Open Society and Its Enemies
Karl Popper
11 people recommended it in 9 threads, 2007–2022.
What people on Hacker News said
a defense of Western society in light of the then-ongoing WW2. You probably saw the paradox of tolerance a few times pop up, that's from that book, among a ton of other stuff.
Broadly the book is a critic of historicist theories of Plato and Marx. There is also good philosophy on essentialism and the futility of getting closer to the truth by defining things more precisely.
Completely changes your perspective on all your preconceived notions of politics, economics and sociology.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were worth investing time in? 2022 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books? 2010 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023 2022 · 1 recommendation
- 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: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2018? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask YC: favorite books 2007 · 1 recommendation