Ask HN: Which non-fiction books had the biggest impact on you?
I ran this thread through GPT-4 to extract mentions and summarize them in markdown. Sharing if it&#x27;s helpful for others too.<p>* &quot;Manufacturing Consent&quot; by Chomsky and Herman (2 mentions)
    * Summary: This book investigates and criticizes the media&#x27;s role in promoting and sustaining powerful interests. Chomsky frames the media as a system that safeguards the power of the elite by shaping public opinion.<p>* &quot;On Palestine&quot; by Chomsky (1 mention)
    * Summary: This book offers an insightful view of one of the most enduring and intractable conflicts of our time. Chomsky explores the historical origins, developments, and politics surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.<p>* &quot;Requiem for the American Dream&quot; by Noam Chomsky (1 mention)
    * Summary: This book discusses the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few and its effects on democracy in America. It highlights the decline of the middle class and the widening wealth gap.<p>* &quot;The Design of Everyday Things&quot; by Don Norman (2 mentions)
    * Summary: The book details the science behind our interaction with everyday items. It scrutinizes the design process and explores the relationship between users and the products they use, urging designers to think deeply about how their designs influence user behavior.<p>* &quot;The Better Angels of Our Nature&quot; by Steven Pinker (1 mention)
    * Summary: This book challenges the belief that society is becoming increasingly violent, arguing instead that violence has declined over historical time periods. It explores the psychological and societal mechanisms that have led to this decrease.<p>* &quot;Factfulness&quot; by Hans Rosling (1 mention)
    * Summary: Factfulness emphasizes a more optimistic view of global human progress. It challenges the notion that the world is worse off today than it was in the past by providing facts and statistics that argue the contrary.<p>* &quot;Phenomenology of Spirit&quot; by Hegel (1 mention)
    * Summary: This is a central work of German philosophy in which Hegel explores the concept of &#x27;spirit&#x27;. He examines the relationship between consciousness and its objects, eventually leading to a discussion about the nature of freedom and the unfolding of history.<p>* &quot;The Righteous Mind&quot; by Jonathan Haidt (2 mentions)
    * Summary: The book delves into the world of moral psychology and its impact on politics and religion. Haidt proposes that morality is not a product of rational thought but is driven by intuitive reactions, challenging conventional understandings of morality.<p>* &quot;How To Build A Car&quot; (1 mention, author not specified)
    * Summary: The book offers a captivating analysis of Formula 1 car design and the precision engineering involved in creating these high-performance vehicles. It provides insights into the processes followed by a renowned designer.<p>* &quot;Factfulness&quot; (1 mention, author not specified)
    * Summary: Factfulness emphasizes a more optimistic view of global human progress. It challenges notions that the world is getting worse by presenting an array of facts that argue the contrary.<p>* &quot;Strunk and White The Elements of Style&quot; (1 mention, author not specified)
    * Summary: A guide to English language usage and writing style that covers topics such as conciseness, clarity, and simplicity of expression. It is considered a seminal work on English composition and is widely used in American English writing.<p>* &quot;Gödel, Escher, Bach&quot; (1 mention, author not specified)
    * Summary: This book explores the concept of how symbols, patterns and loops manifest in the fields of mathematics, art and music. It also discusses aspects of cognition and consciousness and how our minds perceive and understand the world.