Chinese, Islam and some African philosophies. Also, he does a good job of highlighting some of the limitations of each, including Western thought.

[1] - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42068288

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#165

Post by gsatic » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 9:59 AM UTC

baron816 wrote: post #46

It’s been probably a year since I read The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich, but the ideas in there have really stuck in my head. The WEIRD acronym stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. The thesis is that the Christian Church inadvertently created modern society by prohibiting polygamy and cousin marriage. The topic of polygamy is what’s really stuck in my head. Polygamy is…

Ya right. Like any one in their right mind wants to have 10 wives to deal with. Dont get confuse hooking up with marriage.

I think Esther Perel has written the best stuff on modern relationships. Read her.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#166

Post by derangedHorse » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 10:04 AM UTC

dbcooper wrote: post #90

Why Calories Don't Count: How We Got the Science of Weight Loss Wrong by Giles Yeo It's a good, and gentle, introduction to the biochemistry and thermodynamics of digestion, and the history of calorie estimates. https://www.amazon.com/Why-Calories-Dont-Count-Science/dp/16... Adam Ragusea interviewed him on his YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/C-H4KwoKaOc

Did this change the way you behave around food or is it just something interesting to marginally inform eating decisions? I'm sure it's still an interesting book either way, but I'm looking for an actionable book regarding food at the moment and wanted to see if this could be it.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#167

Post by keyle » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 10:04 AM UTC

Art & Fear - Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking - David Bayles & Ted Orland.

A tremendous read, about our human nature and creativity. An analysis on our limits, what talent is, and the common fears. A very freeing experience.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#168

Post by harry8 » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 10:04 AM UTC

SubGenius wrote: post #51

wenc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always been a fan the Jeeves series -- Blandings not so much. I also like the Psmith books. I need to try Ukridge.

I've only read the first Psmith book set in Blandings - Leave it to Psmith. It's absolutely hilarious. If you like Ukridge, then you could also read 'Love Amount the Chickens', which features the Ukridge character.

The other Psmith books are a growing up progression to that one. Psmith was his adopted daughter's fav so he stopped while young and beautiful like she did. Mike and Psmith is a proper YA school story which was where Wodehouse started. Psmith in the city something of a sequel. Psmith Journalists the nearest Wodehouse ever got to literature with a social point to make, definitely worth the read. Leave it to Psmith is, imho his masterpiece and the best written novel I've read. Sadly the last we hear of Psmith.

All should be out of copyright by now.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#169

Post by dazzawazza » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 10:04 AM UTC

ram_rattle wrote: post #7

material world by ed conway, fantastic book on basic minerals like sand, salt, oil and their supply chain and miracle process of converting ore to materials that we use everyday.

Learning about the supply chain for vital components like integrated circuits from mine to purification to processing to manufacture was so interesting.

I now understand how the "west" is even able to keep China out of the loop (for now) on the highest level of tech. Fascinating read.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

#170

Post by keyle » Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 10:06 AM UTC

mikhailfranco wrote: post #140

Just finished The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, a tremendously accomplished music producer. It's a beautifully written guide to artistic work, but also a manual for a mindful life. Savor every page packed with insight, subtlety and poetic aphorisms. Also recommend The Dawn of Everything by Graeber & Wengrow, previously cited on this page. Next will be The Matter with Things by Iain McGilchrist. The two…

I got turned off by this book the moment the author talked about the rebuttal of a diagnosis by their doctor, which could be lethal if ignored. At this point the book was good for the dollar bin. I really don't understand how someone can trust their gut more than a clear diagnoses and use that as an example in a book.