For Hackers

For reasons I won't go into, I've been thinking about trying a little Meditation. I thought I'd look for something a bit longer than Robert Anton Wilson's recommendations, so I browsed some books. Blech, too much (anti-)intellectual baggage.

I bought Yoga ForWimps (ISBN:0715311611 ) because it was I thought some physical focus might help, and the Thin Book was a simple clean reference.

• Later I found I already had Israel Regardie's Lazy Mans Guide To Relaxation ISBN:0941404285 (Meditation) non my shelf, another Thin Book.

Then I remembered that I had read a message online somewhere about someone's friend considering writing a book called Religion ForSkeptics.

So I was thinking we need a Yoga ForSkeptics or a Meditation ForSkeptics book. And Semiotics, and Economics, and Sociol Ogy...

Then I thought, maybe that should be For Hackers instead. Because point isn't just to be questioning (Critical Thinking), but to be positively engaged and proactive. And the Hacker mindset needs to be spread... (update: think "RealityHacker")

What might some characteristics of such books be?

• clear narrow intent, Context, relevance

  • target: Good Enough, at least for Getting Started

• emphasis on testable theories

• recognition of uncertainties, alternative theories, etc.

• use of operational language style, e.g. EPrime

A HowTo/DIY/Make Your Own item is a sub-type here. Not every For Hackers book has to be about how to do something.

• and Pre-Fab smells related

There's potential for TV For Hackers.

• Myth Busters

• Junkyard Wars http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/junkyard/junkyard.html

Magazines For Hackers (besides the obvious)

• OReilly Make Mag http://make.oreilly.com/ (Maker)

  • Mark Frauenfelder is involved
  • Wired News profile

• i miss Midnight Engineer (edited by the other Bill Gates)

• ReadyMade http://www.readymademag.com/