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Ask HN: What's the best book you've read so far in 2024?

46 pointsby iamthirsty12 months ago
Looking for book recommendations of any kind, curious to see what HN thinks.

37 comments

dang12 months ago
I don&#x27;t know about &quot;so far in 2024&quot; but <i>Pragmatics of Human Communication</i> by Watzlawick et. al. is great: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;wwnorton.com&#x2F;books&#x2F;9780393710595" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;wwnorton.com&#x2F;books&#x2F;9780393710595</a>.<p>Its sequel <i>Change</i> is also great: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;wwnorton.com&#x2F;books&#x2F;9780393707069" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;wwnorton.com&#x2F;books&#x2F;9780393707069</a>, though in my copy the opening 20 pages or so are printed at the end (as if the printing machine used a ring buffer). That is a pity because the Preface has one of the great openings of all time. I was paging through the entire book looking for it—I&#x27;d read it years ago and remembered it being at the beginning, which it is, except the beginning was at the end in this copy.
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codyro12 months ago
While I primarily read fiction, I&#x27;ve been reading through the first book in Robert A. Caro&#x27;s The Years of Lyndon Johnson (<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;The_Years_of_Lyndon_Johnson" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;The_Years_of_Lyndon_Johnson</a>) and have been quite engaged given the interest I have in the topic (history as a whole isn&#x27;t generally the genre I leap for, but Caro has a way to make it interesting).
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jonahbenton12 months ago
I have always been a non-fiction reader, never ever read fiction, but over XMas last year when shopping for fiction for family members who do like fiction, I was grabbed by some novels, mostly translations into English, published by a tiny house called AndOtherStories.<p>I started reading to see if I thought person X would like book Y, and after the holidays realized I was so moved with some of those snippets that I went back to them and then just kept reading on my own.<p>Have burned through 4 of AndOtherStories books so far, every one excellent, distinct, intense. Each has taught me something and been memorable.<p>They (AndOtherStories) very cleverly have a subscription service, which I have signed up for, so I will get new books as they are published (6-10 a year perhaps) but at the moment I am still burning through the back catalog.<p>Specific titles so far: The Luminous Novel, Inland, Mammoth, I Don&#x27;t Expect Anyone To Believe Me. Am now reading Open Door.<p>It has been the source of such joy in this otherwise difficult and stressful year, something I just never expected.
readenough12 months ago
I read The City &amp; the City by China Miéville. If I were to recommend it, it would be because the author&#x27;s English vocabulary is so much fuller than my own. I had to keep a dictionary handy to get through most of it and I appreciated the challenge.
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manucardoen12 months ago
Barbara Kingsolver - Demon Copperhead. It took me a while before it clicked that the book&#x27;s title was meant to rhyme with David Copperfield. It&#x27;s really well written coming-of-age story of a life lived under modern-day poverty. It&#x27;s well written with clever and subtle phrases and a really good pace. The book stays with you a while after you&#x27;ve finished it (which in my case was fast as I couldn&#x27;t stop reading). Afterwards I got to reading more about opiods and their nasty origins.
_virtu12 months ago
- The identity trap: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.penguinrandomhouse.com&#x2F;books&#x2F;712961&#x2F;the-identity-trap-by-yascha-mounk&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.penguinrandomhouse.com&#x2F;books&#x2F;712961&#x2F;the-identity...</a><p>I really like &quot;The identity trap&quot; it&#x27;s one of the few socio-political books that helps to make sense of a lot of the current social media landscape, and political landscape.
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meristohm12 months ago
The Wager, by David Grann; giving me greater context for understanding sea travel (in wooden ships, especially), and I learned that there were indigenous people living along the coast of southern Patagonia where the Wager wrecked. They must be very hardy and resourceful people indeed, given the cold and windy conditions of that region. The European sailors seemed primitive (using the term pejoratively here) in contrast; they all had scurvy and atrophy to various degrees, and had lost so many other sailors to illness and the elements, so reliant on the stores they brought, ignorant of how to survive off the sea and land (they found and were given by the locals enough to eat for there to be survivors who made it back to England, but it was an ordeal). I wondered at the past traumas and other events that lead to Euro-colonialism (this includes my ancestors) and the sense of entitlement that brings about actions like Spain and Portugal dividing the world in ~1600 (watching Shōgun on Hulu, which I also recommend). China also developed a sense of entitlement, but rather than go conquer Africa it sounds like they took their massive navy (dwarfing anything else at the time) on a sightseeing tour and returned home, satisfied with their own superiority.<p>I continue to be inspired to live more closely with the land and life around me, and Grann&#x27;s description of the native people of Patagonia, with their healthy varied diet, vigor and cold tolerance, and kindness to clearly-suffering strangers, made a lasting impression.<p>The Computer Age is just a way of coping with humanity&#x27;s widespread and hopefully temporary degradation and loss of culture and traditions that are sustainable over many, many generations. I see books the same way; temporary technology, a bank of knowledge and experience that, like bacteria in the appendix, can help us get back on track with oral traditions.
romanhn12 months ago
I read a lot of history, but many of the books are quite dry. A rare exception were the books by Dan Jones I recently read, on medieval England (The Plantagenets, The Wars Of Roses). I learned a bunch and sincerely enjoyed the process. His Powers and Thrones book is next up.<p>Incidentally, I found out that Shakespeare covered similar timelines (especially the wars of the roses) in his 8 history plays, which I&#x27;ve been going through. Never read any Shakespeare before, and liking it enough that I already made a top ten list of his works to get into next.
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unbalancedevh12 months ago
I&#x27;ve been in a reading rut lately, so I&#x27;m re-reading an old favorite of mine: &quot;The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling&quot; by Henry Fielding. It&#x27;s in the public domain, so available for free!<p>No doubt the writing style isn&#x27;t for everyone, but besides being a generally enjoyable story, I like the author&#x27;s wit. He quite literally tells exactly how he&#x27;s going to tell the story, and his on-going commentary serves to keep the reader in increasingly tantalizing cliff-hangers as the story progresses.
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misiti378012 months ago
Shadow Divers was amazing: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Shadow-Divers-Adventure-Americans-Everything&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0739320831" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Shadow-Divers-Adventure-Americans-Eve...</a><p>The Tiger was also amazing: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Tiger-Vengeance-Survival-Vintage-Departures&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0307389049" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Tiger-Vengeance-Survival-Vintage-Depa...</a><p>Both non-fiction
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fdlaks12 months ago
&quot;Nuclear War: A Scenario&quot; - Annie Jacobson<p>The book goes through a potential (not far fetched) scenario in which a nuclear war takes place. It&#x27;s absolutely fascinating the way the story is told, and goes into great detail about the US and other countries nuclear programs, the technology behind said programs, and the devastating effects of these weapons.<p>It was really interesting to learn so much about how much state of the art technology is used in these systems, and reading it will definitely make you think a lot about how close we are as a species to being able to completely destroy ourselves at any moment.
tetris1112 months ago
I recently tried reading <i>Long Way to a Small Angry Planet</i> since a few people on HN recommended it.<p>Its pretty terrible. The first few chapters involve the main character literally walking onto a ship, and then tons of exposition about how her alien teamates are all alien in their own individualistic ways that in no way contribute to an over arching story.<p>You learn nothing about the world, no intrigue, characters are superficially interesting, and to top it all off, the writing is teen fiction bad. (The book screams of Mary Sue.)<p>I&#x27;ve been burned by HN book recommendations before. If you enjoyed the level of giddy writing shown in <i>The Martian</i>, <i>Gödel, Escher, Bach</i>, then you will probably like the giddy writing of this book.
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Scarblac12 months ago
Monbiot&#x27;s _Regenesis_, which investigates ways in which it might be possible to make global food production both sustainable and affordable, seemed very well written to me.<p>Finally finished the last _Discworld_ book. The whole series is great, of course.
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mamonster12 months ago
I have finally gotten around to Sartor Resartus, now very obvious why a lot of the greats talked highly about this book. Very well written (and works fine as a standalone without needing to have read Carlyle&#x27;s other works).
fattybob12 months ago
I really enjoyed reading “Rivers of London” by Ben Aaranovitch, I read the second one which was not quite in the same page turner realm, but I plan to read more of the series.
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biinui12 months ago
The Midnight Library. It helped me process my regrets. And frame my mind to do my best with the life that I have now.
geethree12 months ago
The (Delicate) Art of Bureaucracy by Mark Schwartz. Shares an interesting view on bureaucracy, how it is all around us an used heavily in our line of work.
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smitty1e12 months ago
&quot;A Guide for the Perplexed&quot; by E. F. Schumacher<p>It is increasingly important that we not mistake mounds of data for thought. You may not buy off on a theistic basis for thinking about life, but Schumacher&#x27;s concise argument is at least an interesting one.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;a.co&#x2F;d&#x2F;1arTWrb" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;a.co&#x2F;d&#x2F;1arTWrb</a>
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wazoox12 months ago
I&#x27;m just finishing &quot;Material World&quot; by Ed Conway. A great read. Check his substack for a preview : <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;edconway.substack.com&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;edconway.substack.com&#x2F;</a>
tgv12 months ago
V13 by Emmanuel Carrère. It&#x27;s a non-fiction about the trial following the attacks on Bataclan in Paris on Friday, 13 Nov. 2015 (V13 is Friday 13). It can&#x27;t fulfill all its promises, but it does provide an insight in the role of law and justice in a state following such outrageous deeds, in particular on the human side.
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gcj12 months ago
Marie Antoinette&#x27;s biography by Antonia Fraser.<p>Masterfully written, a tidbit of how sexism played a role on making her a historical villain while all the men around her, even the beheaded king, passed on as much less dangerous people.
closetkantian12 months ago
<i>The Sheltering Sky</i> by Paul Bowles. Existentialist novel—like Camus&#x27; <i>The Stranger</i> but better.
FigurativeVoid12 months ago
I start my year by rereading _Colorful_ by Eto Mori.<p>This is the sort of coming of age story that I wish we had in the US.
a_tartaruga12 months ago
The Genesis of Technoscientific Revolutions by Narayanamurti and Tsao is worth reading for a better understanding of how research works and how to nurture it. It has a very clear explanation of how engineering and technology mirror science and how both work together.
deathgripsss12 months ago
I finally got round to reading The Passenger and the companion piece Stella Maris. Cormac McCarthy still had it even in his late 80&#x27;s. Not quite as good as his earlier novels but still very sharp.
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Adrig12 months ago
It&#x27;s a classic, but Influence by Cialdini lived up to its expectations for me
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admissionsguy12 months ago
I reluctantly admit, &quot;There Is No Antimemetics Division&quot; had the best idea, even though its pacing is reminiscent of the Skibidi Toilet series.
portaouflop12 months ago
Hollow by Brian Catling<p>Wild ride of a book, highly entertaining<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;56212878-hollow" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;56212878-hollow</a>
shanecleveland12 months ago
Browsing banned book lists as inspiration for books I should probably be reading. Just finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Pretty good.
spicyusername12 months ago
The Biggest Ideas in the Universe 1: Space, Time and Motion by Sean Carroll<p>Very approachable introduction to the math behind classical physics.
andrei_says_12 months ago
Reading Death’s End and loving it (2nd book in the Three Body Problem series).
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ElCapitanMarkla12 months ago
I may have read this last year but I really enjoyed John Romero’s Doom Guy
throw0101b12 months ago
In rough order:<p><i>The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War</i>:<p>&gt; <i>In the century after the Civil War, an economic revolution improved the American standard of living in ways previously unimaginable. Electric lighting, indoor plumbing, motor vehicles, air travel, and television transformed households and workplaces. But has that era of unprecedented growth come to an end? Weaving together a vivid narrative, historical anecdotes, and economic analysis, The Rise and Fall of American Growth challenges the view that economic growth will continue unabated, and demonstrates that the life-altering scale of innovations between 1870 and 1970 cannot be repeated. Gordon contends that the nation&#x27;s productivity growth will be further held back by the headwinds of rising inequality, stagnating education, an aging population, and the rising debt of college students and the federal government, and that we must find new solutions. A critical voice in the most pressing debates of our time, The Rise and Fall of American Growth is at once a tribute to a century of radical change and a harbinger of tougher times to come.</i><p>* <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;26634594" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;26634594</a><p><i>Data Driven: Truckers, Technology, and the New Workplace Surveillance</i>:<p>&gt; <i>Long-haul truckers are the backbone of the American economy, transporting goods under grueling conditions and immense economic pressure. Truckers have long valued the day-to-day independence of their work, sharing a strong occupational identity rooted in a tradition of autonomy. Yet these workers increasingly find themselves under many watchful eyes. Data Driven examines how digital surveillance is upending life and work on the open road, and raises crucial questions about the role of data collection in broader systems of social control.</i><p>* <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;60564512" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;60564512</a><p><i>Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams</i>:<p>&gt; <i>Neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. Charting the most cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and marshalling his decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood and energy levels, regulate hormones, prevent cancer, Alzheimer&#x27;s and diabetes, slow the effects of aging, and increase longevity. He also provides actionable steps towards getting a better night&#x27;s sleep every night.</i><p>* <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;34466963-why-we-sleep" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;34466963-why-we-sleep</a><p><i>Chip War: The Fight for the World&#x27;s Most Critical Technology</i> (which goes over the history semiconductors, and not just present day events):<p>* <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Chip_War:_The_Fight_for_the_World%27s_Most_Critical_Technology" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Chip_War:_The_Fight_for_the_Wo...</a>
johnwatson1121812 months ago
Bernoulli&#x27;s Fallacy hands down.
CRConrad12 months ago
<i>Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We&#x27;ll Win Them Back,</i> by Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Chokepoint_Capitalism" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Chokepoint_Capitalism</a>
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Wonnk1312 months ago
Be Here Now: Ram Dass<p>Avadhuta Gita<p>The Art of Communicating: Thich Nhat Hanh<p>Open to other recs for non dual meditation &#x2F; spirituality without a lot of religious dogma.
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mstef12 months ago
john scalzi: starter villain<p>note, if your wife doesn&#x27;t like to be woken up, do not try to read this next to her in bed. you will LoL, and wake her up.
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