Ask HN: The book you always wanted to read but never had time or motivation for?
9 comments
To look smart (I think): Gödel, Escher, Bach or anything by Ayn Rand
I don't mean to offend you, but for a large segment of the U.S. population reading Ayn Rand does not make you look smart.
No offense taken ... I have no dog in the fight
one is for the title you are a little ashamed of
FWIW, I'm interpreting this as "ashamed to admit you haven't read this title yet" as opposed to "ashamed to admit you want to read this title".
To Look Smart: Wolfram's A New Kind of Science
Ashamed Of: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP)
Tech: Knuth's The Art of Computer Programming
FWIW, I'm interpreting this as "ashamed to admit you haven't read this title yet" as opposed to "ashamed to admit you want to read this title".
To Look Smart: Wolfram's A New Kind of Science
Ashamed Of: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP)
Tech: Knuth's The Art of Computer Programming
Don't be so ashamed - it's a good book but even Sussman and Abelson teach their courses out of other books now.
correct interpretation of my shame. All my friends have read Neuromancer, when they talk about it only think I can do is to try drifting the topic on something else.
Moonwalking with Einstein(http://www.amazon.ca/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Rememberin...)
Thinking, Fast and Slow (http://www.amazon.ca/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0...)
fast and slow is worth it. really. i am a picky reader - often stop reading books half way through - but i couldn't put that one down. very good book.
to look smart Gravity's Rainbow
ashamed of: the Dark Tower series
tech: no interest in reading one from cover to cover, but I'm open to being convinced otherwise
edit: not sure which way I interpret "ashamed", take it how you will!
ashamed of: the Dark Tower series
tech: no interest in reading one from cover to cover, but I'm open to being convinced otherwise
edit: not sure which way I interpret "ashamed", take it how you will!
In search of lost time, by Marcel Proust.
I've had it on my shelf for a while.
I've had it on my shelf for a while.
to look smart: The Count of Monte Cristo, A. Dumas
ashamed of: The Neuromancer, W. Gibson
Tech: Lions' Commentary on Unix, J. Lions
ashamed of: The Neuromancer, W. Gibson
Tech: Lions' Commentary on Unix, J. Lions
that book by Marx, just to know what all the fuzz is about.
Err.... all of them?
To look smart: The Tao of Physics
Ashamed of the title: Yoga, Inc
Tech book: CSS and HTML Web Design (because I've been faking it all along)
Ashamed of the title: Yoga, Inc
Tech book: CSS and HTML Web Design (because I've been faking it all along)
Three answers are allowed, one is to look smart (eg: "The Count of Monte Cristo"), one is for the title you are a little ashamed of (eg: "The Neuromancer"), one is for a tech book (eg: "Lions' Commentary on Unix").
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!