4 ms·

Call me old-fashioned, but why would I read boring self-help books when there are thousands of books available, from all ages, that document the human experienc

Call me old-fashioned, but why would I read boring self-help books when there are thousands of books available, from all ages, that document the human experience? For instance: - Scriptures of the major religions - The Conquest of Happiness (Bertrand Russell) - On Aggression (Konrad Lorenz) - Crowds and Power (Elias Canetti) - LSD, My Problem Child (Albert Hofmann) - Huis Clos (J.P. Sartre) - Essays by Michel de Montaigne - The Incoherence of the Incoherence (Ibn Rushd)

louhong 14y ago
I agree that the scope of books that entrepreneurs would find helpful should be wider. I'd recommend some that might be a little easier to get through (just of the top of my head): -Losing my virginity (Branson) -How to win friends and influence people (Carnegie) -Venture deals (Feld) -Man's Search for meaning (Frankl)
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- ckluis 14y ago
  +10 to Man's Search for Meaning by Frankl. On a business side I personally like, "Postively Outrageous Service" & "The Heart of Change"
daeken 14y ago
I'd add the following: - Makers (Cory Doctorow) -- I recommend this to every entrepreneur and technologist I know, if only because it will inspire you to create something great. - Masters of Doom (David Kushner) -- History of id software - Game Over (David Sheff) -- History of Nintendo; seriously wild
- dsirijus 14y ago
  You don't need to call me old-fashioned - I am. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_ludens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_ludens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon Just my 2 cents on the list that actually matters.
- technology 14y ago
  I would add this one: Decision Points - George W. Bush http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Points-George-W-Bush/dp/0307590615 http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Points-George-W-Bush/dp/03075...
- barry-cotter 14y ago
  Makers - Part I, is in fact very good. Just pretend that there is no part II or III.
cup 14y ago
Wow thats the first time I've ever seen Ibn Rushd mentioned on HN, may I also suggest people read Ghazalis "The incoherence of the philosophers" which Ibn Rushds book as actually a response too. Both are eye opening.
thedillio 14y ago
I agree. Another might be: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-War-Sun-Tzu/dp/0385292163 http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-War-Sun-Tzu/dp/0385292163
- tomjen3 14y ago
  Available for free from the great library. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/132 http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/132
MrVitaliy 14y ago
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in the Markets and in Life, Nassim Nicholas Taleb

louhong 14y ago

I agree that the scope of books that entrepreneurs would find helpful should be wider. I'd recommend some that might be a little easier to get through (just of the top of my head): -Losing my virginity (Branson) -How to win friends and influence people (Carnegie) -Venture deals (Feld) -Man's Search for meaning (Frankl)

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
ckluis 14y ago
+10 to Man's Search for Meaning by Frankl. On a business side I personally like, "Postively Outrageous Service" & "The Heart of Change"

daeken 14y ago

I'd add the following: - Makers (Cory Doctorow) -- I recommend this to every entrepreneur and technologist I know, if only because it will inspire you to create something great. - Masters of Doom (David Kushner) -- History of id software - Game Over (David Sheff) -- History of Nintendo; seriously wild

dsirijus 14y ago
You don't need to call me old-fashioned - I am. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_ludens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_ludens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon Just my 2 cents on the list that actually matters.
technology 14y ago
I would add this one: Decision Points - George W. Bush http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Points-George-W-Bush/dp/0307590615 http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Points-George-W-Bush/dp/03075...
barry-cotter 14y ago
Makers - Part I, is in fact very good. Just pretend that there is no part II or III.

cup 14y ago

Wow thats the first time I've ever seen Ibn Rushd mentioned on HN, may I also suggest people read Ghazalis "The incoherence of the philosophers" which Ibn Rushds book as actually a response too. Both are eye opening.

thedillio 14y ago

I agree. Another might be: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-War-Sun-Tzu/dp/0385292163 http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-War-Sun-Tzu/dp/0385292163

tomjen3 14y ago
Available for free from the great library. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/132 http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/132

MrVitaliy 14y ago

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in the Markets and in Life, Nassim Nicholas Taleb