The hottest Books Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

One thing leads to another

Austin Kleon • 739 implied HN points • 07 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. Books and year-end lists can inspire creativity. Sharing your favorites might encourage others to reflect on their own experiences.
  2. Creating playlists or lists is a great way to track what you love over time. It's fun to see how tastes evolve year by year.
  3. Using ideas from past projects can spark new creations. It's like a 'chain smoking' method where one thought leads to another.

Diary Entry #3: The Numbers 33 and 1,000

Shades of Greaves • 117 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. Being '33-people-in-a-theater-famous' can be incredibly fulfilling, showcasing the impact a small, dedicated audience can have.
  2. The concept of '1,000 True Fans' highlights the value of building a dedicated community to support and sustain creative work.
  3. Unexpected encounters like experiencing a flight delay due to a 'VIP' can lead to humorous yet reflective moments, appreciating the unique experiences in life.

Links to Consider, 1/26

In My Tribe • 486 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. Some college graduates lack basic skills due to learning deficits and grade inflation.
  2. Cultural inheritance and genetic factors may influence executive function and social mobility.
  3. Economic development impacts societal norms and individualism based on cultural practices like cousin marriage.

2024 in Books

Caleb’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
📚 Literature Books
  1. The top 20% of society is considered the true elite of America.
  2. Stoic ethics doesn't depend on other parts of the philosophy.
  3. The book 'Mao: The Unknown Story' argues Mao was one of the worst rulers in history.
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I Wrote Half a Book About Phantom Islands and Then Discovered I Was Scooped Seven Years Ago

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 712 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Books
  1. Phantom islands are cartographic errors where non-existent islands were believed to exist due to various reasons.
  2. Phantom islands can result from clerical errors, illusions, incomplete exploration, deliberate fabrications, or myths.
  3. Discovering similarities with existing works can provide unique perspectives and motivate to add more uniqueness to personal projects.

On Reading More Books

The Analog Family • 239 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. Setting aside time to read each week can help you finish more books. Avoid distractions like TV during the week to make reading a habit.
  2. Using a library's online catalog is a great way to explore new books without spending money. You can try different genres and authors without worrying about costs.
  3. Taking notes while reading can enhance your understanding and retention of the material. Mark important sections and keep them organized for future reference.

Catch up with The Shift Bookclub Live with Anna Funder

The Shift With Sam Baker • 119 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. The Shift Bookclub discussed topics like misogyny, domestic labor, and erasure of women in history during a live session with author Anna Funder.
  2. Anna Funder highlighted the importance of acknowledging the artists' true selves in relation to 'can you love the art but hate the artist' debate.
  3. The conversation touched upon the significance of recognizing the roles of women in history like Eileen O'Shaughnessy, Orwell's wife.

The Leaves Turn. Recapping Q3 2023

Holodoxa • 119 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. The author reflects on the books they've consumed, with 67 completed in the year and 21 in the last three months. They share book recommendations like 'Albion's Seed' and detail upcoming reviews and reading plans.
  2. The author started a series on cancer genomics to make the science accessible. The topics covered so far are hereditary cancer syndromes, with more to come.
  3. The author shares podcast recommendations, especially after the news of Google shutting down its podcast app. They highlight new shows to listen to and specific episodes worth checking out.

Let's Fly! Become a Verified Book Author and Promote Your Book on Medium

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 219 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. Medium now offers a free blue 'Book Author' badge that verifies authors. This can help writers stand out and promote their work on the platform.
  2. To get the badge, authors need to apply with their book's details and they'll be verified if everything checks out.
  3. If you're writing regularly on Medium, you might already have the beginnings of a book. Consider compiling your posts into a full book project!

My Laptop Has No Smell

Thoughts on a Typewriter • 117 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. Digital devices like laptops have no smell, unlike traditional items like typewriters.
  2. Despite the convenience of ebooks, many people still prefer physical books due to the sensory experience they offer, such as smell, feel, and sight.
  3. Humans are drawn to sensory experiences like smell, and it influences our behaviors and preferences.

Review of "Mathematica" by David Bessis

Silicon Reckoner • 117 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. The book 'Mathematica' by David Bessis emphasizes the idea that everyone is already an accomplished mathematician, promoting awakening and emancipation from misconceptions about math.
  2. Mathematics is viewed as a sensual and carnal experience by mathematicians like Bill Thurston, focusing on understanding over logical reasoning.
  3. The concept of 'elephantitude' in the book highlights the importance of human understanding in mathematics, contrasting with the focus on reasoning in technology like deep learning.

Stephen King's 'Fairy Tale' Has Some Issues

diabolical • 117 implied HN points • 03 May 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. The narrator of Stephen King's 'Fairy Tale' may not feel like a believable teenager from 2013 due to outdated pop culture references.
  2. Political messaging in the book, 'Fairy Tale', seems out of place and does not fit well with the overall story or characters.
  3. Including random political notations in the narrative can weaken the story's immersion and impact for readers.

Health Homework (32) Learn to use the bipolarity of INSPIRATION and OPPOSITION to (Re)Fuel your Motivation

DrV’s Newsletter, Notes, Essays, Articles, Videos, and Book Chapters • 58 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Books
  1. Using opposition as a spark for motivation and action is an effective strategy.
  2. Interacting with motivational material like books can provide perspective and insights.
  3. Personal evaluation and comparison of motivational resources can help in determining their utility for individual growth.

RKUL: Time Well Spent 11/11/2024

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 194 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
📚 Literature Books
  1. Horses have played a huge role in human history, helping with farming and trade. They allowed people to transport more goods and develop agriculture more efficiently.
  2. Dogs and cats have different roles in our lives. While dogs have been our working partners for thousands of years, cats are more companions that bring us joy.
  3. Many of today's educated elites don't understand the views of the majority. This disconnect can lead to problems in a democratic society, as it might affect how political systems work.

11 Best Things of 2024

SatPost by Trung Phan • 164 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. The film industry is relying too much on sequels and spin-offs, leading to a lack of creativity. New stories like 'The Wild Robot' bring freshness and are needed more than ever.
  2. Nuclear threats are still a serious concern, and many people are complacent about it. A book about a potential nuclear war highlights the urgent need for communication between world leaders to prevent disaster.
  3. Taking time to create special memories with loved ones is important. A personal trip to Paris with family shows how meaningful experiences should not be postponed.

Reading with a blade and a glue stick

Austin Kleon • 679 implied HN points • 10 Dec 21
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. Reading can be a creative process. Instead of just reading, you can use tools like a blade and glue stick to interact with the content.
  2. Being popular on social media doesn't guarantee book sales. It's important to have good marketing strategies to sell books.
  3. Exploring cultural topics, like why people have mixed feelings about certain music, can be really interesting and shows how taste varies.

Officially announcing On The Edge, my new book

Silver Bulletin • 427 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
📚 Literature Books
  1. Nate Silver has officially announced his new book 'On The Edge' which delves into the world of gambling, risk, and decision-making, with a focus on the stories of risk-takers and successful gamblers.
  2. The book covers a wide array of topics including poker evolution, human aspects of poker, the commercial gambling industry, sports betting, venture capital, crypto, effective altruism, and the existential risks related to AI and nuclear weapons.
  3. Through in-depth interviews and research, 'On The Edge' offers a thought-provoking exploration of how different risk-takers think, revealing the interconnectedness of subjects like technology, economics, politics, and personal decision-making.

Links - 01/25/2024

Value Investing World • 58 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💰 Finance Books
  1. Value investors focus on determining a fair price for a business based on its potential future earnings.
  2. Listening to the insights of the team members can lead to valuable improvements in processes.
  3. Encouraging people to have fun while carrying out tasks can lead to lasting change and improved outcomes.

The kind of author you *don't* want to be

How to Glow in the Dark • 259 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. Commercial book editors and readers expect authors to adopt a specific persona on the page.
  2. Avoid coming off as annoying in your writing to connect better with commercial audiences.
  3. Authors who are too focused on their trauma or too self-absorbed may struggle to engage readers and may not be ready to write a commercial book.

What I'm reading about the crisis in media; a great, overlooked '90s crime thriller; and a wonderful compilation of new-sound folk covers

Read Max • 395 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Books
  1. The author offers a roundup of articles and podcasts discussing recent layoffs and shutdowns in the news media business.
  2. A 1990s thriller from a lesser-known director is recommended as fantastic.
  3. There's praise for a compilation of reworked classic folk songs featured in the weekly roundup.

The Monday Media Diet with Geoff Rickly

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Books
  1. Geoff Rickly reads voraciously, including magazines, newsletters, and novels, with a preference for publications with a strong physical presence.
  2. Rickly recommends John Fosse's 'Septology' as a transformative read that had a profound impact on him as an artist, blending modern and eternal spirituality.
  3. Rickly fell into a deep rabbit hole exploring perfumes, starting from wanting to smell good to seeking unique and even repulsive scents, mentioning various indie perfume brands and his personal favorite, MeM by Antonio Gardoni.

Risk Reading for the Holiday Season

Risk Musings • 458 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🚌 Education Books
  1. Stephanie's risk-focused reading list includes books on AI, cyber-weapons, corporate influence, economic disparities, and hopeful history.
  2. The books cover topics like AI risk, cybersecurity, corporate influence, economic disparities, and hope for humanity.
  3. Stephanie is interested in forming a risk book club and reading books in a group setting.

I'm getting shorter

Next Level Leadership • 58 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
📚 Literature Books
  1. The concept of an atomic newsletter is to write briefly and effectively around one idea.
  2. The author aims to restart their writing habit and share quick, powerful ideas on life and leadership.
  3. The marketing newsletter 'Simple, Effective Marketing' focuses on making complex marketing simple and is in a short format.

Updating Your Operating Software

The Voyage • 58 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
📚 Literature Books
  1. Books are like software updates for your mind: each one makes small improvements, but together they can lead to real change.
  2. Reading many books can help you find the ones that truly impact your life and worldview.
  3. Some books are like major software updates, revolutionizing your entire perspective and trajectory.

Conformal Prediction is Available in Print 🥳

Mindful Modeler • 159 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Books
  1. Conformal prediction quantifies uncertainty in machine learning models by producing prediction sets or intervals.
  2. Conformal prediction offers a way to get reliable uncertainty quantification by calibrating the uncertainty score of ML models.
  3. The book 'Introduction to Conformal Prediction With Python' serves as a practical and easy-to-understand resource to learn about this uncertainty quantification method.

noteables

practiceprocesscraft • 98 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🚌 Education Books
  1. Note-taking helps improve key writer's skills like attention and perspective.
  2. Taking notes provides endless inspiration from daily life.
  3. Different types of notes like observations, questions, and gratitudes can fuel creativity and writing projects.

New box set: Something has found us.

The Reader Crew • 98 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. New box set for the Gunn & Salvo series is out, completing the storyline in 8 episodic books.
  2. Author is considering using AI for narration in upcoming books and seeks feedback from audiobook fans.
  3. Check out box sets of complete series from the author and collaborator Daniel on Amazon.

Reading The Room

From The Future • 98 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. Learning to read the room can reveal hidden messages.
  2. Observing details in the environment can lead to important discoveries.
  3. Paying attention to patterns and clues can uncover deeper meanings.

Metazoa

Eliot Peper • 98 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
📚 Literature Books
  1. Writing for yourself can lead to surprising results that resonate with others.
  2. Exploring scientific topics through literature can offer valuable insights into human nature.
  3. Sharing recommendations and feedback with others can enrich the collective cultural experience.