Ask HN: What book do you recommend everyone should read? Hi HN, Every person I've come across always has one book that sits at the top of their book list that they would recommend to everyone. For me, it's "How to win friends & influence people" by Dale Carnegie. What's your book? |
Non fiction: Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely
I wouldn't say it is a must read, but it brings up a few good points. It isn't a heavy thinking book, it is like an extended Medium post.
If you want to hear Thiel's ideas, it is worth a read but otherwise I wouldn't really recommend it.
2. Demon Haunted World
Both by Carl Sagan
I's life changing, it teaches you the importance to do not waste our most precious finite resource.
And if you don't: How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World
It is very motivating, witty and just great fun to read!
Fiction: Seveneves
Both of these I've read several times and glean new things each reading. And those things I've learned have formed essential parts of the heuristics I use on a day to day basis to deal with the dark ambiguities of life.
Non-fiction: Letters from Seneca; the only philosophy book I enjoyed and whose tenets I aim to practise every day.
Reading Jacobs' most famous book, you're hit with this feeling that she possessed the perfect balance of humility and knowledge. That we still make the mistakes she described half a century ago is quite unfortunate, especially once you realize the we do and for a long time, have, known better.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1455586692/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=...
2. Deep Work - Cal Newport
3. Personal MBA - Josh Kaufman
The only section where I would use an example is with "Let the other person feel the idea is his or hers.". It's also one of the few that are not just about being positive and honest.
Man's search for meaning
Architecture of happiness
Eternal Golden Braid
The HP Way: How Bill Hewlett and I Built Our Company - David Packard
I have read countless books and articles and have attended countless discussions and talks on software engineering and business practices and it never ceases to amaze me how many of the principles tie right back to these two books. Each is short and can be easily tackled together in a day or less.
2. The Startup of You by Reid Hoffman - http://amzn.to/2mXSlFB
3. Strengths Finder by Gallup Press - http://amzn.to/2mqDNuY
I find that the original text on its own is very hard to fully understand. Usually better to read a commented/detailed edition. At least that's my experience.
But yeah, it is amazing how it can apply to so many things.
[0]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glimpses_of_World_History
Fiction - The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
I found it on a libertarian website, free to download, its about free market, against government intervention. It gives many examples of how "anything that the government touches, it dies"
Bogleheads for investing
1. The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss Jason Fung
2. Tripping Over the Truth: The Return of the Metabolic Theory of Cancer
You will know more about Christianity than a lot of Christians.
It's definitely a good book if you are looking for common sense morality. I think the Jefferson Bible is a better book if you are looking for moral teachings (never read it, only heard about it)
The one I read is the Ritchie pruehs story bible, which is free as a Kindle book.
Every citizen should read it, on my opinion.
Basically, Robert got rich from telling others how rich people are.
I've read plenty of books about finances that are just mind-numbingly obvious that it is a skip for anyone with common sense. Would you agree RDPD is that kind of book?
https://www.johntreed.com/blogs/john-t-reed-s-real-estate-in...
If you read it like a parable similar to The Richest Man in Babylon or The Alchemist you can still gather some useful info and refreshers from this book.
Non-Fiction: Presence - Amy Cuddy