Ask HN: What are some must read books?

Re:Ask HN: What are some must read books? by jackconsidine on Monday December 06, 2021 @01:01PM (#29463261)

A lot of "must reads" depend on your background and interest. GEB for example I would classify as a must for anyone with a computer science background, The Glory of their Times for any baseball fan, Democracy in America for anyone into American politics.

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Re:Ask HN: What are some must read books? by melonbar on Monday December 06, 2021 @01:08PM (#29463394)

I have a solid CS background and tried once to read GEB and while very enthralling I could only get about a quarter through. I will have to try that one again. Cheers.

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Re:Ask HN: What are some must read books? by mindcrime on Monday December 06, 2021 @02:13PM (#29464225)

I stalled out after a couple of the chapters the first time I tried GEB. Let it sit for a year or two, picked it up again and got totally enthralled and just plowed through it. I think maybe you have to be in just the right mood, or at just the right place mentally, to really want to jump into GEB. But when you do... what a rush.

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Re:Ask HN: What are some must read books? by jackconsidine on Monday December 06, 2021 @06:59PM (#29467458)

It took me multiple cracks too! The CS content comes halfway, which was more penetrable and satisfying.

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Re:Ask HN: What are some must read books? by mindcrime on Monday December 06, 2021 @02:11PM (#29464210)

Moneyball is another great one for baseball fans.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine is another good one for people interested in American politics.

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