Comment by Xichekolas | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Xichekolas | Hacker News Reader

Favorite computer book: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs - ISBN 0-07-000484-6 - Whether you actually like Scheme is beside the point. I got this book for an intro class into functional programming, and we only used sections one and two... but I enjoyed it so much I went through the rest of it on my own during Christmas break. Was probably the greatest experience I have had programming since first groking OO.

Favorite non-computer book: Ender's Game - ISBN 0-812-55070-6 - I have probably read this about 10 times. All the other books in the series are good too, but it really stands apart from the rest.

As an aside, the Economist is probably the best (IMHO) news source out there, as it actually goes in depth as to the causes of events, rather than just listing them with pretty explosions. It's also delightfully devoid of sensationalist stories normally found on TV News or Newspapers. Added bonus: you get a nice discount if you subscribe as a student. Not sure I could recommend it highly enough.

"...the Economist is probably the best (IMHO) news source out there..."

I'm also always impressed by how evenly they cover the globe. There are sections for Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, etc. of roughly equal weight. And features often cover the economic impact of an event around the world, not just a specific country or region. A great way to get a feel for what's really happening outside your little part of the planet.

I would concur with Xichekolas with respect to both Ender's Game and the Economist. Also, The Next Fifty Years: Science in the First Half of the Twenty-first Century (Paperback) is excellent.

I think "Speaker For The Dead" which is the second book in the Ender Series is better than the Ender book itself. The first 10 pages which is the authors introduction is the best introduction to a book I have ever read.

Thanks. Someone recommended the second book to me before - I mistakenly read "Ender's Shadow" and was mildly disappointed. Will be sure to pick up "Speaker" on your suggestion.

Couldn't resist:

http://xkcd.com/304/

Yeah, the alt text on that comic made my day...

I don't think it's quite right to say that SftD is the second book in the series. Rather, Ender's Game is the common prequel to two trilogies that begin with SftD and Ender's Shadow.

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