Read

A curated collection of books and articles that have shaped my thinking on technology, innovation, and the future.

Currently Reading

3 Books in Progress
AI & Technology Focus

The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings

by Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski

Currently Reading
Literature Biography History

A comprehensive group biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams—the Inklings. This book explores how these friends, and eventually legends, met weekly in Oxford pubs to discuss literature, religion, and ideas.

Insights So Far

  • The profound influence of WWI on Tolkien and Lewis's worldviews and writings
  • The weekly meetings at the Eagle and Child pub shaped modern fantasy literature
  • The intersection of faith, mythology, and literature in their works

Fire on the Prairie: Harold Washington, Chicago Politics, and the Roots of the Obama Presidency

by Gary Rivlin

Currently Reading
Politics History Chicago

A compelling account of Harold Washington's historic mayoral victory and its impact on Chicago's political landscape. The book explores how Washington's election as Chicago's first Black mayor transformed the city's politics and laid groundwork for future progressive movements.

Insights So Far

  • The complex racial and political dynamics of 1980s Chicago
  • Washington's coalition-building strategies and grassroots organizing
  • The lasting impact on Chicago's political landscape

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig

Currently Reading
AI Computer Science Technology

The leading textbook in Artificial Intelligence, used in over 1500 universities in over 135 countries. The text provides a modern, comprehensive introduction to the field of artificial intelligence, covering both the foundational theory and modern developments in AI.

Insights So Far

  • The fundamental principles of intelligent agent design
  • Different approaches to problem-solving in AI systems
  • The relationship between probability theory and AI reasoning

Book Collection

9 Books Read

Build

by Tony Fadell

March 2025
Innovation Leadership Product Design

An unorthodox guide to making things worth making from the creator of the iPod and iPhone. Fadell shares his framework for building products, with valuable insights from his time at Apple and as the founder of Nest.

Key Takeaways

  • The importance of challenging conventional wisdom in product development
  • How to build and lead effective teams focused on innovation
  • Strategies for overcoming obstacles and turning failures into opportunities

How to Create a Mind

by Ray Kurzweil

March 2025
AI Neuroscience Consciousness

Kurzweil explores the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, proposing a theory about how the human brain works and how we might replicate its capabilities.

Key Takeaways

  • The pattern recognition theory of mind
  • Hierarchical organization of brain function
  • Potential pathways to artificial general intelligence

On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything

by Nate Silver

March 2025
Risk Decision Making Innovation

A fascinating exploration of risk-taking and decision-making in various fields, from gambling to technology startups, examining how successful innovators and entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty and make high-stakes decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • The psychology of risk-taking and innovation
  • How successful entrepreneurs evaluate and manage risk
  • The balance between calculated risks and reckless gambles

Rule of the Robots

by Martin Ford

February 2025
AI Technology Future

A comprehensive exploration of how AI will transform every aspect of our lives, from the economy to healthcare. Ford presents both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as AI becomes increasingly sophisticated.

Key Takeaways

  • AI's impact on the job market will be transformative but not apocalyptic
  • The need for new economic and social models to adapt to AI-driven change
  • The importance of ethical considerations in AI development

Churchill: Walking with Destiny

by Andrew Roberts

February 2025
History Biography Leadership

A comprehensive biography of Winston Churchill, drawing on extensive new materials to illuminate the character and leadership of one of history's most significant figures.

Key Takeaways

  • The importance of resilience in leadership
  • Decision-making during crisis
  • The power of communication and rhetoric

Genesis

by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher

January 2025
Society Policy

A profound exploration of how AI will reshape human society, examining its implications for knowledge, politics, and human identity. The authors bring together perspectives from policy, technology, and academia.

Key Takeaways

  • AI's impact on global order and governance
  • The transformation of human knowledge and decision-making
  • Balancing innovation with ethical considerations

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

by Gabrielle Zevin

January 2025
Fiction Technology Relationships

A captivating novel about the friendship between two creative partners who build worlds in video games, exploring themes of collaboration, creativity, and human connection in the digital age.

Key Takeaways

  • The intersection of art and technology
  • The complexity of creative partnerships
  • The evolution of digital storytelling

This Is a Prototype

by Scott Witthoft

December 2024
Design Innovation Creativity

A comprehensive guide to the curious craft of exploring new ideas through prototyping. The book reveals how prototypes - anything you make to help reveal what you might be missing - can help you investigate what could, should, or would come next in your projects.

Key Takeaways

  • The what, why, and how of building effective prototypes
  • Testing future possibilities through practical experimentation
  • Applying prototyping methodology to any creative endeavor

The Big Short

by Michael Lewis

December 2024
Finance Economics History

A compelling account of the 2008 financial crisis, following the stories of those who saw it coming and profited from the collapse of the housing market.

Key Takeaways

  • The complexity of financial markets
  • The role of incentives in decision-making
  • The importance of questioning conventional wisdom

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

by Jonathan Haidt

November 2024
Psychology Mental Health Digital Culture

A groundbreaking investigation into how smartphones and social media have rewired childhood, leading to an unprecedented crisis in adolescent mental health. Haidt examines the dramatic changes in how children grow up and offers solutions for parents and society.

Key Takeaways

  • The impact of digital technology on child development
  • Understanding the roots of the youth mental health crisis
  • Practical solutions for families and communities

Thinking, Fast and Slow

by Daniel Kahneman

November 2011
Psychology Decision Making Behavioral Economics

Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman's groundbreaking exploration of the two systems that drive the way we think: the fast, intuitive, and emotional System 1, and the slower, more deliberative System 2.

Key Takeaways

  • The distinction between automatic and effortful mental processes
  • How cognitive biases affect our daily decision-making
  • The role of heuristics in judgment under uncertainty

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