Books worth reading

Michael Nielsen started a great Twitter thread devoted to obscure books that people adore.

Several gems from the replies are now on my TBR list, such as:

• First Light by Richard Preston

• Proofs & Refutations: The Logic of Mathematical Discovery by Imre Lakatos

• The Wandering Jew by Stefan Heym

The real tragedy is how many of the recommended books are out of print and difficult to get hold of. The publishing industry is so broken as a quality filter and distribution mechanism.

Related, here's Robin Hanson also tweeting today on a very different model for the bookshop.

Here is the online bookstore I want to browse: They only stock GOOD books, chosen by a select panel to stand the test of time. They show me that panel. They wait a few years after publication before even considering a book. I'd pay 20% more to buy from them.

I’ve dreamt of creating something similar, but it wouldn’t help for books that aren’t readily available to buy.