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Interesting (Non software) books?
pstinnett: I've been reading The Lost City of Z by David Grann. Really enjoying it:* The Lost City of Z* http://www.amazon.com/Lost-City-Deadly-Obsession-Amazon/dp/0...
Interesting (Non software) books?
olalonde: The Stranger (L’Étranger) by Albert Camus is an excellent novel. I'm sure many HNers can relate to the main character.
Interesting (Non software) books?
aufreak3: "The Logic of Failure" by Dietrich DornerThis is a particularly good book that ought to be spread around more.
Interesting (Non software) books?
dhyasama: "Money Ball" by Michael Lewis is great. It's about evaluating talent in new ways to exploit market inefficiencies in baseball.
Interesting (Non software) books?
borismus: The Innovator's Dilemma
Where are the Wakemate reviews?
gnemeth: Hey Guys,Greg from WakeMate here - Because we have not publicly shipped any units yet, there are no reviews of units just yet. We will be shipping out the first units at the end of the month so you should be seeing some reviews soon. More detailed information will be posted to our website and blog.
Interesting (Non software) books?
Apreche: The Prince of Nothing series of books by R. Scott Bakker
Interesting (Non software) books?
fisadev: +1 to Snow Crash
Interesting (Non software) books?
gcheong: 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology
Interesting (Non software) books?
pyronicide: Here are some books that are a mix of psychology and economics that I think are especially suited for HN:Behavioral Economics: Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely Nudge - Richard Thaler Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard - Chip and Dan Heath Economics: The Black Swan: Impact of the High...
Should I comment in HN or on individual blogs?
icey: I almost always comment on HN because I like the people here. Some people post on both the blog and here. Some people just post on the blog.It's really up to you; I don't think there's anything wrong with posting in both places if you want.
Interesting (Non software) books?
btilly: I don't know what you mean by "related to software". I'm going to take a narrow definition that you mean related to the process of writing, designing, tracking, etc. So something like Information Rules on the economic theory of pricing software products is OK. Or a classic on managing software developers lik...
Interesting (Non software) books?
ktf: Pale Fire, by Nabokov. A story of insane obsession, which I'm sure many HN readers could relate to...
Interesting (Non software) books?
ckopec: I just finished 'A song of ice and fire' series by George R.R. Martin and it's an amazing read.
Interesting (Non software) books?
dschobel: I'll repost my suggestion from the last "great reads" thread on HN.----------------------------------------The Bet by Anton ChekhovYou can read it here: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/Bet.shtmlIt shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. It's so fantastically misanthropic, I cannot recommend it e...
Interesting (Non software) books?
ColemanF: The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-first Century by Thomas P. M. Barnett.It's like The World is Flat on steroids. It's probably even more pro free trade. It's the most optimistic look at world affairs I've ever seen. The idea is that trade ties countries together and makes them stop fighti...
Interesting (Non software) books?
zen53: Recent reads I'd recommend...Seth Godin's LinchpinViral Loops by Adam L. Penenberg
Interesting (Non software) books?
awolf: Atlas Shrugged bu Ayn Randhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Shrugged
Interesting (Non software) books?
sshumaker: Guns, Germs and Steel - It will change the way you think about the course of human development and the forces of history.The Innovator's Dilemma can be summed up in two paragraphs but is still worth reading - it explains why giant companies fail to keep innovating.Stumbling upon happiness - how people's perc...
Interesting (Non software) books?
a-priori: I recommend The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker.
Should I comment in HN or on individual blogs?
vijaydev: if your comments can lead to insightful discussions, why not both? Doing in HN is more fun because more people tend to respond to your point
Interesting (Non software) books?
pinstriped_dude: Can everyone commenting on this thread also add 2 lines on -1) What the book is about 2) Why do you recommend it?
Interesting (Non software) books?
makmanalp: Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely: http://www.predictablyirrational.com/Interesting book on why people act irrationally.
Interesting (Non software) books?
pwk: The Gold Bug Variations, by Richard Powers: a love story that touches on music, genetics, history, art... lots of themes that HN readers might appreciate.
Interesting (Non software) books?
chasingsparks: A lot of the classics mentioned can be found for free in .txt, .html, or ePub via Project Gutenberg.http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
Interesting (Non software) books?
JangoSteve: My favorite non-software books (I've mentioned these a few times around HN before):* Atlas Shrugged (also good: The Fountainhead) by Ayn Rand* Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath* Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Freedman* The Plague by Albert Camus
Interesting (Non software) books?
lionhearted: If you're talented and get frustrated with stupid people, you have to read "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa. I mean, you have to.Musashi was one of the greatest (maybe the greatest) swordsman of all time. He invented a Japanese longblade/shortblade mixed style of swordsmanship, at one point fighting himself out...
Interesting (Non software) books?
davi: Infrastructure: A Field Guide to the Industrial Landscape Brian Hayeshttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393329593/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp...This book is a "how it works" guide to the infrastructure of modernity: the power grid, mining, steel production, etc. Great photographs & readable text. I read it cover to cover and...
Interesting (Non software) books?
wallflower: "How Buildings Learn: What happens after they're built" by Stewart Brand (ok, it's about systems and software arch)"Walt Disney: Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler (This is awesome because the 1st third is about his multiple failures)Any David Macaulay book (breathtaking deconstruction cons...
Interesting (Non software) books?
tfh: Here is what comes to my mind a my all favorite books: * no exit - jean-paul sartre * brave new world - adolous huxley * 1984 - george orwell * foucault's pendolum - umberto eco * l'etranger - albert camus * 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - jules vernes
Interesting (Non software) books?
torial: I have found "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt to be very insightful. It is written in a novel like format, with the purpose of teaching a certain way of attacking problems.http://www.amazon.com/Goal-Process-Ongoing-Improvement/dp/08...
Interesting (Non software) books?
abyssknight: Cory Doctorow's collection of stories called "Overclocked" was a nice distraction. Check it out if you get a chance. I believe it's actually out there on his site for free.
Interesting (Non software) books?
andrewcooke: Hayek's Challenge by Caldwell - http://www.amazon.com/Hayeks-Challenge-Intellectual-Biograph...I wrote a review on Amazon that you can read there for more details, but in short: this book describes the themes that interested Hayek, their historical context, and how attitudes to them evolved.I consider myse...
Interesting (Non software) books?
NEPatriot: The War of Art - Stephen Pressfield - how to overcome yourselfGates of Fire - same as above, the story of the stand at ThermopylaeAgincourt & 3 part series Archer's tale - Bernard Cornwell - accounts of medievil warfareStrengthsFinder 2.0 - Tom Rath - take a test and discover your strengths/things you love t...
Interesting (Non software) books?
cromulent: My favourite read of the last few years was The Tyrannicide Brief.I moved house 15000 km recently and this was one of the few books that came along (the others are in storage). Most of the other ones are mentioned in other comments.From the New Yorker review:In 1649, after Oliver Cromwell and his army had ta...
Interesting (Non software) books?
alex_c: I recently enjoyed "The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art". As the title promises, it's a great look into the economics of contemporary art - what forces determine the ridiculous prices you hear about.http://www.amazon.com/Million-Stuffed-Shark-Economics-Contem...
Interesting (Non software) books?
enduser: King Warrior Magician Lover, by Robert Moore and Douglas Gilette. It is a deeply insightful book about the path to a mature masculine psyche written by a highly respected Jungian psychologist (Moore) and a mythologist and counselor (Gilette).I recently finished reading this book and their four subsequent volum...
Should I comment in HN or on individual blogs?
ScottWhigham: It depends on who I want to have a discussion with. If the original poster (OP) is the blog author, then I'm probably going to comment in whichever environment I think I can talk with the author. If the OP is not the author and I want to talk to the author, then I'd comment on the blog. If I want to rant/...
Interesting (Non software) books?
r7000: Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series.A very enjoyable description of the pinnacle of pre-Industrial technology.
Interesting (Non software) books?
boundlessdreamz: if you are into fantasy the mistborn series is awesomeness redefined :)
Interesting (Non software) books?
MikeCapone: A few that I've read recently and liked:Predictably Irrational by Dan ArielyMostly about cognitive biases. Helps you think better by knowing your shortcomings.Whole Earth Discipline by Stewart BrandAbout protecting the environment, but with interesting takes on nuclear power, GMOs, cities and slums, etc.Goo...
Should I comment in HN or on individual blogs?
pedalpete: I rarely find myself commenting on the blogs for two reasons1) I don't want to have to fill out all the info they request (unless it is a blog I regularly find myself going to2) I don't want to have to remember to go back to the blog to see further discussion and comments.HN just makes it so easy to go back ...
Interesting (Non software) books?
kingsley_20: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiAMZN blurb: You have heard about how a musician loses herself in her music, how a painter becomes one with the process of painting. In work, sport, conversation or hobby, you have experienced, yourself, the suspension of time, the freedo...
Interesting (Non software) books?
Mongoose: The Art of War is definitely worth at least one read.
Interesting (Non software) books?
barnaby: Lately I'm into reading Biographies of Entrepreneurs.Reserved "Founders at work" at the library, but currently reading "Match King" the biography of Ivar Kreuger. After failing a bunch of times, he figured it out: put on a show and pretend you're successful then other people buy in. Problem is he took that to...
Interesting (Non software) books?
GvS: I can recommend Zamonia series by Walter Moers: The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures The City of Dreaming Books Awesome fantasy books.
Interesting (Non software) books?
mattdennewitz: david foster wallace: oblivion
Names for printers and conference rooms
grinich: Some good comments here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=834817
Interesting (Non software) books?
apgwoz: Books about Richard Feynman, or essays, etc. by him. "Surely You Must Be Joking, Mr. Feynman!" in particular. I guess, this is unfair, as eventually he did get into software/hardware, but....
Interesting (Non software) books?
samlittlewood: - David Marr: "Vision"The foundations of computational neroscience - and lots of practial demonstrations of how your eyes and brain work.- Daniel Dennett "Consciousness Explained"How the mind works?- J.E Gordon: "The new Science of Strog Materials" & " Structures, or why things don't fall down."How is '...
Interesting (Non software) books?
zupatol: Ficciones, by BorgesVery imaginative short stories bordering on the philosophical, some of them hilarious.
Interesting (Non software) books?
ErrantX: Risk: the science and politics of fear. By dan GardnerI've recommended, and reviewed, it here before. Basically it is a pop-science look at how humans react and view fear. Brilliant read with lots of good referecing to scientific papers etc.It was almost as revelatory to me as the selfish gene.
Interesting (Non software) books?
theblackbox: Herman Hesse - The Glass Bead Games (though I would hazard to say any of his famous five are worth reading - haven't got round to them all myself yet, though)I read The Glass Bead Games after I happened across Timothy Leary's "The Politics of Ecstasy" (a good read but not great - his ignorance/arrogance ge...
Interesting (Non software) books?
grosales: If you'd like to understand a little bit about how our brain might process and understand numbers, get "The Number Sense" by Stanislas Dehaene
How do you feel about affiliate links in comments?
_delirium: I can't speak to the HN consensus, but on some comment areas/lists I've moderated in the past, we generally tried to allow ones that were there in good faith. It's a fine line, though. It's ok with me if someone was going to recommend a book anyway, and throws in their affiliate link rather than giving the e...
ASk HN: Best small business banking practices?
oogali: Do they have TD Commerce out there? They have been absolutely wonderful for me.Reasons: - 1st year free checking, $50/year afterwards,- they generate debit cards on the spot in the branch,- 7-day banking, branches open late 4 days out of the week,- 24-hour customer support number, always answered by a human[ lo...
Interesting (Non software) books?
akkartik: Two scifi books about turning rationality into a religion: Anathem and Altered CarbonMy all-time scifi list started out in a reddit comment: http://akkartik.name/blog/2006-06-02-08-13-58-soc
Names for printers and conference rooms
c1sc0: We're using names of cities right now. In the previous company I worked we used names of countries for the conference rooms. Pretty boring & completely disfunctional.
How do you feel about affiliate links in comments?
josefresco: An old trick for a lot of forums posters is to include both links, one with .. and one without and give users a choice (if you trust me use the affil link, if not the regular). Although I cringe in recommending this practice overall as I can easily foresee HN being overrun by stealthy affiliate marketers.
Interesting (Non software) books?
3pt14159: I like this science book about the elements so much I wrote a blog post about it:http://zachaysan.tumblr.com/post/315148493/the-elements-a-pe...
Interesting (Non software) books?
aantix: I don't get it, am I the only hacker that ever has problems with relationships?I've done more than my fair share of stumbling (including one divorce) and at the age of 32 only now do I feel like I am "getting it".Nonetheless, I'd recommend the book _Conscious Loving_ by Gay and Kaithlyn Hendricks.Instead of the...
Interesting (Non software) books?
zwieback: Moby Dick is one of my all time favorite classics. Should appeal to engineers and entrepreneurs as well as being a great read. The form is very unlike other classics of its period.
How do you feel about affiliate links in comments?
davidw: I'd say go for it. We can downvote ones we think are not acting in good faith.
Interesting (Non software) books?
mattwdelong: A few books I have in queue;The Wealth of Nations - Adam SmithRework - 37 SignalsOgilvy on Advertising / Confessions of an Advertising Man - David Ogilvy
Interesting (Non software) books?
dkimball: You might be interested in _War and Peace and War_, a theory of history focusing on social capital as a driving force, and in _The Fourth Turning_ -- which looks at changes over four-generation intervals, and which, written in 1997, made some surprisingly good predictions about the 2000s (the Aughts?).Both of...
Interesting (Non software) books?
michaels0620: Christopher Logue's War Music http://www.amazon.com/War-Music-Account-Books-Homers/dp/0226... It's the beginnings of a modern retelling of Homer's Iliad. If you like it there are two other short books (All Day Permanent Red and Homer Cold Calls).Don't be scared off by it being poetry. It is easily underst...
Interesting (Non software) books?
Element_: A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill BrysonA Briefer History of Time - Stephen Hawking
Interesting (Non software) books?
Estragon: Human Smokehttp://books.google.com/books?id=8HKQEJlAl9gC&printsec=f...Churchill, Hitler, and "the unnecessary war": how Britain lost its empire and the West lost the worldhttp://books.google.com/books?id=PYESsQRyIIMC&printsec=f...Both books are iconoclastic looks at how WWII came to be, and whether it was tru...
Interesting (Non software) books?
bmj: Some influential and interesting books on how humanity interacts with technology (and vice-versa): * The Technological Society, Jacques Ellul * Tools for Conviviality, Ivan Illich * Shop Class as Soulcraft, Matthew Crawford
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
trevorturk: I've just released a small side project website that came from an idea I had with a buddy during our plan ride to SXSW Interactive.It's supposed to be a gimmicky and easy way to find motion designers. Basically, you can upload "reels" and people can view random ones and vote on ones they like. It's kind of ...
Interesting (Non software) books?
detcader: Before anything, read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams. Then try the Salmon of Doubt by him. Salmon of Doubt is a must, but it's made more accessible by reading Adams' fictional works first.
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
faramarz: If I press Like this Reel, will it actually like the vimeo video? I ask this, because then it would be syndicated on my action stream both at vimeo and elsewhere (fb, friendfeed etc)If that's not currently possible, I suggest looking into it. As user, I would like the action of Liking this reel be reflected o...
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
b14ck: I love the website. The design looks great (don't change it!) and I like the simple, intuitive interface.I spent about 10 minutes flipping through reels, and linked a friend. Now he's going through reels. We probably won't get much work done for the rest of the afternoon :D
Names for printers and conference rooms
hga: Two early ones (mid-80s) for laser printers:Treekiller (obvious).Software Hoarder (at Unipress software, the legit licensees of Gosling Emacs, which was also the start of GNU Emacs).Me, I've always used the names of anime gals (home or work).
Interesting (Non software) books?
adw: "Real Fast Food" by Nigel Slater.Yes, it's a cookbook. Bloody good one, though, and you've gotta eat.
Interesting (Non software) books?
jlees: The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler. A really interesting analysis of modern narrative structure rooted in mythology. It'll appeal to HN readers; it's an analytical way of breaking down every story ever told.
Interesting (Non software) books?
ptn: Freakonomics.
How does a Jr. to Mid-Level programmer find work?
JMyste: You should consider contacting "head hunters" / employment agencies. They will match your skill set with client's budgets. If you have two years experience, you should be able to find something that way, even though I agree that senior level developers are the going thing right now.
Interesting (Non software) books?
tsally: When I recommend books I make a coffee shop recommendation and an airport recommendation. Both books are excellent, but the coffee shop book requires slower reader and more mental effort to get the benefit.Coffee shop:Plowing the Dark by Richard Powers. The book follows to parallel stories: one of a company t...
Where do you buy your health care?
subpixel: I'm a former Freelancers Union member and though the plans are quite good in NY, they're not so hot outside of that area. The fact is they aren't a union and they aren't an insurance provider either. They're a membership organization that negotiates group eligibility and rates. There are other types of groups...
Names for printers and conference rooms
wmf: Our first conference room was the War Room (gentlemen, you can't fight in here...) so naturally the second was called the Peace Room.
Interesting (Non software) books?
protomyth: Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds - I like the process and form
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
raffi: These were a lot of fun to watch. I have no stake in this scene but enjoyed clicking through and seeing what folks came up with. I get a similar feeling watching http://www.demoscene.tv/
Interesting (Non software) books?
JoelMcCracken: "How to Read a Book", by Mortimer J. Adler.This book was very important for me, as it gave me a new way of approaching both books and almost everything in life. It also gives a rather thorough collection of the most important books of western culture, ordered by authors then dates.If you ever wanted to k...
Interesting (Non software) books?
cosmok: The Complete Stories (of) Franz Kafka, The Corrections by Jonathen Franzen
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
jasonlbaptiste: it seems the new tagline dejour for side projects is: chat roulette for "x" with no pensises.
Interesting (Non software) books?
rubinelli: Getting Things Done and Making It All Work. Very down-to-Earth, techie-friendly productivity system. It reduces the whole life-balancing act to a schedule, a handful of lists, and simple algorithms. It also scales down well, in my experience.
Interesting (Non software) books?
aik: I very much wish I would have read the below books in (or pre) high school. I'm not sure if they have the same effect on everyone, but for me they were huge in redefining elements of my life that needed to be fixed/unlearned/enhanced.All related to having a passion for learning and life in general:"Art of Learnin...
closed million+ monthly forum coz of spammers, now what?
csomar: So you don't want to re-open it? and also you have a 1 million page view/month forum? (I estimate the unique visitors to 500K).My Question is: Are you ready to open another one? If yes, you already have the server that handle such traffic and the traffic that will boost your forum.Put up a new forum, make an ad...
Interesting (Non software) books?
jlangenauer: Walden, by Henry David ThoreauOne of the few books I've read 3 or more times. An important discussion about determinining what is important in life, and what is just the details.
A source for market researches that don't cost thousands.
ig1: "Market research" is a huge field, is there something specific you're looking for ?
I break the chain every day starting form 3rd day what to do?
amock: Your question is very unclear. What chain are you talking about?
Interesting (Non software) books?
dnsworks: - How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/06... - Beethoven As I Knew Him by Anton Felix Schindler http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-As-I-Knew-Him/dp/0486292320 - Soul Of A New Machine (It's about hardware!) and Mountains Beyond Mountains,...
Please review my cross charting fitness app
kmb128: A mobile app for the gym would be nice. It looks like you're only charting the number of reps. What about weight and time spent per exercise? Caloric intake?
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
JayTillz: Pretty good idea. Do you offer stats for people with reels coming through your app?
Interesting (Non software) books?
AmericanOP: PIHKAL- the autobiographical account by the bay area chemist who invented MMDA. Incredible story of invention and scientific exploration. It also contains the most authentic love story I have ever read.
Setting Goals
jojopotato: I don't think that goals themselves are a bad idea, they give you something to aim for and a sense of completion once you get there. Personally I've found that setting short term goals ( < 1 week away ) has helped keep me on course.That being said, the company I work for requires us to set SMART goals ever...
Forums with quality discourse
sendos: Straight Dope message board http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb is pretty good
Review my side project - Reel Roulette
cschneid: Sorry for being disconnected, but is there a 2 line explanation of what I'm watching? They're visually entertaining, but I don't get much beyond that.
Interesting (Non software) books?
rudders: I think that if you want a deep, and very enjoyable read you should try Isaac Asimov's Foundation saga. It's so complex and presents a network all of Asimov's many ideas all collected under one store. Very insightful.