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.
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 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.
Oh, that’s surprising to me. I find her books simple in vocabulary and plot, but still enjoyable. What did you have in mind?
I’m not referring to simplicity of vocabulary so much as…I guess feeling like it’s written in natural language? This is a problem with a lot of earlier sci-fi in general. It tends to be really good on ideas and not be especially well written when it comes to characters and relatability.
I’m sure I could think of something to recommend over it, but I have not put the thought into it at this point. I just think she is a great example of a sci-fi writer with great ideas but not the most natural and welcoming writing style.
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.
For SF, I recommend anything by Becky Chambers. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first of her Wayfarers series.
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The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Very easy to get into.
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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.
