Stoner
John Williams
20 people recommended it in 9 threads, 2014–2024.
2 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
this book knocked me on my butt and I read it all in almost one sitting; about an English professor who refuses to relinquish his integrity in the face of great adversity
The story of an average, not very successful literary professor, told with great humanity and tenderness. This does not seem much of a story line, yet I believe this book is so good it will still be read in one hundred years.
It is exquisitely well written (John Williams was a literature professor, directing a creative writing program), and despite the plainness of the plot(or maybe because of it?) it offers a remarkable view of what gives meaning to life (IMHO of course. Your millage may vary).
It’s novel about an average person living an average life, but the prose captures the emotion of life.
It was an unknown book for many years until it somehow got rediscovered and turned into what many regard as a classic.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read? 2020 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014? 2014 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade? 2019 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are your favorite classic books? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the best books you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Book Recommendations? 2016 · 1 recommendation