Distrust that particular flavor
by William Gibson · first published 2012
70% recommend30% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Collection of essays and columns by Gibson, with later reflections on older pieces; recommended to readers already into his fiction and to anyone who enjoys essay collections about technology and culture.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Known primarily as a novelist, Gibson has, over thirty years, been approached by different publication to share his insights into contemporary culture. The resulting essays are collected here for the first time.
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…Peter H. Diamandis, Steven Kotler. Diamandis has an almost infectiously positive way of looking at the world. And a hope that's not just based on a philosophical belief but is backed up with hard data. Distrust That Particular Flavor - William Gibson. I never got into Gibson as a fiction writer, but this collection of essays, articles and talks immediately made me appreciate him as an amazing thinker, observer, and truly brilliant…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗This is an excellent read! It is also included in Gibson's collection of non fiction writing - Distrust That Particular Flavor, which I highly recommend.
on “Disneyland with the Death Penalty (1993)” ↗Gibson's book Distrust that Particular Flavor of some collected columns is worth a read.
on “William Gibson is a literary genius” ↗…limiting yourself to "career" content, maybe try enriching yourself with some classic literature and non-fiction? I personally love listening to essay collections on readtrips! I highly recommend Gibson's Distrust That Particular Flavor and any collection from David Foster Wallace. [2] https://taylor.town/eschew-the-new Rather than listening, also consider taking the time to dictate some essays or short stories! Phones have very good…
on “Ask HN: What should I listen to on a 16 hr roadtrip” ↗…https://www.amazon.com/Anthropocene-Reviewed-Essays-Human-Ce... • Snowcrash: https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Crash-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0553380... • How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1... • Distrust That Particular Flavor: https://www.amazon.com/Distrust-Particular-Flavor-WILLIAM-GI... • A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again: https://www.amazon.com/Supposedly-Fun-Thing-Never-Again/dp/0... • Surely You’re Joking,…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite audiobooks?” ↗Agreed. Speaking of underrated works from cyberpunk authors, you may be interested in William Gibson's non-fiction essay collection Distrust That Particular Flavor. My hot take: I think Gibson's non-fiction is much stronger than his fiction. EDIT: Ooh, that collection includes Disneyland with the Death Penalty: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_with_the_Death_Pena...
on “Permutation City (1994)” ↗And not a minute too soon ;-) William Gibson pays a very nice tribute to Borges in an essay for $MAGAZINE that is in his "Distrust That Particular Flavor", which I wholly endorse, as I do every single last thing I've read or listened to of his or involving him. Portraying the now in the guise of "the Future" is the art of it.
on “An 83-year-old short story by Borges portends a bleak future for the internet” ↗…now" of when he wrote it. That particular description happens to be a really, really good description of the modern GOP. I also recommend his collection of non-fiction magazine writings and paid talks, "Distrust that Particular Flavor". The important thing about Gibson is that his heart shines through all his work, and -- boy, oh boy! -- does this 2025 world need more heart! Thanks popping up on my radar. Who knows where fate will…
on “Sigint in Fiction” ↗His book "Distrust That Particular Flavor" is full of his old articles, such as this one, and his thoughts on them after looking back at them in 2012. I really recommend it if you're into William Gibson at all.
on “The Net Is a Waste of Time (1996)” ↗…Potter, rarely can people churn out classic after classic. If you write anything that isn't even more mindblowing, it's considered a flop, and I think that's pretty harsh. I quite enjoyed his essay book "Distrust that particular flavor", and I just read The Peripheral and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nothing genre-expanding, but solid, and has good ideas.
on “William Gibson: How I wrote Neuromancer” ↗…consider sci-fi. All his books are really capers and weave in his unique, poignant, and heart-oriented perspectives on our modern world. It is worth noting that his collection of non-fiction articles, Distrust that Particular Flavor, is thought-provoking and simply wonderful.
on “The Prophet of Cyberspace (2016)” ↗…technicians. Like ancient steam-tractors or Vincent motorcycles, they can be painstakingly restored from virtually any stage of ruin. ``` (1): Seems to be pay-walled now but you can find the whole thing in Distrust that Particular Flavor
on “Ultra-flat timepiece, the RM UP-01 Ferrari, is 1.75 millimetres thick watch” ↗Gibson himself wrote about this in Distrust that Particular Flavor unless I'm gravely mistaken, cities need interstitial spaces for living and working
on “Cyberpunk in the Nineties” ↗With the graphic novel Archangel and his non-fiction collection Distrust That Particular Flavor you get 14, at least. The sequel to The Peripheral comes out in January.
on “How William Gibson Keeps His Science Fiction Real” ↗