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What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

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Re: What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

#11

Post by hndude »

endtime wrote: post #7

I recommend The Way of the Superior Man ( http://www.amazon.com/Way-Superior-Man-Spiritual-Challenges/... ). My roommate lent it to me after an ugly breakup. The title is a little silly (I certainly wouldn't describe myself as "spiritual") and I don't agree with every word of it, but after reading this book I finally felt like I understood women and relationships, and I met my now-wife a few months after reading it.…

I have to second this book. It helped put me back together like no one's advice could, after I went through a bad breakup.

Re: What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

#12

Post by dade_ »

Wow, two recommendations for Starting Strength on HN in one week. I have already taken started incorporating the advice at the gym and it seems barbells might be my friend after all.

The Easy Way to Stop Smoking worked for me 7 years ago and I can't recommend it enough. I'll never forget scanning the table of contents and flipping to chapter 21, it sold me on the book.

I've started Drawing on the right Side of the Brain, which is basically self paced training. Really insightful so far.

Looks like a promising book list.

Re: What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

#15

Post by SatvikBeri »

AlexMuir wrote: post #8

Funny how a chain of thought goes: 1. I read a few titles and thought "Hmm, I'll go and buy a few of these on Amazon." 2. Then I thought: "I already have some of these books that I never read, I could gift them to others." 3. Perhaps I could set up some sort of book exchange where HN users can share books. 4. It would barely be worth the hassle and cost of postage. 5. Couldn't we share digital copies and avoid the po…

paperbackswap.com is a decent book exchange. The major advantage is not that you save money on books, but that you can find a lot of obscure older books.

Re: What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

#16

Post by kqr2 »

AlexMuir wrote: post #8

Funny how a chain of thought goes: 1. I read a few titles and thought "Hmm, I'll go and buy a few of these on Amazon." 2. Then I thought: "I already have some of these books that I never read, I could gift them to others." 3. Perhaps I could set up some sort of book exchange where HN users can share books. 4. It would barely be worth the hassle and cost of postage. 5. Couldn't we share digital copies and avoid the po…

Also check out http://www.bookcrossing.com/

Re: What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

#18

Post by johnfuller »

I think you would first need to define what a super power is in this world today. Then find the most effective book in that area. I feel the super power of today is the ability to sell because money is one of the most important raw materials from which power is created. Or you could be selling a vision if you are one of those "money is the root of all evil" types. Unfortunately, I don't know of a good book on selling. ;)

Re: What one book could give me a new, useful superpower?

#19

Post by crntaylor »

The book that has changed my life the most, so far, has been The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman.

In 2010 I started a job that was far, far ahead of my skillset. I'd written fewer than 10,000 lines of code in my life, and I was completely ill-prepared for the work I was supposed to be doing. I picked up SICP about a month or two into that job.

Fast forward a year, and I felt that I knew more about programming than half the people I worked with, and I'd moved to a smaller, more awesome company doing work that I think is much more fun.

A year since then and I've picked up half a dozen new languages, given talks at user groups on some of them. Next year I'm aiming for conferences.

Pick up this book. It gives you superpowers.

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