Life of Pi
by Yann Martel · first published 2000
55% recommend45% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Fiction about a survival story whose controversial ending asks readers to choose the better story. Praised for vivid imagery, real emotion, a touch of absurdity, and as a way to think about faith versus science.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan… and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary works of fiction in recent years.
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…analysis, although the book could have been 1/2 as short Fiction: Anathem by Neal Stephenson - starts out slow but after the first 200 pages it became a really great story that I couldn't put down. Life of Pi by Yann Martel - loved the main story of the book, the controversial ending didn't bother me too much because I don't feel like it takes away from the story at all. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗V. by Thomas Pynchon The Life of Pi by Yann Martel the McSweeney's Quarterly Concern (Not a book per se, but very enjoyable) Shakespeare (Everything, I'm surprised he's only been mentioned once so far) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott…
on “Ask YC: favorite books” ↗Fiction: 1. Life of Pi - Yann Martel 2. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas : An awesome closeup of revenge 3. The complete Sherlock Holmes series : 'nuff said. Non fiction: 1. Cosmos - Carl Sagan : I fell in love…
on “What are great books for boys?” ↗…Cuckoo's Egg The Simlarillion The Time Traveler's Wife The Alchemist The Count of Monte Cristo A Canticle for Leibowitz Neverwhere My Uncle Oswald Stories of Your Life and Others Invisible Cities Life of Pi Atlas Shrugged --- WALL STREET / FINANCE --- When Genius Failed Liar's Poker Buffett (Lowenstein) Bull! Black-Scholes and Beyond (textbook) Fixed Income Securities (textbook) The Road to Serfdom…
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗The Alchemist. On the Road. Stranger In a Strange Land. From the Earth to the Moon How to Win Friends and Influence People Life of Pi Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance. The Little Prince Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? / Purple Cow Coders at Work / Founders at Work Fight Club
on “Ask HN: Inspirational Books” ↗Guns, Germs and Steel http://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel-Fates-Societies/dp/03... Life of Pi http://www.amazon.com/Life-Pi-Yann-Martel/dp/0156027321 Billions and Billions http://www.amazon.com/Billions-Thoughts-Death-Brink-Millenni... The Ancestor's Tale http://www.amazon.com/Ancestors-Tale-Pilgrimage-Dawn-Evoluti...…
on “Ask HN: What book should I read next?” ↗> There's no surprise in his conclusions. If it's about an Apple product or decision, I know what the ending will be. And so was Titanic, Avatar, etc... You should read the Life of Pi. Storytelling is very powerful.
on “The iPhone 5S and 5C” ↗Probably Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The message of choosing the better story is at the heart of the book, and I apply it in so many areas of my life.
on “Ask HN: What book has been most influential in your life?” ↗…long as I can resolve differences in some creative way. I am particular keen of various Asian ideas of late. I read scriptures and other inspiring works when impressed to (I think that Dr Seuss, The Life of Pi, and maybe Laura Ingalls Wilder should be canonized—chuckle). I serve weekly in the temple as a Latter Day Saint. There is a regularity and and a sense of the cosmic to it that lifts me and grounds me…
on “Ask HN: What is your spiritual practice?” ↗…appreciate various models of the world - e.g. Science or Religion. Favorite quote: "When you have a Chatuahaha in your head, you can't resist inflicting it on innocent people". Still makes me smile :-) Life of Pi - Bought it following the buzz of the movie. Read the book first, then saw the movie. A good simple read. Sort of reinforces, the 'various models' idea of the 'Zen...' book. Found the movie slightly better…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗Agreed on all points (except the use of 'simple' :). I found the book 'Life of Pi' useful in understanding this. I recommend it highly to everyone.
on “Does religion make you nice? Does atheism make you mean?” ↗…read Wikipedia entries or cliff notes. But one day I stumbled upon the alchemist. The book came to me at a moment I truly needed it, and it offered me some answers. Little after I read another fiction, Life of Pi. These are simple books with profound messages that can easily lure you back into reading. I ended reading more than 20 books that year. Today, I can't imagine myself not reading. Books are where smart…
on “Why Some People Become Lifelong Readers” ↗Life of Pi was very memorable in my childhood. The imagery in that book captured my young imagination. I thought about that book a lot. I feel like it contributed something meaningful, in that it’s ok to not take…
on “Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?” ↗…teacher in school said if I finish my work quickly, I can sit and read whatever I want. I read the Goblet of Fire at least a half a dozen times in 4th grade - Lord of the Rings, same reason as above - Life of Pi. The story is so good, the emotions are so real, and the air of absurdity and comedy throughout are so well done - The Martian, it’s again such a good story and fantasy novel - Bartleby, the Scrivener.…
on “Ask HN: Which books did you read multiple times?” ↗Those were just the ones I remember reading as a kid/teenager. There are others that I read later in life which I'd also recommend such as the Foundation series by Asimov, Moby Dick, Dune, Life of Pi, works by Jules Verne, Edgar Allan Poe, Terry Pratchett, Stanislaw Lem, Pierre Boulle, etc.
on “Ask HN: What book had a big impact on you as a child or teenager?” ↗