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Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

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Re: Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

#351
post #340

Endurance - about Ernest Shackleton and his crew during their 1914-1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endurance:_Shackleton%27s_In...

A top recommendation along these lines is The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garard; a member of the Scott expedition to the south pole, which goes into detail of his winter journey (which the title refers to). One of the best historical adventure books I've read

I came here to say this. Props.

Re: Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

#352
post #115

Reading some of these books recommended here, perhaps the most shocking thing is that so much is due to randomness: an arbitrary person does something small that turns out to be on the critical path, and without it the big thing would not get completed. I like the kind of books recommended here, but please be aware of survivor's bias (there not many books about failures! Any great recommendations? "How we could NOT g…

> there not many books about failures! Any great recommendations?

The Logic of Failure is a fantastic book about failures, including some famous examples of failure (e.g. Chernobyl).

https://www.amazon.com/Logic-Failure-Recognizing-Avoiding-Si...

Re: Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

#353
post #326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I say, I was a bit later--mid-eighties--but I knew Jim Guyer who was one of the microkids as I recall. Helped setup an interview for Command Line Heroes podcast. Do need to get back into writing. Next week. Really.

Please do! Do you plan to write a book or blogs? Please let us know. I'll look for the podcast at least.

https://www.redhat.com/en/command-line-heroes/season-4/minic...

Another interesting pub from around the same period you may be interested in: https://archive.org/details/year-in-dev

Re: Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

#356

I really "Idea Man" by Paul Newman. Though survivorship bias is apparent, it was insightful read on how Apple an Msft came to be and why they are what they are. For example, why closed system was important and worked for Apple. It was great read until he leaves Microsoft.

"Idea Man" is by Paul Allen.

"The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir" looks like an interesting book on Paul Newman but I haven't read it.

Re: Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

#359
post #353

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please do! Do you plan to write a book or blogs? Please let us know. I'll look for the podcast at least.

https://www.redhat.com/en/command-line-heroes/season-4/minic... Another interesting pub from around the same period you may be interested in: https://archive.org/details/year-in-dev

Thanks! I found it and just listened the podcast. It's pretty interesting albeit a bit short.

I'll read the second link too tonight.

Thanks again for sharing.

Re: Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things

#360
post #353

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.redhat.com/en/command-line-heroes/season-4/minic... Another interesting pub from around the same period you may be interested in: https://archive.org/details/year-in-dev

Thanks! I found it and just listened the podcast. It's pretty interesting albeit a bit short. I'll read the second link too tonight. Thanks again for sharing.

They kept the podcasts fairly punchy. Actually both myself and Tom West's daughter were interviewed for it and we were both trimmed in the interests of length in favor of people they they were able to get who had first-hand involvement.
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