Ask HN: What are you reading?
Any interest in making this a monthly thread? I practically wish-list any book recommendation I find on HN. So far it has worked out pretty well for me.
Audio: Just finished "How to Fail at Everything and Still Succeed" by Scott Adams. Pretty good overall, sort of a large summary of practices for self improvement.
Reading: "Traction: A Startup Guide to Getting Customers" by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares. Fairly informative so far. Kind of the Lean Startup of marketing.
I think this is a great idea!! I would really love to see book suggestions from HN users, it is always very interesting and valuable to me.
Here's the best books that I've read in the past few months:
> Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale
I remember disliking the movie, but the book is brilliant and hilarious. Autobiography of one of the boldest, horniest, and most brilliant con artists.
> Ghost In The Wires by Kevin Mitnick
On the same topic, autobiography of a great hacker. Extremely clever and awesome. I bet people here will love it.
> Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Very intelligent and inspiring book about startups and new technologies. A lot of new and great ideas, I've enjoyed it a lot.
> iWoz
Autobiography of Steve Wozniak. Also wonderful and super positive and inspiring story.
> Trust me, I'm lying.
Book about how modern social media is being manipulated. Short and interesting. Makes you think differently about what you read on the internet.
> On Intelligence by Jeff Hawkins
Theory of how human mind works. Must read for everyone who is into AI, but also a great book for everyone else.
I just started Idle thoughts of an idle fellow by Jerome K Jerome [1] as I quite enjoyed his other book, Three men in a boat to say nothing of the dog.
Some quotes:
> What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate. This book wouldn't elevate a cow.
> It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do
Great light read before going to sleep :)
The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor. Entertaining so far.
True Love by Thich Nhat Hanh. Recommended if you want to connect better with your SO.
The Ferber Method book. Don't remember the title. We will teach our son to learn to sleep on his own.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. Not sure I'll finish this one. Informative but kind of indifferent to a child's comfort and feelings of security.
> Washington: A life, by Ron Chernow
Most programs in America, most paintings and all that is apocryphal about Washington always paints him as a humorless, rigid, God-like character. Chernow does a wonderful job of going through the recently released letters of Washington and painting a portrait of a family man, husband, and a man in occasional worry. Love it.
- Crossing the Chasm
- Innovator's Dilemma
- Behind the Cloud
All from the recommendations in the latest Startup Course lecture.
Rather than 'reading them', I'm listening to them via audible.com.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Highly recommend. Not an easy read but full of great insight by Thiel.
How to make friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie