Time Enough For Love
by Robert A. Heinlein · first published 1973
34% recommend65% neutral1% critical
Why HN recommends it
Sci-fi novel about Lazarus Long, who lives over 3,000 years, looking back on a long life. Fans value its self-reliant, skillful attitude, its philosophical range and a moving love story; many reread it every few years.
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…book as collecting a soul. If you fully grok a book, you grok the authors thoughts. Being able to put yourself in another persons mindset is crucial. Speaking of "groking", Stranger in a Strange Land, Time Enough for Love and The Fountain Head have probably had the most impact on my mindset. Each book is rather different, but in general the idea of all three is > You have to be in life for yourself, and only you can…
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗…only in a linear fashion. Technology is a productivity multiplier. I refer you to the Robert Heinlein short-story "The Tale of the Man Who Was Too Lazy to Fail," which is provided in his magnum opus "Time Enough for Love". We should be "working hard" on finding ways to be lazy. It's through the pursuit of technologies that allow us to be as productive as we are on less effort that make the big advances in productivity,…
on “ Working hard is overrated” ↗…Asimov, 1941, short story) "Animal Farm" (George Orwell, 1945) "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (George Orwell, 1949) "Starship Troopers" (Robert A. Heinlein, 1959) "The Gods Themselves" (Isaac Asimov, 1972) "Time Enough for Love" (Robert A. Heinlein, 1973)
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗…fan of. Halfway done with it though! Gabrielle Zevin, "The Hole We're In" (not my usual genre, enjoyed this though) Robert A. Heinlein, "Stranger in a Strange Land" (pretty good) Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love" (PHENOMENAL, highly recommended) Robert A. Heinlein, "Methuselah's Children" (pretty good, required to understand "Time Enough for Love") Richard K. Morgan, "Altered Carbon" (very good) Robert A.…
on “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?” ↗Time Enough For Love was my favorite Heinlein book.
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗fiction: time enough for love - robert heinlein non-fiction: on power - bertrand de jouvenel both are treatsies on the human condition.
on “Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books.” ↗Time Enough for Love. Robert Heinlein. http://www.amazon.com/Time-Enough-Love-Robert-Heinlein/dp/04...
on “Ask HN: Books that changed your life?” ↗…motivational because I want to be one of the people to build something like a skyscraper making me worthy of calling myself human. 2) I read inspirational books, to me The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand) and Time Enough for Love (Robert Heinlein) are always inspirational because they project characters that are considered "ideal" or at least worthy of aspiring to be. I also read a fair amount of history books and biographies…
on “Ask HN: How do you motivate yourself?” ↗…sequels, Ender's Shadow and sequels), but I liked them fine. Cryptonomicon is rich, fascinating, and entertaining. Dune is rich and pretty fascinating. Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "Time Enough for Love" are somewhat scandalous, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. Outside science fiction: P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster novels, as well as what of his other books I've read, are hilarious and brilliant;…
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗They're both good. I'd definitely read Pragmatic before Complete, and I wouldn't feel bad for not finishing Complete. Outside the box, I'd recommend Heinlein's Time Enough For Love, for the attitude. Be as self reliant as possible, be as skillful as possible, be as useful to your team as possible. Find or grow an excellent team.
on “Ask HN: What's the best development book you've read?” ↗The nice thing about Heinlein is he has a book for all stages. As I've gotten older I really prefer his "Time Enough for Love" novel, which is about looking back on a long life.
on “How You Know” ↗…was broken. # Benjamin Franklin's autobiography showed me a history that was made of people, a people no different than me and mine, and that success comes from standing up and going your own way. # "Time Enough for Love" by Robert Heinlein taught me that, while culture is arbitrary and we should be free to try to make it what we wish, that doesn't make it fake or ignorable. # "Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,…
on “Ask HN: What are the books that changed the perspective of your life?” ↗I also read Time Enough for Love every few years. I've owned and read and loved much of Heinlein's work over my life, but it's the one that's stuck with me for the past decade.
on “Prof. Sussman's Reading List” ↗Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance Godel Escher Bach Time enough for love - Heinlein Illusions -Richard Bach A wrinkle in time Stranger from the depths Sidartha and all the other books by Hess Zen MInd Beginners mind MOre to come Books by Bradbury Books by asimov Just starting…
on “Ask HN: What are the most thought-provoking books that you have read?” ↗…together — ." He croaked something in Martian and smiled. As an aside, I loved that book so much I went on to read every Robert Heinlein book. Some were disappointing, but I enjoyed most of them. Although, Time Enough for Love is probably my favorite sci-fi book, slightly ahead of with Stranger in a Strange Land.
on “Netflix's async sendfile now in FreeBSD-current” ↗