12mo ago

Looking for two book recommendations (first SciFi and "48 rules of Power" with ethics)

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for two book recommendations:

an "entry" book into SciFi. Something that is easy readable. I prefer sth. "positive" or utopian.
A similar book like "48 rules of power" but without the Machiavellian touch and the religious touch of "How to win Friends and Influence People". Maybe there is something more "universal" available on how to connect to people on a respectful level.

14 comments

For entry, easy to read sci-fi that is positive or utopian, I think the author Ursula K. LeGuin is an obvious choice.
Maybe start with The Dispossessed.
- I'm not sure I agree that she is the most accessible to a modern reader.
  
  Oh, that's surprising to me. I find her books simple in vocabulary and plot, but still enjoyable. What did you have in mind?
The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Very easy to get into.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High is my go to. However there are so many other books that teach you how to connect with others.
I saw first sci-fi and thought ooooh "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep"... but, as much as it's a great book... it is not positive by any means!
I am interested too, it's been tricky to find positive sci-fi for me, and I'd love to read some. :)
For SF, I recommend anything by Becky Chambers. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first of her Wayfarers series.
Not exactly utopian, but the Murderbot Diaries are a great and easy read. Not exactly SciFi, but ditto Terry Pratchett's disc world books.
I personally found this to be very impactful (in a good way): "How to Listen: Tools for Opening Up Conversations When It Matters Most" by Katie Colombus
Hey, just wanted to dig in deeper about the second recommendation. The two books you mention are pop self-help books. You mentioned you wanted something about how to connect to people on a respectful level. Are your goals like learning psychological tips and tricks for navigating social situations (like knowing that people like hearing their name repeated to them, or that leaning in towards someone conveys you are engaged and listening, etc.)?
I'm not sure if I have a book recommendation, I just wanted to get clear on exactly what kind of book you wanted. I worry that pop self-help books may not be the best route to help you with your goal, whatever it is, but there might be other books that could help.
- I don't really know that myself. I just don't want typical books about ingratiation or manipulation, but advice on how to communicate better and more attentive, for example by paying more attention to not offering solutions directly, but listening first, not judging, also including facial expressions and gestures, respectfully but resolutely addressing other people's misbehavior, and so on.
  
  Interesting, let me know if you find a book on that, I would be interested too. It reminds me on research I was taught about gendered differences in communication.
I dont read Sci fi but I did read a couple of John Scalzi books: Old man's war, and Starter Villain. I recommend both!

14 comments