Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

Some people start with a large jar, while others try something like a 5–10 gallon tank. You can go very small to start.

In a tank system, it’s helpful to include either a small filter or power head to maintain water movement. If you’re adding a lot of plants, a head is sufficient because the plants and animals will do a great job of filtration. I use snails (naturally occurring) and shrimp (purchased, but I’d like to find a native equivalent) to aid with cleanup, and the water is crystal clear after several months with no water changes, only top ups to account for evaporation.

If you want to include animals like fish, you really should ensure you do some research first and establish something with a lot of plant life. The fish won’t thrive without a suitable habitat and usually, most species require some water movement and excellent filtration.

As for self sufficiency, the systems will run on their own for extended periods quite well, but if you add more fish for example, you’ll generally need to add more food. Even so, this can be a very occasional event. With mine I will add material I find from my worm composter such as small white worms which colonized on their own. I’ve also experimented with raising daphnia in a jar with baker’s yeast as their food. I think I’ve only added external food once per month or so, and I’m not sure this was actually necessary. The system produces a huge amount of micro fauna and algae which the animals go crazy for. The animals are all tiny, too, so their feeding requirements would naturally be far less than your typical fish tank system.

The book is also a great guide, though it’s a little advanced. It assumes you know a bit about the hobby of aquaria, both planted and with fish.

In any case, I’d say it’s easier than you think. With the right understanding, it’s hard to fail. It’s incredibly complex, but establishing a good culture and allowing it to thrive will generally ensure it remains well balanced with very little intervention.

"The Man Who Folded Himself" by David Gerrold A fascinating exploration of time travel, despite its poor writing quality, according to the commenter.

"Dreaming: A Very Short Introduction" by J. Allan Hobson A hard science neurophysiological overview of dreaming.

"Material World" by Ed Conway A detailed look into basic minerals like sand, salt, oil, their supply chains, and the process of converting ores to materials.

"Blindsight" and "Echopraxia" by Peter Watts Sci-fi novels that deal with themes of consciousness and first contact with alien intelligence.

"The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again" by M. John Harrison Noted for beautiful writing and vivid descriptions.

"The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman A light and amusing mystery novel; the beginning of a series.

"The Roman Empire in Crisis" by Paul N. Pearson A detailed account of the Crisis of the Third Century in Rome, incorporating recent archaeological discoveries.

"The Good Virus" by Tom Ireland Introduces phages and their pivotal role in advancing human health through phage therapy.

"Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler A book about behavioral economics that suggests ways policies can be designed to "nudge" people into making better decisions.

"Blindsight" by Peter Watts A sci-fi novel that offers a less "anthropomorphic" first contact experience.

"Open Borders" by SMBC guy A book that presents an argument in favor of more open immigration policies.

"Snow Crash" and "Neuromancer" Classic cyberpunk novels, recommended for annual re-reading by the commenter.

"The God Engines" by John Scalzi A novella that is described as a sci-fi fantasy religious tale of space travel and manifested gods. Culture Series by Iain M. Banks A series of space opera novels set in a post-scarcity society.

"Art & Fear - Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking" by David Bayles & Ted Orland A book about human nature and creativity.

"The Case for God" by Karen Armstrong A book about the history of religion and how much is misunderstood in modern times.

"Years of Lyndon Johnson" by Robert Caro A detailed and well-researched biography of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

"The Captured Economy" by Lindsey and Teles "American Revolutions" by Alan Taylor "Everything Flows" by Vasili Grossman "Silk Roads" by Peter Frankopan A history of the world from a Central Asian perspective.

"Too Perfect: When Being in Control Gets Out of Control" by Allan Mallinger "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber A book about why most small businesses don't work and what to do about it.

"Prisoners of Geography" by Tim Marshall An exploration of how borders and geography shape nations.

"Impro" by Keith Johnston A book with unique and radical views about how society functions.

"Peter Singer's books" Noted as being worldview-changing, but specific titles aren't listed.

"Two Years Before The Mast" by Richard Henry Dana An account of the cattle hide trade along the California coast in the 1830s.

"Empire of the Summer Moon" A book about the Comanche tribe and their conflict with settlers in the American West.

"Dune" by Frank Herbert A classic science fiction novel about politics, religion, and ecology on a desert planet.

"God, Human, Animal Machine" by Meghan O’Gieblyn Traces parallels between Christian theology and transhumanism.

"The Water Knife" A dystopian future novel set against a backdrop of water scarcity in the western United States.

But I grew up on their games, both playing and modding, so I do have a soft spot for their history.