Ask HN: Great nontech book that you read recently?

11 pointsby thunga11 jaar geleden34 comments

35 comments

brudgers11 jaar geleden

Hugo and Nebula award winner Ancillary Justice is pretty good, though perhaps not great. Before that I reread No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy is definitely great and I enjoyed it far more this time than when I read it nine years ago. Right now I am rereading Dune for the first time in at least twenty and possibly thirty years partially because Ancillary Justice reminded me of it, partially because it might be something I recommend trying to my son and partially because being able to read previously read books in new ways is turning out to be a pleasure of getting older. Anyway, Dune is great in ways that Dino Delaurentis and subsequent film makers had made me forget.

Langston Hughes' Weary Blues is amazing, but I'm no expert on poetry.

Jemaclus11 jaar geleden

Just recently finished "Seveneves" by Neal Stephenson. It's sci-fi, but fantastic.

For non-sci-fi, my favorite fantasy book I've read recently was "The Lies of Locke Lamora" (and its sequels) by Scott Lynch. Another is "Dirty Jobs" by Christopher Moore, a bit on the Pratchett-inspired side of things.

I also recently finished Felicia Day's memoir, "You're Never Weird on the Internet," which I highly recommend.

BatFastard11 jaar geleden

Great science fiction book covering the topic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diamond_Age

Ideas from that book come up once a week in conversations.

Vaskivo11 jaar geleden

I believe that, following VR, 'ractors' will be the next big thing for entertainment.

darrelld11 jaar geleden

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Excellent storytelling, humour and slice of life human drama. It's just amazing how Junot Diaz tells of the tragedy of one family and the fukú curse that haunts them over generations.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Brief-Wondrous-Life-Oscar/dp/15944...

SpikedCola11 jaar geleden

"In the Interests of Safety: The absurd rules that blight our lives and how we can change them" - Tracey Brown & Michael Hanlon

http://www.amazon.com/In-Interests-Safety-absurd-blight/dp/0...

icpmacdo11 jaar geleden

I'm going through the audiobook of Cryptonomicon, its my first Neal Stephenson book and I am quite enjoying it.

atmosx11 jaar geleden

vincentbarr11 jaar geleden

"Meet Your Happy Chemicals: Dopamine, Endorphin, Oxytocin, Serotonin" by Loretta Graziano Breuning

http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Your-Happy-Chemicals-Endorphin/dp...

hmartiniano11 jaar geleden

"God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" by Christopher Hitchens. http://www.amazon.com/God-Is-Not-Great-Everything/dp/0446697...

planet_carter11 jaar geleden

"Arcadia" by Tom Stoppard. It's an incredible play which explores some of the foundational concepts of Chaos Theory as literary themes. I'm not a huge fiction reader, but this one gets me every time I read it. The ending is really beautiful.

frigg11 jaar geleden

The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect by Roger Williams.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64341.The_Metamorphosis_o...

idefine11 jaar geleden

Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl

http://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0...

ChildOfEru11 jaar geleden

"A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924" by Orlando Figes

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014024364X

ddw11 jaar geleden

"Annihilation" by Jeff VanderMeer and the rest of the Southern Reach trilogy.

icuci11 jaar geleden

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

fisadev11 jaar geleden

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. Don't know if "great", but quite interesting and fun free book at hpmor.com

vimalvnair11 jaar geleden

"The Fabric Of Cosmos" by Brian Greene

cpete11 jaar geleden

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.

Gorgeous, funny writing. The story spans roughly half a century and moves between Europe and the United States.

partisan11 jaar geleden

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke.

monroepe11 jaar geleden

I just bought that book and will be starting it tomorrow. I am finishing up The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan today. My wife loved it (she reads a lot faster than me).

partisan11 jaar geleden

I read through the first three books of the Wheel of Time, but couldn't make it further. I may try again at some point. Did you also love Eye of the World?

monroepe11 jaar geleden

I really enjoyed The Eye of the World. I can't wait to start book 2. I have heard the series slows down considerably later on.But so far I love it.

browseatwork11 jaar geleden

Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham

Gold by Isaac Asimov

jeo123411 jaar geleden

"Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World" by Ian Bremmer

georgeott11 jaar geleden

"The Potato Factory: The Australian Trilogy" - Bryce Courtenay

atmosx11 jaar geleden

Brothers Karamazov by FD

frostmatthew11 jaar geleden

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! - Richard Feynman

cdvonstinkpot11 jaar geleden

'Zen and the Art of Archery' by Eugen Herrigel

ruraljuror11 jaar geleden

Slightly-techy fiction: Amnesia by Peter Carey.

monroepe11 jaar geleden

Dune - Frank Herbert. Just an amazing book.

TobbenTM11 jaar geleden

Population: 485 from Michael Perry

harryc201111 jaar geleden

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

BlackLamb11 jaar geleden

Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle.

monknomo11 jaar geleden

Super-Cannes - JG Ballard