Summer Reading List • Hacker News Board

Re: Summer Reading List

#81

Post by jackschultz » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:33 PM UTC

I know this is a technical site, but for all of these I always get a little sad with how few fictional books are listed on these types of posts. Going over it, seems like there's just one, "The Nix" (may be more where I just missed them).

I like seeing fictional books since I can relate to the people writing them. If I enjoyed some of the fictional books that people talk about, then I'll go along with their non-fiction recommendations. Also, reading fiction shouldn't be treated like time wasted! I see that comment a lot by people who only read the non-fiction books, but I highly disagree with that thought. For another comment I guess.

One way to do that is to have different sections, one for fiction and one non-fiction. I'd love to see that here.

On that note, I've actually experienced that here, with some of the book recommendation threads, finding comments with books I also like and then reading the others. Always fun to talk to people who read the same as you.

Re: Summer Reading List

#82

Post by matahwoosh » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:34 PM UTC

compiled in a Goodreads list (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/114264.YC_s_2017_Summer_...) like you were going to actually read those ;)

Re: Summer Reading List

#83

Post by saimiam » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:34 PM UTC

kilroy123 wrote: post #6

Slightly off topic, but how many books do you all read a month? I have a hard time getting past 1 a month.

1-2 a week when the mood strikes. Last year, the goal was to read 52 books - fell well short at a shade under 40 but it brought back my reading mojo. I'm back for round two in 2017.

https://ramachandr.in/2017/01/08/52in52-2/

Re: Summer Reading List

#84

Post by gregwebs » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:37 PM UTC

arnioxux wrote: post #34

No opinion on "The Man Who Knew" but kind of bummed that it will now beat "The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan" in autocompletion.

Also a pretty ironic title considering Greenspan did not see the major finanical crisis of his time and instead pushed for continued de-regulation. There are some Frontline stories about this: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/

Re: Summer Reading List

#85

Post by saimiam » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:37 PM UTC

criddell wrote: post #19

vm wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was the same way until I realized reading fiction before bed helps me sleep better. Turns off the mental to do list. Now I'm at 3/month fiction. For non-fiction, I need to be stuck on a plane or have a clear weekend morning.

I regret starting the routine of reading before bed. I think I've conditioned myself to sleep anytime I read something more than a couple of paragraphs long.

This is one of those regrets where you aren't losing anything either way - one outcome was that you now have a surefire way of falling asleep.

If it had worked, you'd have a surefire way of massaging your brain with good content. Win-win either way, imho.

Re: Summer Reading List

#86

Post by petra » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:44 PM UTC

capocannoniere wrote: post #41

Am I the only one who would actually prefer these Amazon links to be affiliate links? Affiliate links make me feel like I'm paying back the curator(s) for the awesome recommendations I'm thankful for. However minor that might be. Do people feel like recommendations would be biased if the links were affiliate links?

Why does everything has to revolve around money ? What's wrong with showing some appreciation and sharing some knowledge when your turn comes ?

Re: Summer Reading List

#87

Post by anotherbrownguy » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:46 PM UTC

dvcc wrote: post #58

anotherbrownguy wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wanted to finish 100 books in 2017, already on 75th.

I'm curious, how much do you actually get out of each book? Even at my pace of 1-2 a month I'm barely able to retain anything. I can't imagine reading ~8 a month and being able to remember what the book was actually about.

I started doing it in 2016, so while I seem to come up with various facts that I read from the books in conversations when something related to what I have read comes up, I don't know how much of each book I actually remember. To test this, I am planning to re-read some of the books from 2016 when I am done with my 2017 list.

Re: Summer Reading List

#88

Post by rosstex » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:48 PM UTC

Does anyone have recommendations for summer reading for teaching assistants to undergraduates? I want to become more engaged with current pedagogy techniques.

Re: Summer Reading List

#89

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:49 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Summer Reading List

#90

Post by hypertexthero » Thu, Aug 03, 2017, 7:49 PM UTC

jackschultz wrote: post #81

I know this is a technical site, but for all of these I always get a little sad with how few fictional books are listed on these types of posts. Going over it, seems like there's just one, "The Nix" (may be more where I just missed them). I like seeing fictional books since I can relate to the people writing them. If I enjoyed some of the fictional books that people talk about, then I'll go along with their non-ficti…

Agreed.

Three fiction recommendations:

* The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

* The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

* Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon

Three non-fiction recommendations:

* Art is Work by Milton Glaser

* Pragmatic Thinking And Learning by Andy Hunt

* The First And Last Freedom by Jiddu Krishnamurti