Ask HN: What books have changed the way you think?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2919368

by chunky1994 • 15 years ago

24 15 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Reading is one the most versatile skills that we've developed, and when it comes to books we're spoilt for choice. Hence, I want to know which books are truly (if it's not too strong an adjective) life-changing.

planetcohen• 15 years ago

Carol Dweck: Mindset

njharman• 15 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching The translations vary greatly. (from making it sound like new age mumbo jumbo, to mystic mumbo jumbo, to a profound philosophy), need to find one that's right for you.

"The C Programming Language" by K&R (I read this very young 12-13, it's life changing aspects probably had a lot to do with my age)

"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

"Welcome to the Monkey House" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

chrismackintosh• 15 years ago

hyperspace - michio kaku

mbenjaminsmith• 15 years ago

The Moral Animal - Robert Wright

manicbovine• 15 years ago

I found "Man's Search for Meaning" at exactly the right time in my life. It changed my life, but this might have more to do with the timing.

sgpl• 15 years ago

hey you have an email i can ge you at? i'd be interested in talking to you the book.

the_decider• 15 years ago

Brothers Karamazov Gravity's Rainbow Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanance

timanzo• 15 years ago

Thinking Clearly: A Guide to Critical Reasoning http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Clearly-Guide-Critical-Reason...

tedkimble• 15 years ago

Manuel DeLanda - Intensive Science & Virtual Philosophy

http://www.amazon.com/Intensive-Science-Virtual-Philosophy-C...

actionbrandon• 15 years ago

fooled by randomness - nassim taleb.

his books get progressively worse, but this one is excellent

noahth• 15 years ago

Lots of books have influenced me over time, but these are some of the books that have a lot of influence over my current mindset:

Godel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid - Douglas Hofstadter

Imagined Communities - Benedict Anderson

Historical Capitalism - Immanuel Wallerstein

Young Man Luther - Erik Erikson

salemh• 15 years ago

Reality Tansurfing 1: The Space of Variations "Choosing" your own reality, positive mind frames, philosophy and actionable steps for goal attainment (no "Secret" wish fulfillment).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1846941229/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... " Some of Zeeland's techniques are very simple and practical; e.g. his methods of combining rational thinking with intuition for making practical decisions. Other "tools" require a high degree of control over one's thoughts and/or emotions. Zeeland also advocates reducing the amount of mental self-talk in favour of listening to one's intuition, which has some similarity with the teachings of Eckhart Tolle [[2]]." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadim_Zeeland

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062508342/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... This novel has been of great help to me and family with recent deaths. Overall life outlook, happiness, and the like.

Enders Game http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812550706/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... I have read this novel over 15 years roughly 8 times. I get more, and a different perspective (which is interesting just examining my own reaction to re-reads based on my life and age at reading / re-reading).

Prometheus Rising http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561840564/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... "Hacking" reality, your mind, alternate viewpoints of reality and "living" accordingly (or not :D)

Pandora's Star http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345479211/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... Fascinating "space opera" wherein humanity masters worm-hole technology (and space colonization), ever lasting life (downloading / uploading) and a lovely read with a dose of astrophysics (though, the number of plot lines and characters gets far too muddled much of the time, symptomatic of Hamilton's books). Great "look" at a potential future of these potential advancements.

Neuropath http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765361574/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... Science fiction novel set in near-future based on new advanced in neuroscience; psychopath / serial killer thriller (one night read)on the brain as a chemical machine (and free-will arguments) with brutal thriller violence. This sticks with you for a number of weeks. Sending this to my sister was reacted with "it was really good, fascinating..why the f* did you send this to me?"

The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince of Nothing, Book 1) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1841494089/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... Fantasy, philosophy, linguistics in Magic..dark, dark and a very old world. Brilliant, the best fantasy series this decade.

Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400077303/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... From dirt (literally), to one of the richest men in history, a genius accountant, inventor, process engineer, capitalist, competitive monster (crusher), also spawning much of modern medicine research centers (while he himself was a more holistic man who distrusted "modern medicine). An incredible biography (oft cited by other novels on various Baron's / dynastic biographies) on the idiocyncrocies and the incredible desire for wealth and power, while abhoring lavish displays of wealth. From his rise, to consolidation, to "war" with the Rothschilds to the ultimate breakup of Standard Oil.

1,000 Dollars and an Idea: Entrepreneur to Billionaire: Expanded Edition http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557048487/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... Sam Wyly, on building businesses to last, 15-20 years to "flip" or keep. Nuggets of wisdom for all industries and verticals.

katherinehague• 15 years ago

Flowers for Algernon. It made me realize that my greatest fear is to leave the world and have it be as though I had never existed at all. I don't necessarily think that was the moral, but it is certainly what lasted with me the longest.

adamtmca• 15 years ago

Capitalism and Freedom - Milton Friedman

damoncali• 15 years ago

1984

Ask HN: What books have changed the way you think?

Related Stories