Hacker News Reader

I like him more after reading it.

All the stories had neat ideas, demonstrated his personality and showed what drove him. Of course it wasn't laid out directly in a boring technical book that no one is going to read.

Also, what's up with people ignoring the fine line between crazy and genius, and thinking all these genius are supposed to be completely normal people?

View on HN

I don’t think people expect them to be normal. But we hold these people up as our heroes. People aspire to be more like their heroes. So it comes as a shock when they learn their hero was a notorious philanderer, or terrible father, or chronically depressed, or self-aggrandizing.

Personally, I’m unsettled by how often the kids of our heroes seem to wind up unsuccessful, unhappy and poorly adjusted.

I’ve kind of lost interest in the unstable genius. I want to learn about the also-rans who made quiet but notable contributions while remaining happy & raising equally happy kids.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com