Ask HN: Gift ideas for hacker types? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Gift ideas for hacker types?

8 pointslacker10 comments

I'm trying to come up with gift ideas for people who are generally interested in computers and technology but tend to already have plenty of "stuff". I figured a lot of other HN readers were probably in the same situation. Any recommendations?

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Books? My gf usually picks something from my Amazon wishlist when she has no other ideas..

I own "How to get rich" from Felix Dennis (suggested by someone else). I was a little disappointed in it.

Instead, if you DO want to buy them a book, I recommend Tim Ferris - The Four Hour Work Week or Getting Things Done by David Allen.

Both those books are enjoyable for their content and suggestions, and also for a relatively scientific approach to showing why their methodologies work - which I think is why they both resonated so much with me.

I agree with the wishlist comment as well. For me personally, I have told my friends to stop giving me gifts and do likewise. I imagine I am losing some manner of social lubrication due to this decision, and compensate by sending personal emails and spending more time keeping in touch via facebook etc.

I also like to send postcards when I travel, for similar purposes.

I'm not saying that gift giving is selfish - but I am saying if you opt NOT to give gifts, as I do, then you need to be aware of the social ramifications and adjust accordingly. I do not have a perfect solution to this problem yet however.

"How to get rich" from Felix Dennis

one of his article is in the ycombinator library (good sign as hacker types like this book)

http://ycombinator.com/lib.html -> If You Want to be Rich, First Stop Being So Frightened. Fear of failing in the eyes of the world is the single biggest impediment.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2291061,00.html

http://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Rich-Greatest-Entrepreneurs/dp...

Although there a tad old you could look at http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/12/04/5-gifts-for-the-techie-i... and http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/12/17/stammys-holiday-2007-gif... and use them as a basic guide. Although i do like the idea of the Nalgene bottles <http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/SearchResult.aspx?Categ...;

Can you give us an idea in terms of budget?

Though not necessarily targeted at the HN crowd, http://www.uncrate.com has some neat stuff.

Lots of good stuff here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/1AC761X0H14R9?tag=foohack-...

Sometimes thinkgeek.com has interesting stuff.

Newzbin subscription (or renewal)

iPhone or some porn

Money

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