Have you read The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat? I haven't read, but I've been recommended Nudge. If you're bored and have access to a computer (or iPhone...) you could also check out Malcolm Gladwell's home page and read all of the stuff he has written for the NYer and such. The Illusion of Conscious Will might interest you as well.
For a change of pace, what about Engines of Creation by Drexler? It seems like a must-read (even though many might disagree with it) for individuals who are up to date with emerging technologies and their founders.
For a change of pace, what about Engines of Creation by Drexler? It seems like a must-read (even though many might disagree with it) for individuals who are up to date with emerging technologies and their founders.
I read something in Media Studies this year called Everything is Miscellaneous. It was about our need to put things into boxes and how the internet deals with that. You might find it interesting.
Yup, I already read "Everything is Miscellaneous".. actually, a lot of this site is built based around concepts covered in that book =) (no set categories => using tagging instead, use of lots of metadata, etc etc)
I've heard lots of good stuff about The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat, will have to buy it at some point. I actually already own Nudge, just haven't gotten around to reading it.
The Illusion of Conscious Will and Engines of Creation sound pretty sweet as well.
I've heard lots of good stuff about The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat, will have to buy it at some point. I actually already own Nudge, just haven't gotten around to reading it.
The Illusion of Conscious Will and Engines of Creation sound pretty sweet as well.
Thought I'd bring this convo back to life.
Just finished reading the Count of Monte Cristo-- so good! I was never one for classics or historical type novels (in fact the books above are more up my alley) but now I am inspired and want to read something else like it. You know, one of those "you didn't read it in HS/college? Oh you HAVE to read it" books.
Not so recently I also got into the fiction works by author Haruki Murakami (Kafka on the Shore, Wind Up Bird Chronicles) and LOVED them. I highly recommend Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
Just finished reading the Count of Monte Cristo-- so good! I was never one for classics or historical type novels (in fact the books above are more up my alley) but now I am inspired and want to read something else like it. You know, one of those "you didn't read it in HS/college? Oh you HAVE to read it" books.
Not so recently I also got into the fiction works by author Haruki Murakami (Kafka on the Shore, Wind Up Bird Chronicles) and LOVED them. I highly recommend Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
Based on your interest in business/economic books, I'd suggest Freakonomics and The Halo Effect. Freakonomics is very similar to Fooled by Randomness, even going so far as to using some of the same examples. The Halo Effect is a business management theory book that is structured in a way similar to Taleb's writing but focuses on management rather than economic theory.
Classics to check out:
- Voyage to the Center of the Earth
- The Time Machine
- Robinson Crusoe
@ipayforfriends... hadn't heard of Halo Effect, sounds cool though, adding it to my Amazon wishlist.
Also, Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos) is an amazing autobiography/business book. HIGHLY recommend it.
Currently reading "Priceless" by Poundstone, about the psychology of pricing (everything from when to use .99 and do price anchoring, to deal-making under the influence). Pretty good stuff in there.
- Voyage to the Center of the Earth
- The Time Machine
- Robinson Crusoe
@ipayforfriends... hadn't heard of Halo Effect, sounds cool though, adding it to my Amazon wishlist.
Also, Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos) is an amazing autobiography/business book. HIGHLY recommend it.
Currently reading "Priceless" by Poundstone, about the psychology of pricing (everything from when to use .99 and do price anchoring, to deal-making under the influence). Pretty good stuff in there.
Catch-22. Not quite in the same realm as the other books, but still one of my favorites.
If you can endure it, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (author of Atlas Shrugged) is probably one of my all-time favorite books, but its a bit lengthy at 700 pages of tiny print. The plot is amaaaazing and it is very well written.
If you can endure it, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (author of Atlas Shrugged) is probably one of my all-time favorite books, but its a bit lengthy at 700 pages of tiny print. The plot is amaaaazing and it is very well written.
@ipayforfriends, right on. I can't believe Ayn Rand's books slipped my mind (listening to the Spanish version of Atlas Shrugged now actually)!
Her books have had the most influence on me by far.
Her books have had the most influence on me by far.
As far as high school reading: we read Robert Frost in high school and middle school and I remember thinking it was so boring, like "okay blah blah New England roads less traveled whatever." I had to reread him for a class this last year and looking at his poems more in depth I really came to enjoy them. There can be some pretty dark stuff underneath his poems, for one. Plus it's a quick read!
Oh the joys of IFP. The short stories were a bitch, but once you got the gist of poetry analysis I thought the class was a blast...
Anyone know of good fantasy/paranormal books?
Like real bad-ass vamps, and not twilight vamps, or werewolves, fae, something? I need a new book along those lines to read.
Also, any good end of the world books? Like a massive plague, or human technology corruption death thingy...lol.
Thanks!
Like real bad-ass vamps, and not twilight vamps, or werewolves, fae, something? I need a new book along those lines to read.
Also, any good end of the world books? Like a massive plague, or human technology corruption death thingy...lol.
Thanks!
have you read Bram Stoker's Dracula yet? it's definitely dark and pretty much started the whole vampire thing
@crazybeautifulrobot, I feel like you might be into Burgess's A Clockwork Orange, or 1984, which someone already brought up. Not exactly end of the world as much as creepy and corrupt society novels.
@KingKong: been meaning to get a copy, it's been recommended to me numerous times now, just keep forgetting. :\
@hazel: I'll check out your recs, thanks! ^.^
@hazel: I'll check out your recs, thanks! ^.^
Books I like tend to be nonfiction and about business or social psychology. I also dig autobiographies by people who accomplish awesome things. Couple examples of my taste:
- The Google Story
- The Social Animal
- The Tipping Point
- Blink
- Fooled by Randomness
- The Seven-Day Weekend
- Maverick
- Made to Stick
- Inside Steve's Brain
- Bloomberg by Bloomberg
- etc
Any ideas for further reading?