This is Water
David Foster Wallace
15 people recommended it in 9 threads, 2016–2026.
1 commenter pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
I revisit it because it reminds me that everything is a matter of what you choose to think about. It's about realize that your thoughts are illusions and not becoming a slave to them.
The author paints a description of self-awareness here that I'll be sure to return to every now and again.
Whenever I'm overwhelmed with life, stressed about work or relationships or whatever, I read this. I keep it in the kindle app on my phone specifically for that purpose.
Seriously wish I could get these ideas into everyone’s head.
“This is water” spoke to me in a very deep way about exercising control over thoughts.
It's short enough to be a "quick" read and deep enough that I'll be chewing on the message for some time.
Where it comes up
- YC’s 2018 Summer Reading List 2018 · 6 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect? 2018 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift? 2026 · 1 recommendation
- DIY MBA: My Reading List (2019) 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were worth investing time in? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Book under 100 pages that changed your life the most? 2021 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book/essay changed your life? 2021 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? 2016 · 1 recommendation