Whenever I finish an interesting book, I try to write a quick summary of it here. These are often meant for myself (as I find the exercise valuable for connecting concepts and themes) and for sharing book recommendations with friends.

Technology

  • Pieces of the Action (In Progress) by Vannevar Bush
  • Ideas That Created the Future: Classic Papers of Computer Science (December 2022) edited by the MIT Press
  • The Precipice (December 2022) by Toby Ord
  • The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann (July 2022) by Ananyo Bhattacharya
    Recommended - this is less a biography and more a story of scientific and mathematical progress springing forth from genius. It doesn't shy away from or dumb down the technical minutiae of subjects such as set theory, quantum mechanics, or formal logic. Von Neumann is deserving of a far more prominent place in the public's conception of genius and innovation.
  • The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values (June 2022) by Brian Christian
  • Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (June 2022) by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig
  • The Hundred-Page Machine Learning Book (April 2022) by Andriy Burkov
  • Spark: The Definitive Guide: Big Data Processing Made Simple (O'Reilly) (February 2022) by Bill Chambers & Matei Zaharia
  • Where Is My Flying Car (January 2022) by J. Storrs Hall
    Excellent commentary on the current technological "Great Stagnation" as well as idealism about nuclear power, nanotechnology, and AI.
  • The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space (May 2021) by Gerard K. Oneil
    Initially published in 1977, this work by physicist Gerard K. Oneil influenced the blueprint for many space exploration activities in the time since - most notably SpaceX and Blue Origin. While some of the material is dated, many of the core concepts of designing and building large-scale settlements in space hold true and are fascinating to consider in light of technological advances in the time since.
  • Data Management at Scale: Best Practices for Enterprise Architecture (O'Reilly) (July 2021) by Piethein Strengholt
  • The Self-Service Data Roadmap (O'Reilly) (March 2021) by Dr. Dandeep Uttamchandani
  • Technology Strategy Patterns (O'Reilly) (February 2021) by Eben Hewett
  • Developing Data Migrations and Integrations with Salesforce: Patterns and Best Practices (August 2020) by David Masri
    Highly recommended - this is the best resource that I've found for data professionals to learn about the Salesforce technical ecosystem.
  • Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations get Stuck (May 2019)
    AI theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky mixes decision theory, philosophy, and macroeconomics to demonstrate where we can (and can't) spot systemic inefficiencies.
  • Superintelligence: Path, Dangers, and Strategies (May 2019)
    Highly recommended. This book, published in 2014, is foundational to the field of AI safety and ethics. Nick Bostrom does an exceptional job communicating theories about an abstract, technical, and futuristic field.

Sci-Fi

  • Parable of the Talents (December 2022) by Octavia Butler
  • Parable of the Sower (December 2022) by Octavia Butler
    Highly recommended series. Octavia Bulter's excellent and expressive writing forces you to viscerally feel the emotions of the main character as the book progresses.
  • The Dispossessed (November 2022) by Ursula K. Le Guinn
  • The Player of Games (Culture series) (October 2022) by Iain M. Banks
  • There Is No Antimemetics Division (August 2022) by qntm
  • Cryptonomicon (June 2022) by Neal Stephenson
  • Profiles of the Future (June 2022) by Arthur C. Clarke
    Read to be impressed by Clarke's prescient forecasts, and for a much-needed dose of optimism.
  • The Wandering Earth (June 2022) by Cixin Liu
  • Hold Up the Sky (June 2022) by Cixin Liu
  • Ball Lightening (June 2022) by Cixin Liu
  • Project Hail Mary (May 2022) by Andy Weir
  • Death's End (The Three-Body Problem series) (May 2022) by Cixin Liu
  • The Dark Forest (The Three-Body Problem series) (April 2022) by Cixin Liu
    This may be the best sci-fi book I've ever read.
  • The Three-Body Problem (April 2022) by Cixin Liu
    This series quickly became one of my favorites of all time, highly recommended. Cixin Liu has my vote for the best author of this generation.
  • The Martian (October 2021) by Andy Weir
  • Foundation's Edge (Foundation series) (July 2021) by Isaac Asimov
  • Second Foundation (Foundation series) (July 2021) by Isaac Asimov
  • Foundation and Empire (Foundation series) (July 2021) by Isaac Asimov
  • Foundation (Foundation series) (July 2021) by Isaac Asimov
  • Nemesis Games (The Expanse series) (In Progress) by James S.A. Corey
  • Cibola Burn (The Expanse series) (July 2021) by James S.A. Corey
  • Abbadon's Gate (The Expanse series) (July 2021) by James S.A. Corey
  • Caliban's War (The Expanse series) (June 2021) by James S.A. Corey
  • Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse series) (June 2021) by James S.A. Corey

Philosophy & Politics

  • The History of Western Philosophy (February 2022) by Betrand Russell
  • Camus at Combat (July 2020)
    Camus was active in the French Resistance in WWII. This book is a collection of his articles & essays written for the underground newspaper *Combat*. What I find most striking is the way in which his perspectives change over time amidst the turmoil of 1944-1947. You can observe the themes and worldview present in his novels and essay influencing his day-to-day reporting, and he simultaneously cuts through chaos to predict the future in timeless ways.
  • The War on Normal People (February 2020)
    Andrew Yang launched universal basic income to the national stage with his presidential campaign. This book exceeded my expectations - impressing that automation will have profound impacts on the workforce and structure of American society, without coming across as alarmist or apocalyptic. The book certainly cemented my belief that Mr. Yang's ideas shouldn't be lumped in with the socialist left (Bernie/AOC/DSA), as he maintains a fairly pro-capitalist mindset which should resonate with most Americans. Highly recommended.
  • China's Second Continent: How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa (January 2020)
    A fascinating look at China's global ambitions during this time of American's decline and waning influence. Howard French is a gifted storyteller, weaving interviews with ordinary individuals across Africa into a narrative of the changes taking place on the continent.
  • Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race (January 2020)
    Beautifully written and thought-provoking, no matter where you stand on political and philosophical divides. Thomas Chatterton Williams captivates as he explores self-conception, identity, and parenthood through the lens of amorphous and inconsistent racial constructs. Highly recommended.
  • Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers (November 2019)
  • Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla (December 2016)
    David Kilcullen is a counterinsurgency expert who has served in advisory roles for the Department of Defense, NATO, and the White House. This book, published in 2013, is an exploration into the future of counterinsurgency strategy and conflict studies more broadly.

Fiction and Fantasy

  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy (February-April 2021)
    Re-reading this series was a pleasure. Trust me, if you haven't read Tolkien it since grade school, it will be richer the second time around.
  • Missionaries (January 2021) by Phily Klay
  • The Stranger (October 2019)
    One of Albert Camus's most famous works. A quick read, but full of depth.
  • The Handmaid's Tale (September 2019)
    This dystopian story is over three decades old, yet sadly still relevant. Worth a read.

Miscellaneous & Non-Fiction