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Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?

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

#171

Post by derangedHorse »

jdshaffer wrote: post #54
yla92 wrote: post #22

Finished reading The Three-Body Problem (Book 1) and it's such a fascinating read! https://www.amazon.com/Three-Body-Problem-Remembrance-Earths...

I enjoyed most of book 1, then it suddenly went "slapstick" with the alien engineers at the end. That really turned me off to the rest of the series. However, for those who have read books 2 and beyond, does the writing return to serious and deep or does a slapstick element remain?

If you thought it was "slapstick" then you probably won't enjoy the rest of the books in the series. That's just the nature of the aliens, but their behavior has been consistent from the beginning of the book.

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

#172

Post by cauthon »

leksak wrote: post #98

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents I'm a person that struggles with boundary-setting and have spent numerous years in relationships that have left me as less-than I was before. Imagine people-pleasing to an absolute fault, and being more of a chameleon that adapts to avoid conflicts. This has led to problems of identity, and deriving my sense of worth through others which isn't healthy. Fortunately, I do…

Set Boundaries, Find Peace is another good one in this space

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

#173

Post by scrollinondubs »

jdshaffer wrote: post #54
yla92 wrote: post #22

Finished reading The Three-Body Problem (Book 1) and it's such a fascinating read! https://www.amazon.com/Three-Body-Problem-Remembrance-Earths...

I enjoyed most of book 1, then it suddenly went "slapstick" with the alien engineers at the end. That really turned me off to the rest of the series. However, for those who have read books 2 and beyond, does the writing return to serious and deep or does a slapstick element remain?

I didn't get the slapstick element. The series is worth finishing - the scope of it is just incredible. I would say top 3 sci-fi stories of all time. I actually just read the 4th book which is a work of fan fiction that apparently was sanctioned by Cxin Liu. Love this series so much.

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

#174

Post by deostroll »

bambax wrote: post #101

The Dawn of Everything, by Graeber and Wengrow. Refutes most of the claims made by Harari in Sapiens, and shows everything you though you knew about prehistory is plain wrong. It's a great book, very well written and well informed. Made me think that humanity's history isn't an arrow pointing in the direction of progress; we make experiments. Our current way of life is not the "best so far", it's but one arrangement…

Harari doesn't pose the question to the reader! Europe's obsessions with exploration and conquests were driven by the scientific revolution. He does say that China could have very well done they part in it, but the Chinese rulers had no such global ambitions. With all this, it is a little premature to conclude that we are what we are because of our history. Although that is apparent if you look at it with that kind of objectiveness. But it could have been very well the Chinese if fate wanted it to be.

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

#175

Post by mkl »

javajosh wrote: post #127
kiernanmcgowan wrote: post #121

Snowcrash - a really fun high concept sci-fi that’s plays around with some heady concepts. It breaks down if you think about it too hard, but hey, enjoy it while you can.

With a character named Jiro Protagonist, this is a clue that perhaps it is less cyberpunk and more of a satire of cyberpunk. It's very good, of course. Also recommended from Neal Stephenson: The Diamond Age. His world building is always top-notch, never more than in that one, IMHO.

Hiro Protagonist.

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

#176

Post by __rito__ »

SubGenius wrote: post #49
esperent wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wodehouse is amazing. Tied with Pratchett for the best humorist writer in my opinion. I've searched a lot to find more humorist writers but it's a very limited genre. Most comedy writing is too cynical for me. By contrast Wodehouse and Pratchett manage to be funny while also being uplifting. Does anyone have any recommendations for not-too-cynical humorist authors beside these two?

Have you read 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K Jerome? It's a classic. I love how fresh and contemporary it still is. Perpetually re-readable as well. There is a follow-up book that's great too.

This book made me laugh the most- among older English books.

I can vouch for it that it will make you laugh really hard.

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

#177

Post by __rito__ »

scrollinondubs wrote: post #173
jdshaffer wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I enjoyed most of book 1, then it suddenly went "slapstick" with the alien engineers at the end. That really turned me off to the rest of the series. However, for those who have read books 2 and beyond, does the writing return to serious and deep or does a slapstick element remain?

I didn't get the slapstick element. The series is worth finishing - the scope of it is just incredible. I would say top 3 sci-fi stories of all time. I actually just read the 4th book which is a work of fan fiction that apparently was sanctioned by Cxin Liu. Love this series so much.

What are the other two in your top three sci-fi?

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

#178

Post by galfarragem »

leksak wrote: post #98

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents I'm a person that struggles with boundary-setting and have spent numerous years in relationships that have left me as less-than I was before. Imagine people-pleasing to an absolute fault, and being more of a chameleon that adapts to avoid conflicts. This has led to problems of identity, and deriving my sense of worth through others which isn't healthy. Fortunately, I do…

I would try the original book on people pleasing: "No more Mr. Nice Guy" by Dr. Robert Glover. The title may sound lousy but is a very logical book. The author is a PhD in his 60s and he coined the concept. You can start by listening some podcasts where he was a guest. He's genuine and a great communicator. Definitely underrated.

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

#179

Post by dbcooper »

derangedHorse wrote: post #166
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.

I'm a professor of chemical engineering, and I read it because I wanted to see if it was a good introduction for my less biochemistry trained colleagues (I do some work on digestion physiology).

It has some good advice on diet and macronutrients, especially on the less efficient metabolism of protein, that could make a significant difference in one's approach to weight loss dieting, but it is not a guide to dieting practice.

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