News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and pr... by codethief on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @07:37AM (#33799824)
Not any particular book but: Studying mathematics and physics has greatly improved my thinking and problem solving abilities.

Already a semester or two (of real analysis, linear algebra, experimental physics, theoretical physics) would get one very far I think.

As for books, https://theoreticalminimum.com/ might be a great starting point.

Re:Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and pr... by m-watson on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @08:40AM (#33800540)
I often say to people that the most important thing physics gave me was being comfortable not knowing something. My math and physics education have 100% changed the way I think and address problems in life, despite not going into a physics career.

Since it is a book thread:

The Information: James Gleick - really made me take a step back to think about what information is and how we talk about it

Reinventing Discovery: Michael Nielsen - It was some years back now but I had trouble reading it because I kept having to write things down or read about a new idea the book just put into my head. It really was thought provoking at the time.

Re:Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and pr... by Anon84 on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @10:56AM (#33802537)
In the same vein as “The Information” you might enjoy Cesar Hidalgos “Why Information Grows” https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465096840?crid=W41QXVYZQMRM&keywo... where he takes a physicists view on information with a bent towards economics
Re:Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and pr... by vr46 on Saturday December 03, 2022 @03:59AM (#33841953)
10 points for James Gleick's The Information. Both that and Chaos blew my tiny little mind.
Re:Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and pr... by codethief on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @09:52AM (#33801524)
[Addendum] …or, generally, any book about back-of-the-envelope calculations (or Fermi estimates). I heard there are some great ones.
Re:Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and pr... by pshushereba on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @09:16PM (#33811418)
I'd be interested in recommendations about books like this.