Ask HN: Which non-fiction books had the biggest impact on you?
* &quot;The Code Book&quot; (1 mention, author not specified)
    * Summary: This book explores the history of codes and codebreaking. It traces the evolution of cryptography from ancient times to the digital age, detailing famous codebreakers, notorious codes, and the role of codes in wars and revolutions.<p>* &quot;Warped Passages&quot; (1 mention, author not specified)
    * Summary: This book guides readers through the world of particle physics and string theory. It discusses key theories, experiments, and concepts that have shaped our understanding of the fundamental structure of the universe.<p>* &quot;A History of The Internet And the Digital Future&quot; by Johnny Ryan (1 mention)
    * Summary: This book offers a comprehensive history of the internet and looks forward to its future. It traces the development of the internet, exploring its impact on society and speculating on potential future developments.<p>* &quot;The Master Switch&quot; by Tim Wu (1 mention)
    * Summary: The Master Switch looks at the history of information technologies like telephone, radio, television, and the Internet to see how their development was shaped by businesses and government. The book discusses the cycle of open to closed systems in the context of the Internet.<p>* &quot;The Realities of Work: Experiencing Work and Employment in Contemporary Society&quot; by Mike Noon and Paul Blyton (1 mention)
    * Summary: Examines the nature of work, the variety of different jobs, and the skills they require. This book highlights the changes in the structures and cultures of work and analyses their impact on the working lives of employees.<p>* &quot;The Ascent of Humanity: Civilization and the Human Sense of Self&quot; by Charles Eisenstein (1 mention)
    * Summary: This book explores the history and future of civilization from a unique perspective. It hypothesizes that human history is a story of the self&#x27;s marginalization from nature and each other and proposes that mounting crises in the modern world will lead to an &#x27;Age of Reunion&#x27; with a more connected sense of self.<p>* &quot;Cosmos&quot; by Carl Sagan (1 mention)
    * Summary: A guide to the universe beyond the Earth. Sagan explores the origins, scale, and future of the universe, offering insights into the nature of life and mankind&#x27;s place in the cosmos. The book fosters an appreciation for the quest for knowledge for its own sake.<p>* &quot;Women, fire, and dangerous things&quot; by Lakoff (1 mention)
    * Summary: A scholarly book about human cognition and linguistic categorization. It posits that human categorization is not arbitrary, but is based on cognitive models that originate from physical, social, and mental experience. It argues against a classical categorization approach in favor of a prototype approach.<p>* &quot;Meditations&quot; by Marcus Aurelius (1 mention)
    * Summary: A series of philosophical reflections and exercises by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The book offers guidance and insights on matters such as resilience, rationality, morality, duty, and the temporal nature of human life, reflecting the Stoic philosophy that Aurelius practiced.<p>* &quot;A History of the Internet and the Digital Future&quot; by Johnny Ryan (1 mention)
    * Summary: This book offers a comprehensive history of the internet and speculates about its future. It discusses the various technological and social transformations that have accompanied the rise of the internet, as well as the implications these changes may have for the future.<p>* &quot;The Master Switch&quot; by Tim Wu (1 mention)
    * Summary: The book examines the history of information, communications and technology industries in the United States. Wu explores how the control of these industries has shifted from an open to a closed system, stifling innovation and threatening net neutrality.