# What non-programming related books are you reading?

**URL:** <https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535>\
**Category:** General Chat\
**Tags:** community\
**Created:** [17 July 2021 00:37 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535 "2021-07-17T00:37:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AstonJ](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/astonj/32/7_2.png) [@AstonJ](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/AstonJ)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2021 00:37 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/1 "2021-07-17T00:37:51Z")

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Are you reading any non-programming related books, if so what, and what did you think of them?

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**Author:** ![AstonJ](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/astonj/32/7_2.png) [@AstonJ](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/AstonJ)\
**Post date:** [17 July 2021 00:46 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/2 "2021-07-17T00:46:51Z")

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I’ve been listening to [Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Civilized-Death-What-Lost-Modernity-ebook/dp/B01CO4B7PQ) while going for my walks up the mountain (surprising how loud an iPhone actually is!) and I’ve really enjoyed it!

I think much of what the author says and covers will resonate with a lot of people (and from what I know of most of you here, with many of you too!). I’ve heard people say it will make you question everything - and I think that’s good - questioning minds are healthy minds imo.

Here are some of their featured reviews (I hadn’t actually seen these before deciding to read it - one of the bio-hacking authors mentioned it in a video blog and I remembered I had been meaning to read it).

> “Incredible . . . timely . . . clarifying.” **–**  **Jack Dorsey, cofounder and CEO of Twitter**
> 
> “Engaging, extensively documented, well-organized, and thought provoking.” **–_Booklist_**
> 
> “Entertaining and provocative.” **–** _ **Publishers Weekly** _
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> “Often zingy and colorful . . . _Civilized to Death_ is unquestionably well-timed . . . Ryan is right to highlight the aspects of modern life that have gone off the rails.” _ **–Undark** _
> 
> “[A] prescient book about the nature of progress . . . _Civilized to Death_ will make you see our so-called progress in a whole new light.” **–_Book Riot_**
> 
> “This book takes on ‘progress’ as a guiding ethos–and does so with gusto.” **–** _ **The Stranger** _
> 
> “It is increasingly clear to many of us that the way we have been living is no longer sustainable, at least as long as we want the earth to outlive us. . . . _Civilized to Death_ is an important guide in this conversation.” **–_Psychology Today_**
> 
> “A fascinating read.” **–_Seattle Times_**
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> “Christopher Ryan is one of the most interesting and provocative thinkers of our time. Everyone should read him–you might well disagree but you’ll definitely think differently.” **–Johann Hari, _New York Times_-bestselling author of _Lost Connections_**
> 
> “Every great once in a while, a book comes along that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew. _Civilized to Death_ is without question one of them.” **–Jesse Bering, PhD, author of _The Belief Instinct_**

If any of you read it I’d be curious to hear what you thought of it!

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**Author:** ![ohm](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/ohm/32/559_2.png) [@ohm](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/ohm)\
**Post date:** [18 July 2021 19:41 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/4 "2021-07-18T19:41:57Z")

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I’m currently reading [Anna Karenina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Karenina) by Lev Tolstoy for my book club. It’s not really my cup of tea, but I have only read about 5% of it as of yet.

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**Author:** ![AstonJ](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/astonj/32/7_2.png) [@AstonJ](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/AstonJ)\
**Post date:** [19 July 2021 01:03 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/5 "2021-07-19T01:03:45Z")

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Are you reading it in Russian… or a translated version? Let us know what you think of it when you’ve finished it 😃

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**Author:** ![ohm](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/ohm/32/559_2.png) [@ohm](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/ohm)\
**Post date:** [19 July 2021 05:25 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/6 "2021-07-19T05:25:35Z")

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I don’t know Russian, so just the English translation.

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**Author:** ![mafinar](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/mafinar/32/723_2.png) [@mafinar](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/mafinar)\
**Post date:** [21 July 2021 04:20 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/7 "2021-07-21T04:20:48Z")

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Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

I’ll express my thoughts later.

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**Author:** ![rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/rustkas/32/2933_2.png) [@rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/rustkas)\
**Post date:** [21 July 2021 05:09 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/8 "2021-07-21T05:09:39Z")

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Due to the nature of the English language, this book is much shorter in English translation.

The text, the author’s style in this book is very beautiful. When I read it, I liked it as a description of the life of the 19th century in Russia. Now in Russia there is nostalgia for these times.

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**Author:** ![NobbZ](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/nobbz/32/114_2.png) [@NobbZ](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/NobbZ)\
**Post date:** [24 July 2021 09:40 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/9 "2021-07-24T09:40:18Z")

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As I found out about “prime reading” recently, I started reading some random books again.

I started with [The Hole](https://smile.amazon.de/dp/B07MBD1393/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_YTSFTP1QQCHXVAFN6NHC) (link to English version, though I read the German) and really liked how the author wrote.

So I continued with the “Icemoon” collection (which I can’t find an English link) which contained 4 of 5 books.

I finished that yesterday, and I’m currently considering to buy the paperbacks of all those books over the next weeks.

Definitely I’ll buy the Proxima trilogy before Christmas, as that’s not available in prime reading (and I’m currently not sure if “kindl unlimited” would be worth it, as I still prefer real books)

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**Author:** ![rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/rustkas/32/2933_2.png) [@rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/rustkas)\
**Post date:** [24 July 2021 15:48 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/10 "2021-07-24T15:48:28Z")

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My most vivid impression of reading non-technical literature was the novel by Boris Pasternak [“Doctor Zhivago”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Zhivago_(novel)). The plot does not really matter in it. The most interesting thing is the Russian language - the book is written in an interesting style - poetic prose. This text is indescribably beautiful. If anyone, ever wants to understand what the Russian language is, one should read the novel by Boris Pasternak “Doctor Zhivago”.

 ![Doktor_feltrinelli](https://forum.devtalk.com/uploads/default/original/2X/2/296892fc69a3a921cc70859b842a31f08dbaf54c.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![iPaul](https://forum.devtalk.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@iPaul](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/iPaul)\
**Post date:** [24 July 2021 16:35 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/11 "2021-07-24T16:35:43Z")

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Reading “The Three Body Problem” trilogy, just finished the first book. Pretty different than the SciFi I’m used to read, but I learned to like the author’s style.

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**Author:** ![ohm](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/ohm/32/559_2.png) [@ohm](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/ohm)\
**Post date:** [24 July 2021 18:16 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/12 "2021-07-24T18:16:36Z")

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I read “The Three Body Problem” as part of my book club last year. The book club consists of me (comp.science.) and four physics majors. One of them had this comment about the title: “It’s really a four body problem, isn’t it?” 😅

> **Spoilers**
>
> It’s a planet with three suns. Therefore four bodies.

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**Author:** ![adamaiken89](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/adamaiken89/32/2661_2.png) [@adamaiken89](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/adamaiken89)\
**Post date:** [25 July 2021 09:06 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/13 "2021-07-25T09:06:30Z")

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Recently reading `It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work` by basecamp a founder.  
It makes me think the proper way to work and how should I work for the next company.

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**Author:** ![DevotionGeo](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/devotiongeo/32/1140_2.png) [@DevotionGeo](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/DevotionGeo)\
**Post date:** [26 July 2021 01:19 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/14 "2021-07-26T01:19:12Z")

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I may read one of **Jim Loehr** ’s two books next, **The Power of Full Engagement** or **The Only Way to Win**. But that depends on the time.

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**Author:** ![rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/rustkas/32/2933_2.png) [@rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/rustkas)\
**Post date:** [27 July 2021 08:48 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/15 "2021-07-27T08:48:31Z")

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> [@adamaiken89](#):
>
> It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work

> ![39747161-david-hansson-heinemeier-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-crazy-at-work](https://forum.devtalk.com/uploads/default/original/2X/1/1ab3034e8c920d3ae8b3aa244d200b74e9496840.jpeg)

This book ([Jason Fried](https://twitter.com/jasonfried)’s book) has helped me restructure my daily routine and has had a beneficial effect on my life.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-YG0kMpzL_A/maxresdefault.jpg "It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work with Jason Fried") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YG0kMpzL_A)

[Google books preview](https://www.google.ru/books/edition/It_Doesn_t_Have_to_Be_Crazy_at_Work/LsplDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover)  
💫

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**Author:** ![almokhtar](https://forum.devtalk.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@almokhtar](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/almokhtar)\
**Post date:** [29 July 2021 15:50 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/16 "2021-07-29T15:50:59Z")

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do you recommend it ?

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**Author:** ![rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/rustkas/32/2933_2.png) [@rustkas](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/rustkas)\
**Post date:** [29 July 2021 16:48 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/17 "2021-07-29T16:48:25Z")

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Yes. Especially, if you a business owner I definitely recommended it.

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**Author:** ![Enuzo](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/enuzo/32/2151_2.png) [@Enuzo](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/Enuzo)\
**Post date:** [29 July 2021 20:49 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/18 "2021-07-29T20:49:09Z")

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[In the Beginning Was the Word](https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Was-Word-Language-God-Centered/dp/1433501791) by Vern S. Poythress.  
It’s about the value of language from a metaphysical point of view.

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**Author:** ![osbre](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/osbre/32/5196_2.png) [@osbre](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/osbre)\
**Post date:** [17 November 2021 17:20 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/19 "2021-11-17T17:20:52Z")

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**Rich Dad Poor Dad**  
Book by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter

**That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea**  
Book by Marc Randolph

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**Author:** ![osbre](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/osbre/32/5196_2.png) [@osbre](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/osbre)\
**Post date:** [27 November 2021 14:24 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/20 "2021-11-27T14:24:05Z")

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**The Embedded Entrepreneur: How to Build an Audience-Driven Business**  
Book by Arvid Kahl

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![faust](https://forum.devtalk.com/user_avatar/forum.devtalk.com/faust/32/6673_2.png) [@faust](https://forum.devtalk.com/u/faust)\
**Post date:** [28 November 2021 19:21 UTC](https://forum.devtalk.com/t/what-non-programming-related-books-are-you-reading/13535/21 "2021-11-28T19:21:10Z")

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I’m finishing Utopia by Thomas More, really interesting book.

It makes me wonder if such a place could be possible someday …

By the way you can read it for free on kindle 🙂

> **[Amazon.com: Utopia eBook : More, Sir Saint Thomas: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Utopia-Sir-Saint-Thomas-More-ebook/dp/B0082YW4NM)**
>
> Amazon.com: Utopia eBook : More, Sir Saint Thomas: Books

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