A few months ago, I started reading Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" and fell in love with it. I went on read the rest of books in the Foundation Series. Sidenote: The books get progressively worse and the last one is a drag. Anyway, the reading was a good break from my startup in 2 ways: (1) I wasn't in front of yet another screen (tv, browsing, movies), and (2) It was, in some way, intellectually stimulating. It made me think.
So, fair HN, can you suggest what should I read next? Preferably fiction (I feel most non-fiction is worth a blog post). Something that fits a short attention span. Something a geek would like (I've already read "hitchhikers guide to the galaxy").
Also consider most anything from Vernor Vinge. Some of my favorites from him are A Deepness in the Sky, Rainbows End, and A Fire Upon the Deep. Since he's a Comp Sci professor, he handles technology issues (and especially computer-related stuff) very realistically.
And if you're looking back into the classics, consider Larry Niven's "Known Space" books, particularly Ringworld.
"What is the What" by Dave Eggers is also phenomenal.
Little Brother is a subversive nerd's porn.
Point taken, though, that it is difficult to suggest books in a scenario such as this.
But if you want to read a very actual story, including an anticipation of the Internet, take a look at this 1961 story:
Otherwise, when you can affort more than a "short attention span" come back for more recommendations.
I had a major breakthrough in my creative (programming, music) life when I realized that my most intensely creative periods were fueled by reading.
What would happen is that I would work tirelessly drafting ideas, hacking or making music until I burned out and got very depressed. I stayed like this and, through some accident, started reading as a way to pass time. Before I got through more than one or two books, I'd have forgotten the depression and be back to creating stuff again.
Now, I try to make time for reading daily (instead of binging/purging). It helps me avoid burnout on creative projects and gives me new ideas all the time.
For the past two years I've been reading a handful of authors and will recommend them instead of specific books: HP Lovecraft, Jorge Luis Borges, Haruki Murakami, Philip K Dick, Neal Stephenson, William Gibson, Franz Kafka.
I also very much enjoyed a book called Science and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries that I picked up at a college library booksale. I don't recall the author, unfortunately.
One book series that I really love is The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. It is a speculative fiction in a (hopefully alternative) far future. They are not too long, but incredibly packed with interesting stuff which makes them a bit of a slow (but rewarding) read. The first time I read the books I was blown away, and my immediate reaction was "Wow, that was cool. I have to read them again right now". Once I was hooked, I had to read all of Gene Wolfe's other stuff as well :)
Alternatively, try Shelfari (http://www.shelfari.com/) or WhatShouldIReadNext (http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com) and look at their recommendations. (Note: I haven't used either of these sites but found them when I was researching using amazon for recommendations.)
Robert Heinlein's books are great. Some come to mine are The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Starship Troopers (much better than the movies), Stranger in a Strange Land, Double Stars, and The Puppet Masters.
Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness is amazing. The Earthsea series are fun read if you want to get beyond SciFi.
http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discwor...
I personally loved "Guards! Guards!" and would recommend it.
Also enjoyed "The player of Games" by Iain M Banks.
Consider also "Snow Crash"
If you're on an Asimov kick, The Caves of Steel is also pretty good, and has a Foundation-style twist at the end.
- More Asimov - Philip K. Dick - Heinlein - Arthur C. Clarke - Ursula K. Le Guin - Larry Niven - Ray Bradbury
The Discworld series (Terry Prachett) is good if you liked HHG
"The Timetraveller's Wife" will make you think.
just finished 'food of the gods' and loved it.
It's the story of a team of engineers building a new minicomputer, back in the late 70s. I couldn't put it down. He manages to make the politics interesting and the technical details simple.
