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The Best Books I Read in 2013

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Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#91

Post by arethuza »

tokenadult wrote: post #55
Jun8 wrote: post #6

"But I read mostly nonfiction because I always want to learn more about how the world works." Boy oh boy, if I had a quarter every time I heard that probably I could get a tall Starbucks latte. Many, many people are under the assumption that fiction is stuff that somebody made up and hence useless while non-fiction gives you information about the world; so if you're a busy person, read non-fiction (it's of, course de…

Well, if you compare the whole genre of "great fiction" to "another Gladwell book," that gives the initial advantage to "great fiction," for sure. I read some of fiction and some of nonfiction, but definitely skew to reading more nonfiction. One nonfiction book, which I think someone on HN told me isn't even the best book on its specific topic, was very meaningful to me and helped me learn a lot about myself. I read…

The Endurance expedition is an example of truth being stranger than fiction - a remarkable tale of adventure and leadership:

"Scott for scientific method, Amundsen for speed and efficiency but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton."

The voyage of the James Caird must account as one of the greatest bits of seamanship in history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_James_Caird

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#92

Post by arethuza »

tricolon wrote: post #76
maxerickson wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With "The Baroque Cycle", you can combine the experiences. (I'm mostly kidding, I enjoyed it, but some parts do go on)

No kidding. Here I am 80% done after only six years!

Tip - get the unabridged audiobook versions from Audible, I couldn't finish Quicksilver in print form but I've listened to the entire Baroque Cycle multiple times.

Edit: Jack Shaftoe is probably my favourite fictional character: King of the Vagabonds, L'Emmerdeur, Half-Cocked Jack, Quicksilver, Ali Zaybak, Sword of Divine Fire, and Jack the Coiner....

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#94

Post by smartial_arts »

1. Chaos: Making a New Science [ http://amzn.to/1fbmC73 ] still makes an awesome read despite its age.

2. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers [ http://amzn.to/1kFszdH ] - great book on stress and its effects by Robert Sapolsky (have you seen his lectures on behavioural biology? Fascinating stuff, even if you always thought 'meh, biology' - the guy is an amazing lecturer)

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#96

Post by infinite8s »

alan_cx wrote: post #82
oskarth wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a very common viewpoint among technical people, sadly. Kind of like how humanists think math is about counting things. I'm not implying Gates is of that variety, but, you know, his kind, our kind. Not that there's much point in reading Shakespeare nowadays, anyway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_cultures

"This is a very common viewpoint among technical people, sadly" Really? The usual image is that techie geek types lap up scifi and fantasy, which when done properly are all about the human condition.

I would say that all great books (fiction or nonfiction) are bout th human on diction.

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#97

Post by lmm »

ealloc wrote: post #61
FreakLegion wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still, fiction is fiction. "You can tell a true war story by the questions you ask. Somebody tells a story, let's say, and afterward you ask, 'Is it true?' and if the answer matters, you've got your answer. For example, we've all heard this one. Four guys go down a trail. A grenade sails out. One guy jumps on it and takes the blast and saves his three buddies. Is it true? The answer matters. You'd feel cheated if it…

I read that book. It left me convinced that I couldn't learn anything at all from those fictional war stories since I couldn't distinguish the truths from the half-truths, and it was a turning point in my literary life as I realized I do indeed prefer to read non-fiction. (PS I still read and enjoy fiction. I don't get why everyone's so up in arms about Bill Gate's mild preference for non-fiction)

It seems like more than a "mild preference" if what he read was that skewed to non-fiction.

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#98

Post by StavrosK »

Renaud wrote: post #31
oskarth wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a very common viewpoint among technical people, sadly. Kind of like how humanists think math is about counting things. I'm not implying Gates is of that variety, but, you know, his kind, our kind. Not that there's much point in reading Shakespeare nowadays, anyway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_cultures

Well, we can satisfy both our needs for geekiness and culture by watching Sir Patrick Stewart play Shakespeare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZnaXDRwu84

Where was this from? I can't find the source material.

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#99

Post by lmm »

maxerickson wrote: post #44
dylanz wrote: post #37

I just took a road trip and looked at one of Bill Gates previous favorite books list, and picked "Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2012". I've always wanted to know more about Mr. Buffet, so I thought this would be a great choice. I almost drove off the road listening to him talking about bonds vs stocks and percentages. It was interesting, but definitely not a road trip book. That…

With "The Baroque Cycle", you can combine the experiences. (I'm mostly kidding, I enjoyed it, but some parts do go on)

The Baroque Cycle was fun but didn't really come together as a self-contained story with beginning and end. Which may have been his intention, but still; I much preferred Anathem.

Re: The Best Books I Read in 2013

#100

Post by lmm »

evanrich wrote: post #52
MichaelGG wrote: post #50

I see he mentioned Catcher in the Rye . I read it after hearing so many people say how it was such an influential book for them. John Lennon was even killed by a guy supposedly inspired by this book, and it's been often banned (some of the scenes might be unsuitable for a conservative school, I suppose). Can any technical-types here explain if they found it particularly impressive? It's well written but I didn't thin…

I am in the same boat as you. People who love it are crazy about it. I started it on a plane flight and the guy next to me chatted my ear off about how it changed his life for 20 mins. My current theory is that if you read it in your childhood, it resonates with you. I was 25 when I read it and it did not.

I read it in my childhood and was unimpressed, so it's not just that.
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