Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
#32 of 644 all-time
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
Eliezer Yudkowsky
22 people recommended it in 13 threads, 2012–2025.
2 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
This book really taught me to think rationally and logically. I think I really did not understand the scientific method until this book.
Harry Potter and The Methods of Rationality is the best fiction I've ever read, and am actually rereading now, so that's one.
The whole HP universe is re-imagined, except Harry is smart, a scientist, and empowered with rationality. It is both entertaining and an introduction to the art of rationality.
Give this book 5 minutes of time at [0] where it is released. It's a great story and drives home a lot of points about cognitive biases.
Written by an AI researcher, the book explores HP as if he was a very rational and intelligent agent, rather than someone who immediately accepts all aspects of magic.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 7 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and problem solver? 2022 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021? 2021 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Basic Math Textbook: The Napkin Project 2025 · 1 recommendation
- Show HN: Zeneca – Share and discuss your favorite books 2021 · 1 recommendation
- Fast.ai releases new deep learning course, libraries, and book 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- OpenStax – openly licensed textbooks 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012 2012 · 1 recommendation