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Ask HN: What books taught you the most about human nature?
I've been reading through Discworld recently, and have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of (tongue-in-cheek) wisdom contained therein.
Since HN originally pointed me to Discworld, I thought I'd ask -- what other books -- fiction or otherwise -- have changed your perspective on human psychology / sociology / the space of possible minds?
- shehjar 2y agoReligious ones help. Especially the parts About regulating and observing your own emotions. Bhagwad Gita was helpful to me as a Hindu. Deliberate Calm is another one that helped understand on a more scientific level now our emotions are created and how that leads to our behavior.
- kstenerud 2y agoWarriors and Worriers (Benenson) The Prince (Machiavelli) Beyond Good And Evil (Nietzche) A History of Western Philosophy (Russel) The Fourth Turning (Strauss, Howe) Also, Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Machiavelli) is a fascinating read on human political machinations (albeit fairly slanted by Machiavelli's personal views)
- ianpenney 2y agoGödel Escher Bach.
- DanielGeisler 2y agoWow, GEB came immediately to mind.
- beardyw 2y agoWell I got a lot from it, but human nature? I may have missed it.
- steven_noble 2y ago"What You Can Change and What You Can't" by Martin Seligman
- steven_noble 2y agoAlso, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl