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Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#271

Post by opesorry »

edanm wrote: post #119

Impossible to pick just one. I'll give a few that haven't appeared yet: Fiction: Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality (Eliezer Yudkowsky) Non-fiction: Rationality - from AI to Zombies (Eliezer Yudkowsky) Probably no books have impacted me quite as much as these two, barring early-childhood books that have impacted me from a young age. Fiction: Worm (by Parahumans) Best "superhero" fiction ever created. Just on…

Worm is outstanding. It's responsible for getting me into reading which has shaped my life since

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#273

Post by downut »

slothtrop wrote: post #156
jjcm wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems to be a very polarizing book. I for one thought it was among the worst I've read, but know plenty who have said it's one of their favorites. It's certainly not a traditional novel.

I bounced off of it expecting to enjoy it because I read lots of Pynchon.

That's interesting. I never had a problem ploughing through Pynchon, and as I mentioned I bounced off Ulysses in my early 20s. I am right now in the last pages of my 1st reread of Gravity's Rainbow. I have to say I prefer Joyce now. And I think I liked my recent read of Against the Day over GR, an unexpected development.

Gotta say though, GR is still awesome. Fearless.

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#274

Post by eej71 »

bee_rider wrote: post #160
tb_technical wrote: post #142

"The best book I've ever read was Atlas Shrugged in 8th grade. Changed my life." Not because I remember anything about it, or believe anything it espouses, or even like it all that much, but because it's a useful filter for obnoxious people in meatspace. If someone I don't know too well asks me what my favorite book is, I say Atlas Shrugged. If they react inappropriately, I'll be cordial and treat them with respect,…

Canticle for Leibowitz was pretty good. Regardless of political opinions, that monologue in the middle of Atlas Shrugged is some quite poor writing. TBH if someone said their Atlas Shrugged was their favorite book, I would assume they were making some sort of political statement, which seems like a bit of an intrusion on what otherwise ought to be a fun chat about books. I was a teenager when I read her books, and th…

I've re-read The Fountainhead about a dozen times and find a few new gems each time I go through it.

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#275

Post by standardUser »

Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking

I find a lot of my successes are driven by building powerful and convincing narratives about my own life and circumstances. Unfortunately, the anti-smoking messaging that comes form every website, doctor and other resource all parrots the same tired arguments I had been hearing since the 90's. My earnest efforts to find new perspectives hit the same wall of propaganda every time. This book offered me multiple new perspectives, it relieved me of the shame placed on me by other resources and social stigmas, and it acted as an upbeat and optimistic cheerleader.

I quit 7 years ago when I finished the book and haven't had the urge to smoke since.

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#276

Post by why5s »

Mistakes Were Made by Carol Tarvis and Elliot Aronson. It's a long discussion on the mechanics of cognitive dissonance and self-justification.

--

"A man travels many miles to consult the wisest guru in the land. When he arrives, he asks the great man:

'O wise guru, what is the secret of a happy life?'

'Good judgement,' says the guru.

'But, O wise guru' says the man, 'how do I achieve good judgement'

'Bad judgement,' says the guru"

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#277

Post by delecti »

Diaspora by Greg Egan. No other book has caused such a seismic shift in how I think about consciousness, personhood, continuity of self, the enormity of the universe, and practicalities of galactic timescales. It also triggered quite a few existential crises (which nearly goes without saying, given all that).

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#278

Post by eppsilon »

lotsoweiners wrote: post #106

I would probably have to say The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I’m a sucker for fat historical fiction books and this one delivered everything I want from that type of book.

Great book. Some other historical fiction recommendations:

- The "Welsh Princes" series by Sharon Kay Penman (same era, different perspective)

- Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Black Death)

- The "Grail Quest" series by Richard Cornwell (Hundred Years War)

- The "Last Kingdom" series, also by Cornwell (Viking invasion, Alfred the Great)

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#279

Post by rahimnathwani »

standardUser wrote: post #275

Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking I find a lot of my successes are driven by building powerful and convincing narratives about my own life and circumstances. Unfortunately, the anti-smoking messaging that comes form every website, doctor and other resource all parrots the same tired arguments I had been hearing since the 90's. My earnest efforts to find new perspectives hit the same wall of propaganda every time.…

Is there a book like this for ice cream and sugary desserts?

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#280

Post by hannofcart »

delecti wrote: post #277

Diaspora by Greg Egan. No other book has caused such a seismic shift in how I think about consciousness, personhood, continuity of self, the enormity of the universe, and practicalities of galactic timescales. It also triggered quite a few existential crises (which nearly goes without saying, given all that).

Reading this right now. I resonate with everything said in the comment above.
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