The originally submitted URL now redirects to the address above. Updating the destination does not change the item’s HN history, Hall membership, or rank.
Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderFor us the main indication of impending doom is when we don't hear from you. When we haven't heard from, or about, a startup for a couple months, that's a bad sign. If we send them an email asking what's up, and they don't reply, that's a really bad sign. So far that is a 100% accurate predictor of death. Can someone at YC comment on if this is still a good proxy for startup failure? From a personal perspective…
I will say it plainly: This is the most influential, well written essay I have ever read. It hit a chord very deep with me..
I am finishing up my PhD and I have a very direct analogy to what PG mentions. There are multiple research groups with different success rates and what I have noticed is groups with extremes are not doing that well. By extremes I mean professors who try to micromanage and get a daily update and professors who do not care at all. In my group, we have a biweekly meeting for everyone to present what they did in 2 weeks…
Very true what Paul says here. I have created two companies on my own(backed companied from others). The first one was Hell, nobody believed in us or the idea, everyone believed I was crazy, and after fighting and loosing battles a lot I also(my subconscious mind) started believing it!!(I had trained it in failure) But then it turns out it was a brilliant idea after all. We were the first surprised to see that in the end it worked even…
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 3
- Total points
- 840
- Total comments
- 351
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08-30 | How Not to DieFirst breakout | subhash | 169 | 143 |
| 2009-08-17 | How not to die | swombat | 145 | 47 |
| 2012-03-15 | How Not To Die | carlsednaoui | 2 | 0 |
| 2015-08-05 | How Not to Die (2007) | bluejellybean | 80 | 30 |
| 2016-02-17 | How Not to Die | domrdy | 2 | 0 |
| 2016-09-08 | How Not to Die (2007) | kornish | 2 | 0 |
| 2019-11-11 | How Not to Die (2007)Hall induction · Best thread · Latest 20+ point return | sellingwebsite | 428 | 130 |
| 2020-08-18 | How Not to Die (2007) | yarapavan | 1 | 0 |
| 2024-01-24 | How Not to Die | sarimkhalid | 4 | 1 |
| 2024-05-04 | How Not to Die (2007) | tosh | 2 | 0 |
| 2024-05-30 | How Not to Die (2007) | yamrzou | 3 | 0 |
| 2026-06-05 | How Not to Die (2007) | downbad_ | 2 | 0 |
