Hacker News Books

Read the book "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen. It's a very small book and it'll take you an afternoon.

If it doesn't turn things around for you, drop me an email and I'll send you whatever you paid the book (it's a safe bet on my part -- in 20 years nobody has ever asked for the refund).

Rework by 37Signals ^ is good.

Personal favorite are:

1) As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

2) Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

3) 2nd half of Steve Jobs Bio

4) Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy

5) The Big Short by Michael Lewis

6) The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank

Hmmh, I remember reading a study (or studies) that showed wealthy people are generally more honest, the larger point being that you are unlikely to thrive if you are not virtuous or lack high character.

That said, I'll quote from "As a man thinketh" by James Allen where he says some thing along the line of: When people look at successful people who are cheats and unsuccessful ones who are honest, they forget to analyze all their other traits. The successful cheat may have serious talents, work ethic etc that make him successful despite his dishonesty and the unsuccessful saint may be lazy, unambitious or have other faults that make him unsuccessful.

Life might not be fair but the only person who makes that meaningful is you.

"You will be what you will to be;

Let failure find its false content

In that poor word, "environment,"

But spirit scorns it, and is free.

It masters time, it conquers space;

It cows that boastful trickster, Chance,

And bids the tyrant Circumstance

Uncrown, and fill a servant's place.

The human Will, that force unseen,

The offspring of a deathless Soul,

Can hew a way to any goal,

Though walls of granite intervene.

Be not impatient in delay,

But wait as one who understands;

When spirit rises and commands,

The gods are ready to obey."

I highly recommend As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. Someone on HN recommended it and it was wonderful. It's a very quick read, less than 50 pages.

Another one of my favorite quotes is, "Choose not to be harmed - and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed - and you haven't been... It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character." - Marcus Aurelius

"As A Man Thinketh" James Allen...About to read "Man's Search For Meaning" next

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky - introduced me to the rationalist movement

The First Immortal by James Halperin - introduced me as a sixth grader to things like cryonics, nanotech, etc. Got me thinking about a realistic ambitious nearer term future for humanity, rather than a more fantasy-like one in the other sci-fi I'd read at that point, like Asimov and Heinlein

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen - gave me much greater agency in life. Made me realize “You are today where your thoughts have brought you;
you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”

I struggle with consistency and I saw someone on HN recommend the writings of Barbara Sher.

I'm currently reading "Refuse to Choose! Use All of Your Interests, passions, and hobbies to create the life and career of your dreams". I haven't got too far in it yet but learning about "scanners" made me feel hopeful about my inconsistency.

I also read As a Man Thinketh by James Allen this morning which might be the complete opposite. That book recommends IDing your crazy dream and doing all it takes to make it a reality.

James Allen - As a man thinketh

Looked inside. Mindfully.

I encourage you to read following books:
1. Mindfulness in plain English
2. As a man thinketh
3. Self reliance (essay by RWE)
4. Wherever you go, there you are
5. The monk who sold his Ferrari
6. The alchemist
7. Wind, sand and stars
8. The heart and the fist
9. The little prince
10. The phantom tollbooth

If you think you don't have the time for all, just only read the first one.