When comparing :59 Seconds vs How to Read a Book, the Slant community recommends How to Read a Book for most people. In the question“What are the best non-programming books programmers should read?” How to Read a Book is ranked 3rd while :59 Seconds is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose How to Read a Book is:
Quote from the book: "Reading, like unaided discovery, is learning from an absent teacher. We can only do that successfully if we know how." - chapter 2 The Levels of Reading.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Programmer-friendly
Clear, logical, well laid out, whilst including well-told stories.
Reasonable contents/summary section at the start.
Available both in dead tree and kindle formats.
Pro Entertaining
A good read to dip in to.
Pro Backed up by evidence
Every piece of advice is backed up by evidence from peer-reviewed studies that are clearly referenced.
Pro Easy to follow
Split into manageable chapters, with clear, brief summaries than you can genuinely use in under a minute.
Pro Allows for understanding of comprehension in order read and retain any other books
Quote from the book: "Reading, like unaided discovery, is learning from an absent teacher. We can only do that successfully if we know how." - chapter 2 The Levels of Reading.