How to speak, how to listen

What Hacker News says

1. jrdunsonFeb 2023
   Mortimer J. Adler mentions in his books... that at Saint John’s, the students were learning how to read well, and analyze arguments well. At one point in his career, he did a speaking tour, presenting at several college campuses – he was really impressed how the students from St. John's were able to analyze his arguments well, ask in-depth questions related to his material, even challenge him on some points. He has two really good books… * How to Read a Book and How To Speak How To Listen.
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2. gurlicMar 2019
   I was going through a HN "best books" thread recently and found someone recommending "How to Speak How to Listen" by Mortimer J. Adler. I'm about halfway in and there are loads of great tips in it!
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3. noufalibrahimDec 2016
   1. Red Plenty (Francis Spufford) - Fascinating fictionalised account of the history of the USSR. Gets a little tedious at times but worth it.

   2. Anils Ghost (Michael Ondaatje) - Drama with a war background. Nice read.

   3. Financial intelligence for Entrepreneurs - Very useful now that I have a small company of my own.

   4. How to Speak How to listen (Mortimer Adler) - Worth it. I enjoy public speaking and this was well written and quite useful.

   2016's been a bad year for me as far as books go.

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4. sitkackAug 2015
   Related, "How to Speak How to Listen" by Mortimer Adler, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/169928.How_to_Speak_How_t...

   Also, Alan Watts http://www.openculture.com/2014/01/the-zen-teachings-of-alan...

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5. billybatsonDec 2018
   A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley: Decent. I think this book would best be read in conjunction while working through a textbook. I will admit that it did do quite a bit to help relieve math anxiety, but the nature of the book is practicality.

   Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: A reread. A bit depressing considering the state of the world today. I found myself wondering which reality would be preferable.

   Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart: Easy, but fruitful read. I've struggled a lot with math confidence, and this helped alleviate a lot of that.

   How to Speak, How to Listen by Mortimer J. Adler: A lot of practical advice. My biggest takeaway was this: if it's worth talking about, even if the conversation sucks or the other person doesn't understand, any bit of advancement and understanding is worth the effort. Really helped me increase my patience when talking to people.

   Quack This Way by David Foster Wallace and Bryan Garner: Super useful and practical discussion between two lovers of language. I keep a copy with me at all times.

   The Autobiography of Gucci Mane: Just a fun read while on vacation. "If Gucci can do it, you can do it".

   Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson: A nice if brutal read. It was my first foray in DJ. I felt Cormac McCarthyish vibes.

   Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy: A classic. The Judge.

   Thinking About Mathematics by Stuart Shapiro: Highly recommended for anyone interested in the philosophical questions of mathematics. Shapiro writes clearly, concisely, and in a manner that is easy to read.

   The Liars' Club by Mary Karr: Pretty great but brutal.

   The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace: I really enjoyed it. It's ode to Wittgenstein and it helped me cope with a lot of questions that I felt after studying LW.

   The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: I think we've all been in Werther's shoes. Though I hope that nobody comes to the same conclusion he came to.

   Manage Your Day-To-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, & Sharpen Your Creative Mind: A pretty great book. I find myself writing a book report on it to make sure I internalize a lot of the lessons. If you're having trouble doing creative work while working, read this.

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