4 ms·
Ask HN: What non-fiction do you read?
Share any fascinating books you've been reading lately.
- gushogg-blake 9mo agoJaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic Modern environments and lifestyles have changed our jaw development dramatically, contributing to the high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (snoring through to obstructive sleep apnea), chronic tension, jaw joint problems, and orthodontic need.
- onetokeoverthe 9mo ago[dead]
- ProtosGalaxias 9mo ago"The Molecule of More" by Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long. A bit naive but fascinating narrative about how dopamine controls our feelings, addictions, and, basically, happiness.
- HardwareLust 9mo ago"Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner" by Paul Sammon A deep history of the making of the movie "Blade Runner". Very enjoyable if you liked the movie.
- kello 9mo agoPilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
- jbrockwork 9mo agoYour Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body - Really cool account of human evolutionary history Stolen Focus (Johann Hari) - About how we've lost (and can regain) the ability to focus due to technological distraction (currently social media, etc. but hasn't always been) Chip War - History and geopolitical significance of the semiconductor industry
- Blackstrat 9mo agoSecond Chip War. That and Breakneck by Dan Wang do a good job of broadening one’s perspective on the global situation
- DataDaoDe 9mo agoPlato's works surrounding Socrates' death: Phaedo, Crito, Euthyphro, The Apology. Its fascinating to discover how many thoughts and ideas they had which are still relevant in our societies today. Also, they are incredibly readable, its like taking part in on a conversation among friends.
- 0xmattf 9mo agoI only read non-fiction; mostly philosophy. Here are some books off the top of my head: * The Inner Citadel/Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot * Plato's dialogues (someone already mentioned a few of them, but the Republic was missing from their list). * Epictetus (Discourses and Enchiridion) * The various essays/letters of Seneca * Matter and Consciousness by Churchland (older, but fascinating) * The Mediations of Marcus Aurelius * (mostly) any Buddhist texts * What a Plant Knows * Moonwalking with Einstein There are tons of fascinating books, way too many to list.
- vunderba 9mo agoSecond the recommendation for "Moonwalking with Einstein." Ed Cooke (the memory coach and world memory champion featured prominently in the book) is also a really nice chap. If you have any interest in memorization or mnemonics, it's a great read.
- 0xmattf 9mo ago> If you have any interest in memorization or mnemonics, it's a great read. Absolutely. Even if you don't have an interest in the subject, it's worth a read. I honestly picked that book up out of random; I had no idea such a world of memory existed. Brilliant book.
- vunderba 9mo agoTotally agree. If you like this style of memoir + deep subject dive, I also highly recommend anything by A.J. Jacobs - his "Year of Living Biblically", and "The Know-It-All" are great reads in the same vein.
- constantinum 9mo agoAll Pulitzer price winning non-fiction books — specifically investigative journalism - is always a great read
- chistev 9mo agoYou tell me - https://www.rxjourney.net/list-of-books-i-finished-reading-in-2025 https://www.rxjourney.net/list-of-books-i-finished-reading-i...
- baranmelik 9mo agoThe Very Short Introduction series is great. ie A Very Short Introduction to Art History, Quantum Theory: A Very Short Introduction etc
- deleted 9mo ago[deleted]
- undopamine 9mo agoI've started 'The One Thing' by Gary Keller and it's serving as a helpful reminder to keep my focus undiluted.
- cafard 9mo agoHistory: about halfway through The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis. (About halfway through 918 pages, not counting notes etc., so you will see that it holds the interest.) Philosophy: about halfway through A Reading of Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit by Quentin Lauer. Memoir: last year read Journeys of the Mind: A Life in History by Peter Brown, The Story of a Life by Konstantin Paustofsky.