News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same ... by chimprich on Tuesday May 12, 2020 @11:07AM (#23154791)
I thought Black Swan was fairly meaningless. It started to raise some interesting ideas about the effect of "black swan" events but then failed to give any insight into dealing with or preparing for those effects beyond vague generalities. I did learn how Taleb likes lifting weights and refuses to run for a bus though.

From what I've heard his other books are similar.

Re:Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same ... by misiti3780 on Tuesday May 12, 2020 @12:30PM (#23155931)
"It started to raise some interesting ideas about the effect of "black swan" events but then failed to give any insight into dealing with or preparing for those effects beyond vague generalities"

that is exactly what Antifagile, the book he wrote after does

Re:Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same ... by diehunde on Tuesday May 12, 2020 @11:27AM (#23154989)
I like Taleb but I feel most of the ideas from his books can be written in 10 pages. Although to be fair that's true for most modern non-fiction books.
Re:Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same ... by drstins_n on Tuesday May 12, 2020 @11:25AM (#23154965)
Yep. Better to read Asimov's foundation trilogy
Re:Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same ... by misiti3780 on Tuesday May 12, 2020 @12:32PM (#23155953)
i have never read these, but it looks like quite the commitment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series

why is this series so much better than Taleb's books?

Re:Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same ... by drstins_n on Tuesday May 19, 2020 @02:38AM (#23231933)
The black swan theory, in his basic idea is theorized in the books.

It is a nice reading and you may very well just read the first trilogy to grasp it.