Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

Re:Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? by dmitrygr on Monday October 07, 2024 @02:58PM (#41769637)

> And have it change your life?

Yes, a literary work can both be life-changing and not something you agree with.

EG:

I do not at all agree with Marx. Me and others reading his works changed my life irrevocably. Ditto for Hitler.

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Re:Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? by travisjungroth on Monday October 07, 2024 @03:45PM (#41770155)

But you do get that if you said "The best book I've ever read was Mein Kampf in 8th grade. Changed my life." then some people very reasonably won't want to be your friend, right?

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Re:Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? by Y_Y on Monday October 07, 2024 @04:15PM (#41770529)

Would you befriend someone who said, "The best book I've ever read was Mein Kampf in 8th grade. My life, however, was entirely unaltered thereby."?

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Re:Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? by travisjungroth on Monday October 07, 2024 @08:37PM (#41772659)

I’d be mostly confused. How did the best book you’ve ever read not alter your life?

I was just quoting the actual question in the comment.

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Re:Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? by dmitrygr on Monday October 07, 2024 @03:51PM (#41770209)

You had me until "reasonably". I'd rather friends who have read than friends who prefer ignorance.

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Re:Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? by travisjungroth on Monday October 07, 2024 @08:38PM (#41772669)

I wouldn’t hold it against someone for having read it. Again, big difference between reading a book and saying it’s your favorite.

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