[rg111]

> Ok, but the problem is, _which_ book?

I have solved this particular problem but have myriads of others. (See my main comment on this thread.)

First, when you are looking for a book in a particular topic, search Kagi/You.com, and sneak into 4/5 lists quickly. Some books will appear in almost all lists. Take a note.

Second, append reddit to search term and look into 3/4 threads. Take a note of highly upvoted or "+1"d responses.

Third, ask people you know who are experts in that topic. Ask 2/3/4 persons. They likely have read many books on that topic. Take a note of their top recommendations.

Fourth, there are some titles ubiquitous on HN, twitter, Reddit, word-of-mouth in academia/industry. Such titles are The Algorithms Design Manual, Designing Data Intensive Applications, etc. When you look into a new topic, there will be 1/2 titles that you will instantly recognize. Take a note.

Now you have narrowed down to 3/4 titles. Find them. Taste them, couple this with Third, and you find the most appropriate book for your situation.

The whole process takes 20-25 minutes excluding the calls with people IRL.

[johnny_castaway]

This is a perfectly good advice.

But my point is, note just how many separate bits of information you're looking at to make the decision. 4 threads on Reddit, 4 threads on HN, and you're already in the hundreds of different opinions! All of them coming from people you don't know, with different background, different learning style, etc.

Compare to going to a book store with ZERO external information, and picking the one YOU seem to like reading the most, without those hundreds of voices in your head.

[scoutt]

But the problem is not the book itself. It's what you are looking for.

If you are just starting into any given topic, then you just need a good book, not the perfect book. And the advice parent gave you I think is more than enough for that. In any case, after you read the book, you can always purchase another one.

I have a friend that does this same thing. If we decide to learn how to play tennis, then he takes a month, does extensive research and purchases the most expensive and professional tennis racket around. Then when we get there, I use the racket that the tennis court lends you if you don't have any, and then I proceed to kick his ass!*

The same applies to my field (embedded/electronics). There are people that goes around in circles for months doing research for the perfect soldering station or oscilloscope (to start learning). Just purchase a decent one and move on!

Your abilities (in this case learning/knowledge) don't always come from the things you have or purchase. Whatever you use, it has to be just good enough for the task.

*PS: I don't mean you need or want to spend a lot of money.

[Dracophoenix]

> There are people that goes around in circles for months doing research for the perfect soldering station or oscilloscope

Guilty as charged. In my case, I don't so much as lust after the perfect machine (anymore) as I want to make sure I'm buying a durable, well-priced product that is sufficient for future tasks. There are many dimensions to consider in a purchase so as not to buy twice.

[rg111]

> and you're already in the hundreds of different opinions!

No, you aren’t. Beause there are overlaps. (Seen Venn diagrams, btw?)

> with ZERO external information

This is a very bad advice. When you don't read those threads or blogs, you are not taking advantage of accumulated human knowledge over the years.

And this approach will more likely to lead to poor choice of books.

____

One method I forgot to mention- I also look at reputations of publishers/series. If a book is coming out of Green Tea Press, Pragmatic Bookshelf, or Manning, I will tend to favor them more.

[johnny_castaway]

> No, you aren’t. Beause there are overlaps. (Seen Venn diagrams, btw?)

Sorry, I meant different as in distinct, coming from different people.

> When you don't read those threads or blogs, you are not taking advantage of accumulated human knowledge over the years.

I agree, that's why I keep reading them. But more often than not, I feel like I end up with more questions and uncertainty than I started with.

> And this approach will more likely to lead to poor choice of books.

I don't think it's so obvious. Maybe that "average" book that matched your particular taste, would actually be more useful than the "perfect" one, which felt mundane? Simply because the first one would be more engaging, and you'd have higher chance of finishing it. But if you had read the reviews beforehand, you'd end up feeling bad both about the one you liked, and about the one that others recommended, and eventually wouldn't read either.

> One method I forgot to mention- I also look at reputations of publishers/series. If a book is coming out of Green Tea Press, Pragmatic Bookshelf, or Manning, I will tend to favor them more.

Agreed on this one!