The Ever Project

Paul Graham: The Best Essay-writer Ever

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 3 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Paul Graham notices what other's miss. He uses his experiences in art, programing and life to shine light into the crevices from which the best ideas grow.  Finally though his writing and though Y Combinator, he is willing to teach.

More about Paul Graham 

Paul Graham (born 1964) is a programmer, venture capitalist, and essayist, known for his work on Lisp. He is the author of On Lisp (1993), ANSI Common Lisp (1995), and Hackers & Painters (2004).

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The Top Five Reasons Paul Graham is the Best Essay-writer 

  • He is insightful
  • He is funny
  • He uses what he knows (programing) without leaving non-programers behind
  • He makes me think
  • He loves art and science--which makes him well rounded.

Paul Graham for the rest of us 

because not everyone can be a programmer

If you hang out in the land of computer technology of any flavor, or are interested in venture capital for internet startups, I'm sure you know about the work of Paul Graham.

If you aren't interested in any of those things, you probably don't know his work--but you should. Many of his essays are just as relevant to the rest of us.

I've chosen some of his best essays for the non-programmer below. Once you've read these you really must explore the rest on his website.
What You Can't Say
This is the essay that made me fall in love with the writing of Paul Graham. When I first read it several years ago, it changed the way I looked at what was and wasn't possible, and more importantly, what true, even though we didn't talk about it. I still go back to re-read this one on a regular basis.
Taste for Makers
Is good really just a matter of taste? Paul Graham says no--and here's why.
Why Nerds are Unpopular
Why is it that almost every successful adult was (or at least claims to have been) unpopular in high school? Paul Graham argues it's because nerds figure out fast that doing what it takes to be popular in high school just isn't worth one's time.
What You'll Wish You'd Known
If you could go back in time and talk to your high-school age self, what advice would you give yourself?
Writing, Briefly
Like what you've read so far? Finish off with tips from Paul Graham on improving your own writing.

Paul Graham Essays 

In a book--because sometimes you don't have internet access

Hackers and Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age

Hackers and Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age

by Paul Graham

Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 10/11/2008)

What is Y Combinator? 

While this lens is about Paul Graham the essayist, Y Combinator has become such a big part of who he is (and what he writes about) a discussion of his essays isn't complete without it.

Y Combinator is a seed-stage startup funding firm, started in 2005 by Paul Graham, Robert Morris, Trevor Blackwell, and Jessica Livingston. Y Combinator provides seed money, advice, and connections at two 3-month programs per year in Cambridge and Mountain View. In exchange, they take an average of about 6% of the company's equity. Unusual among startup funding firms, Y Combinator provides very little money?about $5000 + $5000 per founder. This reflects Graham's conviction that between free software, dynamic languages, the web, and Moore's Law, the cost of founding a startup has greatly dec...

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Your turn: Am I right? 

I want to hear from you! What have you learned from (or about Paul Graham)?

clouda9

Great way to jump in to ever.com...warm fuzzies to ya'!

Posted November 05, 2007
rms

Very nice work on this lens!

Posted November 01, 2007
GypsyPirate

Your lens is great - I'm convinced he's the Best Ever!

Posted November 01, 2007