Ask HN: Audio books to listen to while working?

8 points by dilanj 16 years ago | 11 comments

I tend to prefer reading books as opposed to listening to audio books because the level of engagement is far less with the latter. However after getting a big kick out of listening to "Brian Tracy - Maximum Achievement" on a friend's recommendation, I seem to have found the perfect use for motivational audio books.

This genre is great to listen to while working because you can just ignore the lamer parts of it but get a boost out of the better bits.

Are there any audio books you'd recommend for coders/entrepreneurs?

jeffcoat 16 years ago |

While coding? None.

If you're doing something so mindless that you can follow an entirely different thread of plot or conversation while doing your best work, something's gone very wrong. At best, your talents are wasted on whatever you're working on.

jacquesm 16 years ago |

While coding ?? I have the room dark, the music off or set to something very quiet that I know well so it won't distract me, if possible the door locked, the phone switched off, the cat tied up in the hallway and everybody else in the house sedated.

How on earth can you listen to an audiobook while coding ? Are you superhuman ?

dilanj 16 years ago | |

Mate, I agree with you, I'd do the same if I was writing kernel code. But do you really need to be that isolated while fixing some CSS or running admin tasks? If it's the case that all your work really is that interesting, you are in a very enviable position.

jacquesm 16 years ago | | |

Let's just say that I'm easily distracted. It can take me hours to really get in to something and the slightest disturbance around me will draw me out of whatever it is that I'm doing.

Best hour of the day to work: at night (it's 4:30 am here right now, to give you an idea...).

Not everything that I do is 'interesting', there is plenty of grunt work but even there it helps if you can just dig in and stay underwater for a while rather than to have to get out of it and back in again.

I find it hard to keep datastructures and code in my head for any amount of time when I'm not actively engaged with them.

To add an audio book to that would be unthinkable to me, I could do one or the other, but definitely not both.

ScottWhigham 16 years ago |

Hmmm - Brian Tracy is really good and, if you like his style, you might enjoy Anthony Robbins as well. Anthony Robbins isn't for "coders/entrepreneurs" specifically but the lessons/ideas are valuable to anyone IMO.

dilanj 16 years ago | |

Thanks, right now I'm listening to Marshall Goldsmith and really liking it.

mrlyc 16 years ago | | |

Have you thought of listening to podcasts as well? Marshall Goldsmith's are at http://coachm.hipcast.com/rss/marshall_goldsmith.xml

These could also be useful to your entrepreneur side:

David Maister http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavidMaistersBusinessMasterclass

Negotiation Tip of The Week http://feeds.feedburner.com/ottergroup/negotiationtip

cema 16 years ago |

When you work on coding, do not listen to books; read! Read what you are writing.

mike463 16 years ago |

listen in the car instead -- it's wonderful.

I wouldn't recommend it while working on focused mental tasks.

It would probably be ok if you work at a job where you don't use your brain much like a parking booth attendant, janitor or a manager. ;)

throw_away 16 years ago |

I can barely listen to music with words while I code.