Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#1

Post by hammmatt » Wed, Jun 08, 2011, 11:37 PM UTC

I am currently reading a book that my brother found while browsing YC, "Life would be easier if it weren't for other people." I was also turned onto "G.E.B." by this community.

I was wondering what books really helped you develop into the person you are today. I'm really not after just books, but any sources of information that are really at the fundation of who you are as a person today.

Kind of a broad question, but I am hoping that a broad spectrum question will provide interesting, broad spectrum answers.

:) Thanks in advance.

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#2

Post by lupatus » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 12:01 AM UTC

_A Brief History of Time_ by Stephen Hawking

_The Way to Wealth_ by Benjamin Franklin

_The Book of Job_ by Job, from The Bible

_Meditations_ by Marcus Aurelius

_The Prince_ by Niccolo Machiavelli

_The Bill of Rights_ by James Madison

_The Gospel According to John_ by John, from The Bible

_The Gospel According to Luke_ by Luke, from The Bible

_The Acts of the Apostles_ by Luke, from The Bible

_The Song of Solomon_ by Solomon, from The Bible

_Heimskringla_ transcribed by Snorri Sturluson

These books have combined to make me the free-thinking, reactionary stoic that I am today. Most of them are old, but they contain much wisdom about life, work, politics, gender relations, spirtuality, and history. Please let me know if you have questions. :)

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#3

Post by eaton » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 1:59 AM UTC

_The Myth of Certainty_ by Daniel Taylor

_Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing_ by Soren Kierkegaard

_The Invisible Computer_ by Donald Norman

_Death March_ by Edward Yourdon

_War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning_ by Chris Hedges

_What Do You Care What Other People Think?_ by Richard P. Feynman

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#4

Post by starter » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 2:13 AM UTC

_The Ecclesiastes_ by Solomon, from The Bible

_Start From Scratch_ by Wes Moss

_The Facebook Effect_ by David Kirkpatrick

_The Millionaire Mind_by Thomas J. Stanley

_Secrets of the Millionaire Mind_T. Harv Eker

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#5

Post by pdenya » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 2:15 AM UTC

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Building Websites is Easy (html book for young teens)

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#6

Post by bediger » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 3:09 AM UTC

The C Programming Language

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Lord of the Rings

1984

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#7

Post by rblion » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 3:15 AM UTC

1.) Bhagavad Gita "Celestial Song" - Hindu bible 2.) Cosmos - Carl Sagan 3.) Alchemist - Paulo Coelho 4.) Think and Grow Rich - Napolean Hill

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#8

Post by mfalcon » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 3:17 AM UTC

In chronological order:

  - Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Kiyosaki   
  - PG Essays/ HNews  
  - Happiness by Matthieu Ricard  
  - Walden by Throreau  
  - Zen and the art... by Pirsig

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#9

Post by bartonfink » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 4:48 AM UTC

Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse is a big one. Ecclesiastes is also excellent, and you shouldn't shy away just because it's in the Bible.

Re: Ask HN: What books have helped make who you are today?

#10

Post by lupatus » Thu, Jun 09, 2011, 5:54 PM UTC

pdenya wrote: post #5

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card Building Websites is Easy (html book for young teens)

I also liked _Ender's Game_. It was the first "big" sci-fi book I read while growing up.

My only complaint with it is that it seemed a little too Joan of Arc to me and I was thinking, would they really have let a "kid" command their space fleet?