"Nonetheless, I think it a wise thing for an aspiring rationalist to read at least one book of Buddhist or Taoist or Zen philosophy - preferably a book in its original English, recommended to you by some mathematician or programmer or scientist."
Can you mention a book that you recommend or was recommended to you by a mathematician or programmer or scientist?
I'm not a mathematician or a programmer or a scientist, but I really enjoyed Raymond Smullyan's The Tao is Silent.
2endoself
There's also a chance he was implying Gödel, Escher, Bach; he has recommended it very strongly in a number of other places.
EDIT: The Tao is silent seems to fit better, but I'm leaving this comment up in case it gets someone to read GEB.
5fiddlemath
I heartily recommend Smullyan's "The Tao is Silent." Also, Smullyan's Planet Without Laughter.
I am a mathematician or programmer or scientist, though I cannot tell which.
"Nonetheless, I think it a wise thing for an aspiring rationalist to read at least one book of Buddhist or Taoist or Zen philosophy - preferably a book in its original English, recommended to you by some mathematician or programmer or scientist."
Can you mention a book that you recommend or was recommended to you by a mathematician or programmer or scientist?