The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
101 people recommended it in 48 threads, 2007–2026.
2 of those were in the last year.
What people on Hacker News said
Best book I ever read (for myriad other reasons) probably remains Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- never has a book amused me like that. I don't think much about my sensibility, beliefs, way of looking at the world would be quite the same if that book hadn't have come along when I was eleven and said, "you're okay, you're not alone. Don't panic."
What I love about it now is how it presents a view of life in the universe as entirely random, but mostly harmless and fun, and that interplanetary exploration is something you would do as a hitchhiker on an adventure, rather than a conqueror chasing resources.
It's hilarious, absurd, and surprisingly thought-provoking. There are many philosophical questions and lessons that are not really presented as such (though they aren't hidden, either).
Helped me understand that though I may die (or the universe may end), that might be OK.
Glorious book that is a fun read, when you need a break pick this up and laugh hard
Hitchhiker's in particular imparts a lot of great advice for creativity in technical fields, and software in particular, but does it using a fictionalized world with comedic logical oddities.
Fun read which is also deeply philosophical at the same time.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life? 2020 · 11 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 8 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's one book that changed your life? 2018 · 5 recommendations
- Ask HN: What are your favorite sci-fi books? 2023 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book changed your life? 2022 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 4 recommendations
- Ask YC: favorite books 2007 · 4 recommendations
- Extracting Hacker News book recommendations with the ChatGPT API 2023 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book have you re-read 3x or more? 2022 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read? 2018 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models? 2017 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why? 2017 · 3 recommendations
- Ask YC: What's the most inspiring sci-fi book you've read? 2008 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best books read in 2022? 2022 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which books have you read more than once? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which book have you re-read the most times? how many times? 2018 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016? 2016 · 2 recommendations
- The Best Science Fiction Books (According to Reddit) 2011 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books. 2009 · 2 recommendations
