paul graham essays book

Books Recommended By

Paul graham.

The Lord of the Rings

J.r.r. tolkien, recommended by.

Elon Musk: "I know it's cliche, but Lord of the Rings is my favorite book ever."

Naval Ravikant: "Loved Lord of The Rings and other fiction when [I was] younger."

As a teenager, Peter Thiel's favorite book was 'The Lord of the Rings,' which he read again and again.

Paul Graham's answer to "Any book recommendations for young adults?"

Reid Hoffman: "The book that I’ve most often read is Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

Because it’s so important to show this journey of these hobbits, these little people in a hero’s journey about how you can change the world within a context where Tolkien is fairly sophisticated around the questions of the corruption of power, the intersection of races, and the needs for us all to work together."

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin franklin.

Paul Graham: "It's a great book, probably in my all time top 100."

Elon Musk: "[Benjamin Franklin] was an entrepreneur. He started from nothing. Basically just a runaway kid."

Charlie Munger recommended 'The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin' in his book Poor Charlie's Almanack.

Included on Jamie Dimon's list of favorite books he sent to JP Morgan summer interns in 2010.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert m. pirsig.

Fred Wilson: "A great one"

Austen Allred: "[One of the books] that has inspired me the most or changed the way I live."

Paul Graham mentioned this book on Twitter.

James Wallace

Paul Graham: "Hard Drive, about Microsoft, is good."

The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress

Robert heinlein.

One of Elon Musk's favorite books about space.

Paul Graham: "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress made me want to work on AI, which led to Lisp."

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas kuhn.

Mark Zuckerberg: "It's a history of science book that explores the question of whether science and technology make consistent forward progress or whether progress comes in bursts related to other social forces."

Paul Graham mentioned re-reading this book on Twitter.

The Art of War in the Middle Ages

Charles oman.

One of Paul Graham's answers to "What should I read to learn more about history?"

One of Sam Altman's recommended books for young startup founders.

The Old Way

Elizabeth marshall thomas.

Paul Graham: "If you want to learn more about hunter gatherers I strongly recommend Elizabeth Marshall Thomas's 'The Old Way'."

This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.

Founders at Work

Jessica livingston.

Alexis Ohanian: "A bunch of really great interviews [Jessica] did with a bunch of just OGs of entrepreneurship. I am begging her to do a second book because the first one is just a must read."

Paul Graham: "It is probably the single most valuable book a startup founder could read."

Medieval Technology and Social Change

Paul Graham: "White's Medieval Technology and Social Change is the most fabulous book."

Sam Altman: "It really is great."

My Family and Other Animals

Gerald durrell.

Paul Graham: "It is a wonderful book"

One of Matt Ridley's all-time favorite books that he recommends to everybody.

Guns, Sails, and Empires

Carlo m. cipolla.

Paul Graham: "Amazing"

Sam Altman: "It was excellent!"

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

Harold abelson.

Paul Graham: "This is one of the great classics of computer science.

I bought my first copy 15 years ago, and I still don't feel I have learned everything the book has to teach."

Max Levchin: "Easier to read [than 'The Art of Computer Programming'] end-to-end quickly."

The Soul of A New Machine

Tracy kidder.

Fred Wilson: "I love Kidder’s book. First it is a story. Second it captures the passion of engineers who are driven to ship a revolutionary product. Great read"

One of Paul Graham's answers to 'Do you know of any good books about startups?'

The Double Helix

James d. watson ph.d..

Paul Graham: "The most impressive feature of The Double Helix is how much Watson admits he didn't know.

He's constantly talking about papers he couldn't understand and important concepts he didn't grasp."

Matt Ridley: "[This book] gave me the important message — which my teachers had somehow mostly missed telling me — that science is not a catalog of facts, but the search for new and bigger mysteries."

How To Win Friends and Influence People

Dale carnegie.

Paul Graham: "The one book we encourage startup founders to read is Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People .

It's critically important for anyone in business."

One of Sahil Lavingia's most recommended books.

The Origin of Species

Charles darwin.

Matt Ridley: "Books about science tend to fall into two categories: those that explain it to lay people in the hope of cultivating a wide readership, and those that try to persuade fellow scientists to support a new theory, usually with equations.

Books that achieve both — changing science and reaching the public — are rare. Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' was one."

Paul Graham mentioned 'The Origin of Species' on Twitter.

The Ancient City

Peter connolly.

Paul Graham: "Peter Connolly's The Ancient City is one of the best books I've found for explaining history to kids."

Marc Andreessen mentioned The Ancient City on Twitter.

One of Richard Branson's top books to read in a lifetime.

Paul Graham: "[My kids and I] have already read 'The Hobbit' twice."

The Power Law

Sebastian mallaby.

Paul Graham: "If you want to understand how venture capital works and the effect it has had on the US economy, this is the book to read.

Lots of people talk about VC. Few of them understand it. But Mallaby does."

Patrick Collison: "By far the best book I've read on the sector."

Apollo's Arrow

Nicholas christakis.

Paul Graham: "It's a rare combination of broad historical panorama and all-too-topical bestseller.

There are interesting insights on every page."

Barbarian Days

William finnegan.

Paul Graham: "If you read books, read William Finnegan's Barbarian Days.

It's one of those rare books that divide your life into two parts: before you read it, and after."

A Sense of Where You Are

John mcphee.

Paul Graham's answer to 'What’s the most beautiful book you’ve ever read?'"

A Mathematician's Apology

G. h. hardy.

Paul Graham: "Among the most inspiring books I know."

A History of Rome

Moses hadas.

One of Paul Graham's answers to 'What should I read to learn more about history?'

Mathematician's Delight

Paul Graham: "While there are many popular books on math, few seem good.

The best I can think of are W. W. Sawyer's. And of course Euclid."

The Making of Europe

Robert bartlett.

Paul Graham: "I know I've recommended this book already, but it's so good I have to do it again.

Bartlett brings history to life by explaining how and why the things happened that other books merely tell you happened."

Very Good, Jeeves

P. g. wodehouse.

Paul Graham: "Wodehouse is so good that I get distracted by his perfection. Not a word wrong."

On Bullshit

Harry g. frankfurt.

Paul Graham mentioned 'On Bullshit' in this essay.

Albert Einstein

Banesh hoffmann.

Paul Graham: "Banesh Hoffman's biography of Einstein is the most exciting I've read.

The author is a physicist who is genuinely excited about Einstein's discoveries, and it moves fast instead of trying to leave no detail unpublished."

Civilisation

Kenneth clark.

The World We Have Lost

Peter laslett.

Fall of Constantinople

Steven runciman.

The Lives of the Artists

Giorgio vasari.

The Extension of Man

J.d. bernal.

A Story Lately Told

Anjelica huston.

Paul Graham: "Anjelica Huston's Story Lately Told is wonderful."

The German Generals Talk

Basil h. liddell hart.

One of Paul Graham's answers to 'What’s your favorite book that almost nobody else knows or talks about?'

Clocks and Culture

Paul Graham: "I recommend Clocks and Culture"

How to Be Topp

Ronald searle.

Paul Graham: "I read this during dinner and laughed so much that people must have wondered what was wrong with me."

History of the World

J.m. roberts.

Plagues and Peoples

William mcneill.

Paul Graham: "I suspect if you'd read Guns, Sails, and Empires and Plagues and Peoples, little in Guns, Germs, and Steel would surprise you."

No Easy Day

Paul Graham: "Simultaneously reading Rousseau's Confessions and No Easy Day. Triangulating..."

An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope

Anthony trollope.

Paul Graham: "Trollope's Autobiography is a wonderfully candid and inspiring one"

Euclid's Elements

Clarence L. Johnson

Paul Graham: "How did I not know about this book til now?"

Mohammed and Charlemagne

Henri pirenne.

Richard Feynman: A Life In Science

John gribbin.

Paul Graham: "Excellent biography"

The Man Who Knew Infinity

Robert kanigel.

Paul Graham: "Great biography of Ramanujan."

The Battle of Alcazar

E.w. bovill.

Paul Graham: "Excellent"

The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Arthur conan doyle.

Paul Graham: "Few thoughts happier than realizing it's been long enough since you last read the Sherlocks Holmes stories that you can read them again."

Paul Graham: "Dog Man is aimed at 5-10 year olds."

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

Bill watterson.

Paul Graham: "Watterson is like Wodehouse. Because he works in an unpretentious medium, few realize how timelessly great he is."

Hugh Popham

Paul Graham: "Hugh Popham's Sea Flight is a wonderful book.

I'm looking at the few pages left and wishing there were more."

The Quest for El Cid

Richard fletcher.

One of Paul Graham's answers to 'Are there any books on medieval history you can recommend?'

Wing Leader

Johnnie johnson.

Life in the English Country House

Mark girouard.

Flying Start

Hugh dundas.

Paul Graham: "Flying Start is a wonderful book."

Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople

Geoffrey de villehardouin.

Paul Graham: "I've read Villehardouin's chronicle of the Fourth Crusade at least two times, maybe three."

Concorde: The Inside Story

Geoffrey knight.

Paul Graham mentioned 'Concorde: The Inside Story' on Twitter.

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin

Paul Graham mentioned Charles Darwin's autobiography on Twitter.

The Confessions

Jean-jacques rousseau.

Moorish Spain

Paul Graham: "Fletcher's 'Moorish Spain' is a great book."

Maisy Mouse Collection

Lucy cousins.

Paul Graham: "My favorite books for bedtime reading to 2 year olds"

Paul Graham's answer to 'What are your favourite books with a politics very different to your own?'

Paul Graham recommended 'Born Red' on Twitter.

Leslie Patricelli

Paul Graham: "A book that will be deeply pleasing to [its] respective audience"

The Harmless People

Paul Graham: "If you want to learn more about hunter gatherers I strongly recommend Elizabeth Marshall Thomas's The Harmless People"

Fauna & Family

Paul Graham: "So good I'm reading slow to make it last."

The Fry Chronicles

Stephen fry.

Paul Graham: "As perfect as Wodehouse."

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen

Jane austen.

Paul Graham's answer to 'Examples of books that you reread years later, & found to be much better?'

The Inimitable Jeeves

Paul Graham's answer to 'Which P. G. Wodehouse book do you recommend?'

The Spectator

Joseph addison.

Paul Graham mentioned reading this book on Twitter.

Diocletian and the Roman Recovery

Stephen williams.

Paul Graham: "One of the best books about the late 3rd century"

The Gallic Wars

Julius caesar.

Sunset at Blandings

P.g. wodehouse.

Paul Graham: "The writing in the novel Wodehouse left unfinished when he died at 93 is crisp as ever."

With the Old Breed

E. b. sledge.

Paul Graham: "Read this book"

The Copernican Revolution

Thomas s. kuhn.

Paul Graham: "Kuhn was surely most influenced by the Copernican Revolution. Excellent book incidentally."

Harry Potter

J.k. rowling.

Paul Graham mentioned the Harry Potter collection on Twitter.

Moab Is My Washpot

Paul Graham's answer to 'Which Stephen Fry book do you recommend?'

Memoirs of My Life

Edward gibbon.

Paul Graham mentioned Edward Gibbon's autobiography on Twitter.

The Oxford History of Britain: Roman and Anglo-Saxon Britain

Peter salway.

Paul Graham: "Salway and Blair's 'Roman and Anglo-Saxon Britain' is really excellent."

The New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History

Colin mcevedy.

Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy

Michael baxandall.

The Golden Trade of the Moors

E. w. bovill.

My Forty Years with Ford

Charles e sorensen.

Paul Graham: "I particularly liked Sorensen's My Forty Years with Ford ."

The Gun Seller

Hugh laurie.

Good Night, Little Bear

Patsy scarry.

Paul Graham: "I loved that book"

The Conquest of Gaul

Paul Graham: "One of my favorite autobiographical works"

The Persian Expedition

I Want To Be A Mathematician

Paul halmos.

Paul Graham: "Paul Halmos's autobiography, I Want to Be a Mathematician, is a very pleasing book.

I don't understand all the math, but it's clear he'd be an amusing guy to know."

From Galileo to Newton

A. rupert hall.

Paul Graham: "One of the best books I've read on the history of science"

Sailing Alone Around The World

Joshua slocum.

Paul Graham: "Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World is great.

As well as being the first to sail single-handed around the world, he writes with such humor and directness that this may also be the best book on sailing period."

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On Paul Graham

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• Post date September 28, 2017

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Paul Graham

About the author.

Paul Graham (born 13 November 1964) is an English computer scientist, venture capitalist, and essayist. He is known for his work on Lisp, for co-founding Viaweb (which eventually became Yahoo! Store), and for co-founding the Y Combinator seed capital firm. He is the author of some programming books, such as: On Lisp (1993), ANSI Common Lisp (1995), and Hackers & Painters (2004). Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Crédit photo: Sarah Harlin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Paul Graham’s Journey: A Biography of a Tech Visionary

A Quick Biography of Paul Graham Key Points and Facts Timeline Life Lessons Questions and Answers Featured Video

The Life Story of Paul Graham

Paul Graham: A Journey of Determination, Innovation, and Success

Paul Graham, born November 13, 1964, in Weymouth, Dorset, England, is renowned as a programmer, writer, and co-founder of Y Combinator.

Paul holds dual citizenship in Britain and America and has significantly contributed to technology, entrepreneurship, and philosophy.

Educational Pursuits

Graham’s academic journey was diverse and impressive. He attended Gateway High School and received a BA from Cornell University in 1986.

Paul’s passion for learning didn’t stop there, as he further pursued an MS and PhD in Computer Science from Harvard University. Interestingly, Graham also explored his artistic side, studying painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence.

“Everyone by now presumably knows about the danger of premature optimization. I think we should be just as worried about premature design – designing too early what a program should do.” ~ Paul Graham

Professional Milestones

In 1996, Graham co-founded Viaweb, a pioneering step in online commerce, which was later sold to Yahoo! in 1998. His work on the Lisp programming language and insightful tech essays have been highly influential.

In 2005, he co-founded Y Combinator, a startup accelerator that has been a launchpad for numerous successful startups.

Graham is also the creator of the Hacker News web forum and an author of several programming books, earning him the title of “hacker philosopher” by journalist Steven Levy.

Innovations and Contributions

Graham’s contributions to programming are noteworthy. He developed a new dialect of Lisp named Arc, released in 2008. He proposed Graham’s hierarchy of disagreement in his essay “How to Disagree.”

In 2019, he announced another dialect of Lisp named Bel, showcasing his ongoing commitment to programming innovation.

“It’s hard to say exactly what it is about face-to-face contact that makes deals happen, but whatever it is, it hasn’t yet been duplicated by technology.” ~ Paul Graham

Impact and Recognition

His influence in the tech world was recognized in BusinessWeek’s 2008 edition of The 25 Most Influential People on the Web.

Graham also took a stand against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2011, demonstrating his commitment to internet freedom.

Personal Life

Graham married Jessica Livingston in 2008, marking a significant personal milestone.

“Small-business customers are very conservative and very cheap. We don’t have to explain ourselves for the most part.” ~ Paul Graham

Early Decision and Its Impact

At 13, Graham decided to stop watching TV, a choice reflecting his desire for achievement. This early decision was pivotal in his life, setting the stage for his future success.

Philosophy on Achievement

Graham’s philosophy is grounded in hard work. He believes in a self-driven compulsion to work hard, a principle he adhered to from his early days.

“What I tell founders is not to sweat the business model too much at first. The most important task at first is to build something people want. If you don’t do that, it won’t matter how clever your business model is.” ~ Paul Graham

Differentiating Work Goals

Unlike the structured goals of formal education, Graham learned to work toward goals that are neither clearly defined nor externally imposed, a mindset essential for pursuing “great things.”

Work Ethic and Attitude

Graham’s strong work ethic is evident in his discomfort with inactivity. He associates hard work with progress, a belief that has guided his personal and professional life.

“If you really understand something, you can say it in the fewest words, instead of thrashing about.” ~ Paul Graham

Examples of Success

To illustrate his principles, Graham often cites high achievers like Bill Gates , Lionel Messi, and writer P. G. Wodehouse. These examples demonstrate the universal applicability of his philosophy.

Critical Perspectives

While Graham’s path to success is inspiring, Stanford University professor Robert Sutton reminds us that it may not be universally applicable.

Psychologist Mary Karapetian Alvord adds that balance in life is crucial for resilience and happiness.

Work Limitations and Quality

Graham acknowledges the limits to productive work, noting that quality declines beyond a certain point. This varies by individual and the nature of the work.

Background and Multifaceted Career

Graham’s career spans technology, entrepreneurship, and art, showcasing his ability to navigate and unify diverse fields.

Dichotomy of Interests

His life combines technology and art, reflecting his multifaceted interests and talents.

Philosophy of Determination and Success

Graham emphasizes determination as a crucial predictor of success, breaking it down into willfulness, discipline, and ambition.

Hard Work and its Components

He believes in integrating natural ability, practice, and effort. He stresses the importance of engaging in work that genuinely interests you.

Wealth Creation Graham’s insights on wealth creation involve understanding technological shifts and the evolution of wealth sources over time.

“There are plenty of smart people who get nowhere.” ~ Paul Graham

Startup Success

He identifies starting with good people, making something customers want, and frugality as critical elements of startup success.

Programming Insights

Graham advises aspiring programmers to gain hands-on experience, work on engaging projects, and learn by modifying existing programs.

Art and Programming

He parallels hacking and painting, emphasizing creativity and empathy for the audience in both fields.

Personal Development

Graham’s journey reflects continuous learning and balancing diverse interests, a testament to his philosophy and achievements.

Paul Graham’s story is about determination, innovation, and multifaceted success.

His journey from an early decision to forego television to becoming a key figure in the tech world illustrates the power of hard work, passion, and continuous learning.

Graham’s life is a blueprint for those aspiring to make a significant impact in their chosen fields.

Key Points and Facts

Paul Graham: A Multifaceted Journey

Early Life and Education

• Born on November 13, 1964, in Weymouth, Dorset, England.
• Attended Gateway High School.
• Earned a BA from Cornell University in 1986.
• Obtained an MS and PhD in Computer Science from Harvard University.
• Studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence.

Professional Achievements

• Co-founded Viaweb in 1996, sold to Yahoo! in 1998.
• Known for his work on the Lisp programming language.
• Co-founded Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, in 2005.
• Created the Hacker News web forum.
• Authored several computer programming books.
• Recognized as a “hacker philosopher” by Steven Levy.
• Developed a new dialect of Lisp named Arc, released in 2008.
• Proposed “Graham’s hierarchy of disagreement” in his 2008 essay “How to Disagree”.
• Announced a new dialect of Lisp named Bel in 2019.
• Included in BusinessWeek’s 2008 edition of The 25 Most Influential People on the Web.
• Opposed the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2011.
• Married Jessica Livingston in 2008.

Philosophy on Achievement and Hard Work

• At 13, decided to stop watching TV, indicating a focus on productivity and success.
• Emphasizes hard work and self-driven compulsion for success.
• Advocates working towards self-set, undefined goals.
• Believes in the importance of constant hard work and progress.
• Cites examples like Bill Gates and Lionel Messi to illustrate his principles.
• Acknowledges limits to productive work, varying by individual and task.

Critical Perspectives and Balance

• Robert Sutton of Stanford University suggests Graham’s success path may not suit everyone.
• Psychologist Mary Karapetian Alvord emphasizes the importance of balance in life.

A Multidisciplinary Approach

• Graham’s career includes technology, entrepreneurship, and art.
• Integrates technology and art, showcasing a blend of interests.
• Believes in determination as a crucial success factor.
• Views hard work as a combination of ability, practice, and interest.
• Differentiates between creating money and creating value.
• Attributes startup success to good people, customer-oriented products, and frugality.
• Links programming to hands-on experience and engagement.
• Draws parallels between hacking and painting, highlighting creativity and audience empathy.

Personal Development and Continuous Learning

• Graham’s journey reflects learning, adaptation, and balancing diverse interests.
• His philosophy and achievements offer insights into personal and professional growth.

Paul Graham

• Born : November 13, in Weymouth, Dorset, England.

Early Years (No specific date mentioned)

• Early Decision : Decided to stop watching TV at age 13, marking a shift in focus towards achievement.
• Education : Graduated with a BA from Cornell University.

Post-1986 (Exact dates not specified)

• Further Education : Completed an MS and PhD in Computer Science from Harvard University.
• Artistic Pursuits : Studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence.
• Entrepreneurial Venture : Co-founded Viaweb.
• Business Success : Sold Viaweb to Yahoo!
• Innovation in Entrepreneurship : Co-founded Y Combinator, a startup accelerator.
• Marriage : Wed Jessica Livingston.
• Innovation : Released a new Lisp dialect named Arc.
• Publication : Wrote the essay “How to Disagree”, proposing Graham’s hierarchy of disagreement.
• Recognition : Featured in BusinessWeek’s “The 25 Most Influential People on the Web”.
• Activism : Publicly opposed the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
• Continued Innovation : Announced a new Lisp dialect named Bel.

Throughout Life

• Emphasized hard work as a key to success.
• Advocated for self-driven goals and continuous hard work.
• Stressed the importance of balance between hard work and other life aspects.
• Highlighted the value of working on personal interests and being honest with oneself.
• Discussed the interplay between art and programming, focusing on creativity and empathy.

Professional and Personal Development

• Career Span : Technology, entrepreneurship, and art.
• Skills : Continuously learned and adapted across different fields.
• Philosophy : Emphasized determination, hard work, and the creation of value.

Paul Graham: Lessons from His Life

The Power of Focus

• Early Decision : At just 13, Paul Graham chose to stop watching TV. This wasn’t just a small change; it was a big step towards his future success. For young learners, this shows how focusing on what’s important and cutting out distractions can lead to great achievements. Like Graham, if you want to do something big, start by focusing on your goals and reducing distractions.

Hard Work and Self-Motivation

• Philosophy on Achievement : Graham believes that hard work is key to success. He didn’t wait for someone to tell him to work hard; he chose to do it himself. This teaches us that to be successful, it’s not enough to just do what you’re told. You need to push yourself, set your own goals, and go after them with everything you’ve got. Whether it’s in school, sports, or hobbies, being self-motivated and working hard can take you far.

Blending Interests for Innovation

• Dichotomy of Interests : Graham wasn’t just a programmer; he was also into art. He showed that you don’t have to stick to just one thing. You can be good at science and love painting or be a math whiz and a soccer star. By combining different interests, like Graham did with technology and art, you can come up with new, creative ideas and see the world in unique ways. Don’t limit yourself – explore all your interests and see where they take you!

Frequently Asked Questions About Paul Graham

When and Where Was Paul Graham Born?

• Answer : Paul Graham was born on November 13, 1964, in Weymouth, Dorset, England.

What Is Paul Graham Known For?

• Answer : He is known for being the co-founder of Viaweb and Y Combinator, a notable programmer especially for his work with the Lisp programming language, and an author of essays and books on technology. He is also recognized for creating the Hacker News web forum.

What Are Some of Paul Graham’s Major Professional Achievements?

• Co-founded Viaweb in 1996, which he later sold to Yahoo! in 1998.
• Co-founded the influential startup accelerator Y Combinator in 2005.
• Developed a new dialect of Lisp named Arc in 2008.
• Authored several influential essays and books on computer programming and technology.

What Is Paul Graham’s Educational Background?

• Answer : Paul Graham attended Gateway High School, received a BA from Cornell University in 1986, and then completed an MS and PhD in Computer Science from Harvard University. Additionally, he studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence.

Did Paul Graham Have Any Other Interests Apart From Technology?

• Answer : Yes, Graham also had a strong interest in art. He studied painting and often integrates his artistic perspective into his technological and entrepreneurial endeavors, showing a unique blend of technology and art.

How Has Paul Graham Contributed to the Field of Programming?

• Answer : Apart from his work on Lisp, Paul Graham has been influential in programming through his essays, books, and the creation of Hacker News. He also developed programming languages like Arc and Bel, contributing to the evolution of programming language design.

What Is Paul Graham’s Philosophy on Work and Success?

• Answer : Graham emphasizes hard work, determination, and self-motivation as keys to success. He believes in the importance of working towards self-set, challenging goals and having a strong work ethic.

Has Paul Graham Received Any Notable Recognitions?

• Answer : Yes, he was included in BusinessWeek’s 2008 edition of The 25 Most Influential People on the Web and is widely recognized as a “hacker philosopher” by technology journalist Steven Levy.

What Personal Beliefs Does Paul Graham Hold About Work and Life?

• Answer : Graham believes in the importance of balance in life, acknowledging the limits to productive work. He also values the role of personal interests and honesty in one’s work, and stresses the importance of creativity and empathy, drawing parallels between hacking and painting.

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References:

Paul Graham (programmer) – Wikipedia

What investor Paul Graham learned about achieving ‘great things’ 

Paul Graham: On Determination & Success, Hard Work, Wealth Creation, Startups, Programming and Art. — Play For Thoughts

Gabor Cselle , CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Paul Graham Quotes

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Paul Auster, American author of The New York Trilogy, dies aged 77

The writer of The New York Trilogy, Leviathan and 4 3 2 1 – known for his stylised postmodernist fiction – has died from complications of lung cancer

‘A literary voice for the ages’: Paul Auster remembered by Ian McEwan, Joyce Carol Oates and more

Paul Auster – a life in quotes

Paul Auster – a life in pictures

Paul Auster, the author of 34 books including the acclaimed New York Trilogy, has died aged 77.

The author died on Tuesday due to complications from lung cancer, his friend and fellow author Jacki Lyden confirmed to the Guardian.

Auster became known for his “highly stylised, quirkily riddlesome postmodernist fiction in which narrators are rarely other than unreliable and the bedrock of plot is continually shifting,” the novelist Joyce Carol Oates wrote in 2010.

His stories often play with themes of coincidence, chance and fate. Many of his protagonists are writers themselves, and his body of work is self-referential, with characters from early novels appearing again in later ones.

“Auster has established one of the most distinctive niches in contemporary literature,” wrote critic Michael Dirda in 2008. “His narrative voice is as hypnotic as that of the Ancient Mariner. Start one of his books and by page two you cannot choose but hear.”

The author was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1947. According to Auster, his writing life began at the age of eight when he missed out on getting an autograph from his baseball hero, Willie Mays, because neither he nor his parents had carried a pencil to the game. From then on, he took a pencil everywhere. “If there’s a pencil in your pocket, there’s a good chance that one day you’ll feel tempted to start using it,” he wrote in a 1995 essay .

While hiking during a summer camp aged 14, Auster witnessed a boy inches away from him getting struck by lightning and dying instantly – an event that he said “absolutely changed” his life and that he thought about “every day”. Chance, “understandably, became a recurring theme in his fiction,” wrote the critic Laura Miller in 2017. A similar incident occurs in Auster’s 2017 Booker-shortlisted novel 4 3 2 1: one of the book’s four versions of protagonist Archie Ferguson runs under a tree at a summer camp and is killed by a falling branch when lightning strikes.

Auster studied at Columbia University before moving to Paris in the early 1970s, where he worked a variety of jobs, including translation, and lived with his “on-again off-again” girlfriend, the writer Lydia Davis, whom he had met while at college. In 1974, they returned to the US and married. In 1977, the couple had a son, Daniel, but separated shortly afterwards.

In January 1979, Auster’s father, Samuel, died, and the event became the seed for the writer’s first memoir, The Invention of Solitude, published in 1982. In it, Auster revealed that his paternal grandfather was shot and killed by his grandmother, who was acquitted on grounds of insanity. “A boy cannot live through this kind of thing without being affected by it as a man,” Auster wrote in reference to his father, with whom he described himself having an “un-movable relationship, cut off from each other on opposite sides of a wall”.

Auster’s breakthrough came with the 1985 publication of City of Glass, the first novel in his New York trilogy. While the books are ostensibly mystery stories, Auster wielded the form to ask existential questions about identity. “The more [Auster’s detectives] stalk their eccentric quarry, the more they seem actually to be stalking the Big Questions – the implications of authorship, the enigmas of epistemology, the veils and masks of language,” wrote the critic and screenwriter Stephen Schiff in 1987.

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Auster published regularly throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s, writing more than a dozen novels including Moon Palace (1989), The Music of Chance (1990), The Book of Illusions (2002) and Oracle Night (2003). He also became involved in film, writing the screenplay for Smoke, directed by Wayne Wang, for which he won the Independent Spirit award for best first screenplay in 1995.

In 1981, Auster met the writer Siri Hustvedt and they married the following year. In 1987 they had a daughter, Sophie, who became a singer and actor. Auster’s 1992 novel Leviathan, about a man who accidentally blows himself up, features a character called Iris Vegan, who is the heroine of Hustvedt’s first novel, The Blindfold.

Auster was better known in Europe than in his native United States: “Merely a bestselling author in these parts,” read a 2007 New York magazine article , “Auster is a rock star in Paris.” In 2006, he was awarded Spain’s Prince of Asturias prize for literature, and in 1993 he was given the Prix Médicis Étranger for Leviathan. He was also a Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

In April 2022, Auster and Davis’s son, Daniel, died from a drug overdose. In March 2023, Hustvedt revealed that Auster was being treated for cancer after having been diagnosed the previous December. His final novel, Baumgartner, about a widowed septuagenarian writer, was published in October.

Auster is survived by Hustvedt, their daughter Sophie Auster, his sister Janet Auster, and a grandson.

• Paul Auster

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