Ask HN: Which books were the most influential in creating a field expert of you?

#1

Post by ggr2342 » Wed, Aug 30, 2023, 4:45 PM UTC

The field can by any field and by expert I don't mean the number 1 world expert. By expert I mean someone who can confidently do work (create things) in their domain for quite some time. Some fields are so vast there can't be a single top most expert.

If you consider yourself someone like that and assuming you read (past and present) books of that field, which books have you found the most influential for your knowledge and expertise?

Re: Ask HN: Which books were the most influential in creating a field expert of you?

#2

Post by softwaredoug » Wed, Aug 30, 2023, 8:36 PM UTC

The one I wrote about my field. I faced possible public humiliation for every mistake I made, so I busted my butt to learn all those gaps in my knowledge :)

Re: Ask HN: Which books were the most influential in creating a field expert of you?

#3

Post by tikkun » Thu, Aug 31, 2023, 2:07 AM UTC

softwaredoug wrote: post #2

The one I wrote about my field. I faced possible public humiliation for every mistake I made, so I busted my butt to learn all those gaps in my knowledge :)

What’s the book and field?

Re: Ask HN: Which books were the most influential in creating a field expert of you?

#4

Post by softwaredoug » Thu, Aug 31, 2023, 2:32 AM UTC

tikkun wrote: post #3

softwaredoug wrote: post #2

The one I wrote about my field. I faced possible public humiliation for every mistake I made, so I busted my butt to learn all those gaps in my knowledge :)

What’s the book and field?

"Relevant Search" - in the field of search engines

TBH I can't say I've mastered the field. And have even given up on the idea of expertise. Things change too fast.

I think its more fun just to be an "enthusiast" which should imply a high degree of humility and understanding of the limits of one's own knowledge.

Re: Ask HN: Which books were the most influential in creating a field expert of you?

#5

Post by GoldenMonkey » Thu, Aug 31, 2023, 5:08 PM UTC

It will be much easier to be good enough at 2-3 domains... and be considered an expert... at the intersection of them.

Scott Adams (dilbert author), has a book on this. "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Will Big...". https://www.amazon.com/How-Fail-Almost-Everything-Still-eboo...