The hottest Books Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics
Range Widely β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 11 Apr 23
  1. Leadership is more complex than the simplified narratives we often rely on.
  2. The interplay between individuals and institutions is crucial in understanding effective leadership.
  3. Balancing visionary ambition with real constraints is a key challenge for successful leadership.
The Weasel Speaks β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 11 Mar 23
  1. Discovering new books can come from authors you like, blogs, podcasts, and even random internet reviews.
  2. Reading a moderate amount can lead to impactful takeaways from a few select books that might make it to your re-read list.
  3. Having a 'short list' of impactful books as go-to references can provide valuable insights and reminders for personal and professional growth.
A Bit Gamey β€’ 3 HN points β€’ 10 Mar 24
  1. Reading and reflecting on books can help integrate new ideas into your life effectively.
  2. Learning to sell, build, and own equity can lead to financial freedom, as emphasized by Naval Ravikant.
  3. Focus on being 'findable' rather than just 'good' through actions like sharing your work, as highlighted in 'Show Your Work' by Austin Kleon.
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What's Important? β€’ 5 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jun 23
  1. Podcast: Ed Thorp's My Personal Blueprint discusses wealth, investing, gambling, and living a balanced life.
  2. Article: Explore Toby Shorin's insightful essay on the consumer economy and supply chains in Life after Lifestyle.
  3. Podcast: Listen to Christopher Begg's conversation on investing, wisdom, and lifelong learning.
Theology β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 23 Oct 23
  1. Andy Weir's 'The Martian' portrays humanity's ability to overcome challenges with ingenuity and resilience.
  2. Mark Watney's character exemplifies human determination and problem-solving capabilities.
  3. Venture capital should shift focus back to high-risk, long-term investments for meaningful technological advancements.
Dilemmas of Meaning β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 17 Oct 23
  1. Discover new content in the philosophy, culture, and technology intersection.
  2. Explore a video game that creates a world so realistic people are researching its mechanics.
  3. Consider the political implications of sex in current affairs.
Oren Cohen β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 29 Sep 23
  1. The newsletter is an experiment, so feedback is welcome.
  2. Main highlights this week: preparing for vacation, closing Nerdy Modern Blog, and reviving the Substack publication.
  3. Potential goals include creating a programming course, editing a book, and making Starfield-related YouTube videos.
Mehdeeka β€’ 4 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 23
  1. Mehdeeka newsletter is making a comeback after a break due to changing roles.
  2. The first topic will be about websites and picking agencies.
  3. Newsletter also includes recommendations for Product Marketers and a hub of companies for best practices.
Atomic Learnings β€’ 4 implied HN points β€’ 10 Mar 23
  1. To build wealth, combine specific knowledge with leverage over a long time with smart and trustworthy people.
  2. Focus on physical, mental, and spiritual health for happiness, which cannot be bought.
  3. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant contains valuable wisdom on wealth and happiness, and it's free to read.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 4 implied HN points β€’ 15 Feb 23
  1. Discover useful apps that can save you time and hassle.
  2. Use apps like Shazam, Likewise, Audible, and Peloton for entertainment and fitness.
  3. Consider using Apple Podcasts for a simple and user-friendly podcast listening experience.
Granted β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 05 Sep 16
  1. Danish schools have a tradition where students share problems and help each other each week, showing empathy and happiness.
  2. Hiring people who have faced failure can lead to success in bold endeavors, as seen in Amazon's strategy for its grocery delivery service.
  3. Putting on a 'happy mask' at work can be draining, and being told to be happy doesn't necessarily make people feel upbeat.
The Convivial Society β€’ 3 HN points β€’ 22 May 23
  1. The pursuit of relentless optimization can lead to a mental health crisis by creating unattainable goals and unsustainable pressures.
  2. Living in a society ordered by the search for the 'one best way' can produce anxiety, fear, compulsiveness, and self-loathing.
  3. Compensatory techniques designed to alleviate the pressure of relentless optimization can themselves succumb to the imperatives of optimization, as seen in digital technologies.
The Works in Progress Newsletter β€’ 2 implied HN points β€’ 14 Aug 23
  1. Stewart Brand discusses the importance of both manufacturer and third-party manuals for devices.
  2. Robert Persig carried two manuals on his motorcycle: one from Honda and one from Chilton's Motorcycle Troubleshooting Guide.
  3. Manuals that go deeper and wider than manufacturer manuals can provide unique insights with an outsider attitude.
The Map is Mostly Water β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 17 Jul 23
  1. Reading is a solitary and intimate act that allows the author to model the world for you.
  2. Embrace the visceral quality of reading mostly fiction slowly to be influenced by excellent works.
  3. Consider starting many books, completing few, re-reading favorites, and building a diverse home library.
Olshansky's Newsletter β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 07 Jan 24
  1. Daniel Olshansky shares his top 2023 recommendations in various categories like devices, applications, books, blogs, newsletters, podcasts, shows & movies, Instagram accounts, experiences, and videos.
  2. Some highlighted recommendations include the Remarkable2 Tablet, Levels Health CGM, snipd app, Fireflies.ai, Founders Podcast, BoJack Horseman show, Leo Moves Instagram account, and improv classes.
  3. Olshansky expresses enthusiasm for different tools, media, experiences, and content creators that have made an impact on his life and interests.
The Wisdom Project β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 14 Jan 24
  1. Make decisions at the right time to avoid decision fatigue.
  2. Follow the one-minute rule: if a task takes less than a minute, do it immediately.
  3. Choose to solve powerful problems that you pick, rather than being overwhelmed by painful ones forced upon you.
Olshansky's Newsletter β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 05 Aug 23
  1. A Movie: Barbie & The Art of Learning - The movie Barbie delivers a serious message with humor and has a powerful cast.
  2. On Feminism: The Barbie movie advocates for feminism and equality without being 'in your face'.
  3. The Art of Learning Book: Quality of learning hours matters more than quantity - focus, attentiveness, and persistence are crucial.
The Author Is Dumb β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 02 Jul 23
  1. Books can provide us with new worlds and experiences that change us for the better
  2. Libraries play a crucial role in providing access to diverse works and should be supported
  3. Digital formats like Kindle can offer privacy and access to books, making reading more inclusive
Arjun’s Newsletter β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 05 Jun 23
  1. Writing is a challenging business, but calling yourself a writer is important.
  2. Don't focus on making money from writing; focus on writing freely.
  3. Write for specific people and aim to connect with them on a deeper level.
Cabinet of Wonders β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 26 Apr 23
  1. The author is writing a book titled 'The Magic of Code' that explores how digital language has shaped the modern world and will shape the future.
  2. The book will cover a wide range of topics such as the complexity of technology, glitches and bugs, the connection between coding and magic, old texts, simulation, and artificial life.
  3. The author aims to make the computational realm fascinating and understandable for a broad audience by providing a novel mental lens and a liberal arts-infused approach to computing.
The Wisdom Project β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 26 Mar 23
  1. The Keys to Wisdom collection offers summaries of popular non-fiction books in a beautiful PDF format.
  2. Previous buyers get new summaries for free; discounts available based on location.
  3. The collection will be regularly updated with 3-5 new book summaries each month, so act fast to grab all future updates at the current price.
The Thought Trail β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 20 Mar 23
  1. Classic writers were skilled at creating vivid mental images with their descriptions
  2. Our brains act like natural neural networks when reading, converting text to images
  3. Great classic writers were the original creators of text-to-image prompts
Widget Tricks β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 31 Mar 23
  1. Learn how to sound like a smart software engineer by using common phrases like "It depends" or "But it won't scale."
  2. Assume responsibility in programming and always consider that the fault might lie in your code.
  3. Start small when bootstrapping side projects, like Pieter Levels who created a successful business with just a 'BUY' button.
The Reset by Sam Delaney β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 23
  1. The author reflects on their early experience in politics and how their attitude affected their career progression.
  2. The author discusses their reluctance to prioritize work over personal life and the impact it had on their career.
  3. The author highlights the importance of feeling trusted, responsible, and respected at work to improve overall well-being and productivity.
Dracula Daily β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 15 May 23
  1. Jonathan Harker explores the castle when Count Dracula is out
  2. He discovers locked doors and hidden passages in the castle
  3. The castle has different wings, impregnable defenses, and rooms that were once occupied by ladies
SJF β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 11 May 23
  1. The author is inspired by a video of Japanese craftsmen building a house with hand tools.
  2. The author appreciates a field recorder by Teenage Engineering called TP-7 for its beauty.
  3. The author recommends a book 'Material: Making and the Art of Transformation' by Nick Kary for its deep exploration of creativity.
Dreams in the Which House β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 09 May 23
  1. The relationship between Germany (and Europe) and US cultural influence is a central theme in some books and discussions.
  2. European perspectives on Silicon Valley often reflect ideological motivations and preferences, rather than passive reception.
  3. Europeans are conscious actors adopting and adapting elements of US culture based on their own interests and values.
Next Level Leadership β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 24 Apr 23
  1. Family can be a huge inspiration, from partners to parents and children.
  2. Friends play a big role too, encouraging personal growth and sharing valuable recommendations.
  3. Reading books and listening to podcasts are great sources of inspiration and learning.