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The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Very easy to get into.
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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High is my go to. However there are so many other books that teach you how to connect with others.
this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2024
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For entry, easy to read sci-fi that is positive or utopian, I think the author Ursula K. LeGuin is an obvious choice.
Maybe start with The Dispossessed.
I'm not sure I agree that she is the most accessible to a modern reader.
Oh, that's surprising to me. I find her books simple in vocabulary and plot, but still enjoyable. What did you have in mind?
I'm not referring to simplicity of vocabulary so much as...I guess feeling like it's written in natural language? This is a problem with a lot of earlier sci-fi in general. It tends to be really good on ideas and not be especially well written when it comes to characters and relatability.
I'm sure I could think of something to recommend over it, but I have not put the thought into it at this point. I just think she is a great example of a sci-fi writer with great ideas but not the most natural and welcoming writing style.
I think I sort of get what you mean, maybe it's more like her writing isn't as entertaining, gripping, or as well paced? I hadn't really thought of that, I was mostly thinking about accessibility in terms of whether the writing was easy to read or more literary. I do sort of agree that LeGuin's works are not always so compelling as much as they are just mildly interesting.
Andy Weir's books like The Martian have more compelling characters and plot, but I worry that the overly-technical / problem-solving approach might be off-putting for general audiences.
The Martian is a little hard science for a lot of people, I agree. Great book, though.
For SF, I recommend anything by Becky Chambers. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first of her Wayfarers series.
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Not exactly utopian, but the Murderbot Diaries are a great and easy read. Not exactly SciFi, but ditto Terry Pratchett's disc world books.
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I personally found this to be very impactful (in a good way): "How to Listen: Tools for Opening Up Conversations When It Matters Most" by Katie Colombus
I saw first sci-fi and thought ooooh "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep"... but, as much as it's a great book... it is not positive by any means!
I am interested too, it's been tricky to find positive sci-fi for me, and I'd love to read some. :)
Hey, just wanted to dig in deeper about the second recommendation. The two books you mention are pop self-help books. You mentioned you wanted something about how to connect to people on a respectful level. Are your goals like learning psychological tips and tricks for navigating social situations (like knowing that people like hearing their name repeated to them, or that leaning in towards someone conveys you are engaged and listening, etc.)?
I'm not sure if I have a book recommendation, I just wanted to get clear on exactly what kind of book you wanted. I worry that pop self-help books may not be the best route to help you with your goal, whatever it is, but there might be other books that could help.
I don't really know that myself. I just don't want typical books about ingratiation or manipulation, but advice on how to communicate better and more attentive, for example by paying more attention to not offering solutions directly, but listening first, not judging, also including facial expressions and gestures, respectfully but resolutely addressing other people's misbehavior, and so on.
Interesting, let me know if you find a book on that, I would be interested too. It reminds me on research I was taught about gendered differences in communication.
I dont read Sci fi but I did read a couple of John Scalzi books: Old man's war, and Starter Villain. I recommend both!