Selected non-fictions
by Jorge Luis Borges · first published 1999
7mentions
6recommended by
6HN commenters
2013–2024first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Essays showing Borges' erudition and wit across topics like time, war, and literature. The nonfiction is as rewarding as his stories and suits those who already enjoy his fiction.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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When you're done with Fictions, do read the other book, "Selected Non-Fictions" http://www.amazon.com/Borges-Selected-Non-Fictions-Jorge-Lui... (not an affiliate link either) Not only are they excellent pieces in their own right, you can catch occasional glimpses of the evolution…
on “A Lecture on Johnson and Boswell by Jorge Luis Borges” ↗…(Cavett) nor the author of this article (O'Connell) seem to be very familiar with Borges' writings. No one who has read Borges' half a dozen essays on the war (written before and during WW2, collected in "Selected Non-Fictions") could accuse him of "refusal to engage with politics", at least as far as Hitler was concerned. I quote: "If I had the tragic honor of being German, I would not resign myself to sacrificing to mere…
on “Two New Books About Jorge Luis Borges” ↗By far my favorite author. Most people begin by reading his short stories (which are amazing), but they should also read his non-fiction. I recommend Borges: Selected Non-Fictions. As far as I know he never discusses software or computer science explicitly, but all of his work is saturated with ideas relating to these things.
on “Is Borges the 20th Century’s most important writer?” ↗Borges is most widely read for his fiction, but his Selected Non-Fictions[1] is life altering. Through his collection of nonfiction essays, one can begin to appreciate his unique place among 20th-century writers. [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Borges-Selected-Non-Fictions-Jorge-Lui...
on “Is Borges the 20th Century’s most important writer?” ↗Jorge Luis Borges, Selected Non-Fictions, 1999. I first encountered Borges as a 15 year old student in high school. I am now 56. The book was ficciones. It changed my life. Borges read everything. What made him the genius that he was, is that…
on “Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models?” ↗Alternatively, you could check out his non-fiction, say Selected Non-Fictions (https://www.amazon.com/Borges-Selected-Non-Fictions-Jorge-Lu...). Checking the table of contents, I particularly like "A New Refutation of Time" (Available from Gwern: https://www.gwern.net/docs/borges/1947-borges-anewrefutation...),…
on “A Lecture on Johnson and Boswell by Jorge Luis Borges (1966)” ↗Borges: Selected Non-fictions. Think his fictions are good? His non-fictions, imho, are even better. You can read three sentences and feel like you just listened to a symphony - you get that constant Borges wit, erudition, mystery.…
on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗