How we got to now

What Hacker News says

1. syndicatedjellyJan 2025
   A few books which I enjoyed that are somewhat on the subject of polymathy:

   - The Polymath by Waqas Ahmed. This one directly discusses polymathy in history, and how our "natural state" really is of that of the polymath, not the specialist. A nice book that helped me get past some mental blocks and really embrace learning whatever it is I'm interested in, without reservations on what others may think about such "distractions".

   - The Creative Way by Rick Rubin. This masterpiece is written by a legendary musical producer who has probably worked with one of your favorite Western musicians at some point. His Zen-inspired approach to creativity and acceptance of ideas, wherever they may come from, is an essential tool in any polymath's toolbox.

   - How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson. I really enjoyed learning how the world-changing inventions that we take for granted were often invented by creatively gluing together wildly divergent ideas, to ultimately make something that appears deceptively simple.

   The key takeaway for me is that anyone and everyone can be a polymath, with the correct attitude. Learning is not a skill reserved only for the most intelligent and capable - everyone is capable of learning anything they want. Some people may be more naturally skilled, but that doesn't preclude the rest of us from participating.

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2. BrajeshwarNov 2024
   This year, I decided to read more fiction, and I like it.[1] Here are some of the interesting non-fiction books I liked;

   - Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller

   - How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson

   - The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa by Michael Kimmelman

   - The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

   - The TATAS: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation by Girish Kuber

   1. https://brajeshwar.com/2024/books/

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3. kylehotchkissJun 2024
   Stephen B Johnson's "How we got to now" was enlightening on the topic of discovery for me (https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/how-we-got-now)
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4. BrajeshwarSep 2023
   Even though I had stumbled/read about Hedy Lamarr earlier, the book "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World"[1] by Steven Johnson was the one that got me to read it in detail. The book is exciting and would definitely be one of my casual reading suggestions.

   1. https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Got-Now-Innovations/dp/1594633...

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5. adamredwoodsMay 2023
   Somewhat related, I also enjoyed the book "How We Got to Now" by Steven Johnson.

   https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316142/how-we-got-t...

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6. surprisetalkApr 2023
   Here’s a list of all the books I’ve read over the past 10 years.

   [1] https://taylor.town/books

   My general advice is to read classics.

   [2] https://taylor.town/eschew-the-new

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   Here are some audiobooks that I think HN folk would enjoy:

   • Guns, Germs, and Steel: https://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel-Fates-Societies/dp/0...

   • The Anthropocene Reviewed: https://www.amazon.com/Anthropocene-Reviewed-Essays-Human-Ce...

   • Snowcrash: https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Crash-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0553380...

   • How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1...

   • Distrust That Particular Flavor: https://www.amazon.com/Distrust-Particular-Flavor-WILLIAM-GI...

   • A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again: https://www.amazon.com/Supposedly-Fun-Thing-Never-Again/dp/0...

   • Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynmann!: https://www.amazon.com/Surely-Youre-Joking-Mr-Feynman/dp/039...

   • Faster: https://www.amazon.com/Faster-Acceleration-Just-About-Everyt...

   • How We Got To Now: https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Got-Now-Innovations/dp/1594633...

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