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

• planetcohen 15y ago
  Carol Dweck: Mindset
• njharman 15y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching 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 15y ago
  hyperspace - michio kaku
• mbenjaminsmith 15y ago
  The Moral Animal - Robert Wright
• manicbovine 15y 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 15y ago
    hey you have an email i can ge you at? i'd be interested in talking to you the book.
• belial 15y ago
  My thinking has changed and became more mature when I started reading in the body of Philosophy and Science... I find the following the most enlightening books I've read so far... Tim Crane - The Mechanical Mind Alex Rosenberg - Philosophy of Science Seth Lloyd - Programming the Universe Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion Daniel Dennett - The Mind's I Daniel Dennett - Breaking the Spell Michael Shermer - Why People Believe Weird Things
• the_decider 15y ago
  Brothers Karamazov Gravity's Rainbow Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanance
• timanzo 15y ago
  Thinking Clearly: A Guide to Critical Reasoning http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Clearly-Guide-Critical-Reasoning/dp/0393972186/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314173803&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Clearly-Guide-Critical-Reason...
• tedkimble 15y ago
  Manuel DeLanda - Intensive Science & Virtual Philosophy http://www.amazon.com/Intensive-Science-Virtual-Philosophy-Continuum/dp/0826479324 http://www.amazon.com/Intensive-Science-Virtual-Philosophy-C...
• actionbrandon 15y ago
  fooled by randomness - nassim taleb. his books get progressively worse, but this one is excellent
• noahth 15y 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 15y 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1846941229 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 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0062508342 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0812550706 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1561840564 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0345479211 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0765361574 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1841494089 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1400077303 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?ie=UTF8&tag=xlracom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1557048487 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 15y 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 15y ago
  Capitalism and Freedom - Milton Friedman
• sunstone 15y ago
  Consilience - E.O. Wilson
• damoncali 15y ago
  1984