In Search of Lost Time
Marcel Proust
18 people recommended it in 12 threads, 2010–2022.
What people on Hacker News said
Exceptionally rich and a beautiful study of love. Reading it is like living another life.
An unexpected quirk of the novel is that though I've been heavily absorbed in it the whole way, and found it moving, funny, and in general a complete literary experience, I can't really recommend it to others without absurd sounding qualifiers...
In this hustle and bustle world where people build startups for high evaluation, money and reputation, reading this book is an oasis in the desert experience to me. It inspires me to rethink of my simple day, to pay more attention to details, to figure out why little thing become what it is, to cherish small achievements and to appreciate people.
I think it's one of the greatest achievement of the human mind to date and it has more to say about the human experience than anything since, as far as I can tell.
The Combray part was hard to dig into, but full of enough psychological insight to make me want to continue.
I think it was probably the toughest piece of literature I'd ever read, but one of the most rewarding by far.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What book are you reading right now? 2014 · 6 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were worth investing time in? 2022 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book changed your life? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021? 2021 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2018? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the best books you've read that few others have? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Great book that you read recently? 2012 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What is the greatest book you've ever read? 2011 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why 2010 · 1 recommendation