Best of 2023 · Top 10 Books

Best of 2023

The 10 highest-scoring books whose peak discussion occurred in 2023.

01
Bullshit Jobs

Bullshit Jobs

David Graeber
Referenced in discussion of white collar workers maintaining spreadsheets and doing jobs that LLMs can now do, with the implication that many of these roles lack meaningful output.
Score
83.4
Sent.
72.8/100
Very Positive
Subst.
84.7/100
Very Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
81.2/100
High-Quality
Mentions
337
Threads
66
Commenters
239
02

Linear Algebra Done Right

Sheldon Axler
A foundational linear algebra textbook emphasizing conceptual understanding and mathematical intuition over rote computation. HN readers strongly recommend it as the superior choice for self-taught programmers and mathematicians seeking deep comprehension.
Score
78.2
Sent.
70.1/100
Very Positive
Subst.
66.8/100
Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
84.9/100
High-Quality
Mentions
138
Threads
24
Commenters
94
03

Blood Meridian

Cormac McCarthy
A dark philosophical western depicting the violent collision of cultures during the Indian Wars. HN readers regard it as transformative literature with profound writing and challenging ideas, though many recommend experiencing it without spoilers.
Score
77.8
Sent.
69.0/100
Positive
Subst.
73.2/100
Very Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
68.9/100
Good Stories
Mentions
127
Threads
17
Commenters
104
04

Anathem

Neil Stephenson
A hard science fiction novel blending technical depth with philosophical exploration across an alternate Earth and cosmos. HN readers highly recommend it, with some preferring it to Stephenson's other works and noting its compelling readability.
Score
75.9
Sent.
68.6/100
Positive
Subst.
66.2/100
Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
68.8/100
Good Stories
Mentions
167
Threads
85
Commenters
136
05

The Road

Cormac McCarthy
A post-apocalyptic literary novel following a father and son's journey through a devastated American landscape. HN readers consider it a masterpiece and one of the greatest novels ever written, praising its powerful, immersive prose and philosophical depth.
Score
75.6
Sent.
65.5/100
Positive
Subst.
67.1/100
Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
76.6/100
High-Quality
Mentions
138
Threads
24
Commenters
110
06

Discrimination and Disparities

Thomas Sowell
Commenter recommends reading this book to understand why data doesn't support racism as the primary cause of disparate outcomes.
Score
73.3
Sent.
43.9/100
Mildly Positive
Subst.
92.6/100
Exceptionally Deep
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
75.4/100
High-Quality
Mentions
27
Threads
16
Commenters
18
07

Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir
A science fiction novel featuring an amnesiac protagonist solving engineering problems to save Earth from an alien threat. HN users praise it as a joyful return to form with emotional depth and an excellent audiobook adaptation, though opinions vary on how it compares to The Martian.
Score
69.6
Sent.
54.5/100
Mildly Positive
Subst.
64.4/100
Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
66.9/100
Good Stories
Mentions
53
Threads
20
Commenters
50
08

2001: A Space Odyssey

Arthur C. Clarke
Cited as an example of mid-20th century science fiction where AI was portrayed sympathetically, with HAL's actions explained as resulting from conflicting goals imposed by humans.
Score
69.4
Sent.
53.5/100
Mildly Positive
Subst.
59.0/100
Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
82.5/100
High-Quality
Mentions
52
Threads
25
Commenters
43
09

The Beginning of Infinity

David Deutsch
A commenter describes it as one of their favorite works of nonfiction by David Deutsch, who also wrote about the Taking Children Seriously parenting philosophy.
Score
69.3
Sent.
47.3/100
Mildly Positive
Subst.
74.9/100
Very Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
67.1/100
Good Stories
Mentions
28
Threads
24
Commenters
26
10

Chaos: Making a New Science

James Gleick
A popular science account of chaos theory and its revolutionary impact on mathematics and physics. HN readers regard it as a well-executed introduction to the subject.
Score
68.9
Sent.
42.5/100
Mildly Positive
Subst.
74.3/100
Very Substantive
Diverse
100.0/100
Extremely Diverse
Story
83.5/100
High-Quality
Mentions
27
Threads
19
Commenters
20