My love for books
#Science: Anaximander
Anaximander: And the Nature of Science by Carlo Rovelli examines the contributions of Anaximander of Miletus, a pre-Socratic philosopher from the 6th century BCE, highlighting his role in the early development of scientific thought. Rovelli, a theoretical physicist, emphasizes Anaximander’s revolutionary ideas, such as the concept of Earth floating unsupported in space and the naturalistic explanations of meteorological phenomena, which marked a departure from mythological interpretations.
#Business: The Startup Way
The Startup Way: How Entrepreneurial Management Transforms Culture and Drives Growth by Eric Ries builds on the principles of his earlier work, “The Lean Startup,” to demonstrate how entrepreneurial practices can be applied in organizations of any size to foster innovation and drive sustainable growth. I praise its practical insights. Despite this, the book’s valuable lessons on integrating entrepreneurial management into corporate culture make it a compelling read for business leaders and innovators seeking transformative strategies.
#AI: The Atomic Human
Neil D. Lawrence’s The Atomic Human: Understanding Ourselves in the Age of AI is like a brainy cocktail party where AI, philosophy, and a pinch of humor mingle effortlessly. It’s a thought-provoking guide to understanding our tech-driven evolution, wrapped up in prose as sharp as a neural network’s wit. He artfully balances complex concepts with accessible language, making the book a must-read for both tech enthusiasts and casual readers interested in the future of human identity.
#Ethics: Unmasking AI
Joy Buolamwini’s Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines is like a gripping detective novel where the villains are biased algorithms and our heroine is on a mission to save humanity from digital dystopia. With a blend of heart and hard facts, it’s a wake-up call to ensure our future tech doesn’t come with a side of injustice. Buolamwini, a renowned advocate for algorithmic fairness, delves into the biases embedded within AI systems and their impact on marginalized communities.
#Ethics: Atlas of AI
Kate Crawford’s Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence is like a meticulously charted map that guides you through the hidden terrains of AI’s global footprint. With sharp wit and keen insight, Crawford exposes the dirty secrets behind our shiny algorithms, making it clear that our smartest tech might just come with the dumbest environmental costs Through incisive analysis and compelling narratives, she reveals how AI technologies shape and are shaped by global politics and economic interests, urging readers to reconsider the true cost of technological advancement.
#Management: No Rules Rules
“No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention” is like binge-watching a masterclass on disruption and daring corporate culture, where Netflix’s success script reads more like a thriller than a business manual. Hastings and Meyer spill the tea on how Netflix ditched the rulebook to redefine the entertainment game. It’s a wild ride of candid feedback, freedom with accountability, and a “keeper test” that could make even the boldest CEOs break a sweat. Perfect for those who love their business insights with a side of audacity and a twist of reinvention!
#Climate: Termination Shock
Neal Stephenson’s Termination Shock is a rollercoaster of climate crises and geoengineering gambles, where every page threatens to melt your mind faster than the polar ice caps. With depth and flair, it’s a speculative saga that’s equal parts cautionary tale and wild adventure, perfect for those who like their sci-fi shaken, not stirred. Stephenson’s trademark blend of meticulous research, grand ideas, and vivid storytelling creates a thrilling and thought-provoking ride through a world teetering on the edge of ecological disaster.
#Policy: Why Nations Fail
“Why Nations Fail” dives into the deep end of the economic pool and comes up with the conclusion that it’s not geography, culture, or ignorance dragging countries down—it’s their institutions. With a witty blend of historical anecdotes and economic analysis, Acemoglu and Robinson argue that nations thrive when they have inclusive institutions that spread the economic pie, but crumble when extractive institutions eat the pie all by themselves. As they put it, “Prosperity has never trickled down from the elite to the people.” In essence, it’s all about who gets to hold the pie and who decides on the size of the slices.
#Policy: How Civil Wars Start
In “How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them,” Barbara F. Walter serves up a sobering look at the recipe for civil strife with the precision of a seasoned chef. She mixes equal parts history, political science, and current events, seasoning it with insights into how the simmering pot of national discontent can boil over into full-blown conflict. Walter suggests that the ingredients for civil wars are more common than we think, lurking in the pantry of nearly every nation. With a dash of wit, she warns, “It’s not just the failed states that need to worry; it’s the seemingly stable ones too.” The book is a call to action: to recognize the warning signs early and turn down the heat before the pot spills over.
#Culture: Brit(ish)
In “Brit(ish): On Race, Identity, and Belonging,” Afua Hirsch whips up a potent brew of personal memoir, historical insight, and cultural critique to challenge the United Kingdom’s sometimes rosy view of its racial and cultural identity. Stirring the pot of British history with her own experiences, Hirsch serves a dish that’s part introspection, part investigation, questioning what it means to be British in a society that’s still coming to terms with its imperial past and multicultural present. With the sharpness of a historian and the wit of a commentator who’s lived the narrative, she observes, “You’re British. Your parents are British. Your partner, your children, and most of your friends are British. So why do people keep asking you where you are from?” Hirsch’s book is a hearty meal, offering much to digest about race, identity, and the quest for belonging in a land of contradictions.
#History: The Sparrow
“The Sparrow,” by Mary Doria Russell, is a cosmic cocktail of sci-fi adventure and theological inquiry that takes “first contact” to a whole new, existential level. Imagine a future where Jesuit priests lead humanity’s voyage to another planet, because when you think about making friends with aliens, you definitely think of Jesuits, right? With a mix of humor and heartache, the book dives deep into the implications of meeting the otherworldly, only to find that the heavens might not be as heavenly as expected. As Russell wittily points out, “It was a better time for being lost than for being found,” the novel weaves a tale of discovery, faith, and the consequences of playing God far from home, proving that the path to understanding the universe often leads straight back to understanding ourselves.
#Jokes: My Sister, the Serial Killer
“My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite slices through the usual thriller genre with sharp wit and a killer plot, presenting a story of sibling rivalry with a deadly twist. In this darkly humorous tale set in Lagos, Nigeria, we follow Korede, whose loyalty to her sister Ayoola (a fashion-forward black widow with an inconvenient habit of dispatching her boyfriends) is tested when love and complicity in crime collide. With cleaning supplies in one hand and moral quandaries in the other, Korede must navigate the bloody waters of family loyalty and personal ethics. Braithwaite quips, “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history,” and this story does just that, unraveling a family’s narrative thread by bloody thread. It’s a story that proves sometimes the most dangerous thing about a knife is who’s holding it, especially if she’s your sister.
#About-girls: Seveneves
“Seveneves” by Neal Stephenson launches humanity into orbit with the moon’s sudden and inexplicable disintegration, giving Earth’s inhabitants a two-year eviction notice before the surface becomes a meteorite-ridden hellscape. What follows is a scramble to send as many people and as much of human knowledge into space to ensure the species’ survival. Through a blend of mind-boggling science, political squabbles, and cultural clashes, Stephenson crafts a tale of resilience, ingenuity, and the unyielding human spirit to adapt and survive. As Stephenson puts it, “It’s a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what.” So strap in for a story where humanity lies on the brink, and survival hinges not just on technological prowess, but on deciphering truth from deception in the vacuum of space.
#About-a-girl: Drakula
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker sinks its teeth into the tale of the infamous Count Dracula, whose real estate ventures in London and peculiar dietary preferences spark a supernatural investigation by a group of determined (and delicious) humans. Stoker’s novel flits across the foggy landscape of Victorian England and the eerie corners of the Carpathian Mountains, weaving a story of love, blood, and the timeless struggle against the very fashionable undead. With a memorable cast of characters, including the stouthearted Van Helsing and the ever-resourceful Mina Harker, the novel proves that while “there are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights,” sometimes those lights need to carry a stake, a crucifix, and a hefty dose of garlic.
#TheWorld: For the Love of Physics
In “For the Love of Physics,” Walter Lewin takes readers on a roller coaster ride through the amusement park of physics, where the attractions range from the mesmerizing dance of rainbows to the mind-bending edges of time and space. With the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store, Lewin reveals the magic behind the mundane and the extraordinary principles governing the universe. He demonstrates that physics isn’t just for boffins in lab coats; it’s for anyone who’s ever wondered why the sky is blue or how a black hole works. As Lewin puts it, “Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.” This book is an invitation to fall in love with the laws of nature and see the world with new, wonder-filled eyes.
#Behaviour: Nonviolent Communication
“Nonviolent Communication” by Marshall B. Rosenberg is essentially the Swiss Army knife for anyone looking to upgrade their relationship toolkit without adding ‘mind reader’ to their resume. Rosenberg guides readers through the art of communicating without turning conversations into a verbal WWE match. It’s all about expressing yourself clearly, listening with empathy, and transforming potential conflicts into peaceful dialogues. Imagine talking to someone without the conversation ending in a door slam – that’s the promise here. As Rosenberg eloquently puts it, “Words are windows, or they’re walls.” This book is your personal contractor in breaking down those walls and installing some pretty large windows, ensuring your relationships are built on a foundation of understanding, not assumption.
#Reflection: Klara and the Sun
In “Klara and the Sun,” Kazuo Ishiguro invites us into the observant and earnest mind of Klara, an Artificial Friend with unparalleled people-watching skills, as she navigates the complexities of human emotions and societal nuances from her perch in a store window. Ishiguro, a master of the understated, paints a future where technology threads seamlessly into the fabric of everyday life, asking profound questions about love, duty, and the human soul through the eyes of a solar-powered android. Klara’s journey from retail to real life explores the boundaries of artificial intelligence and the unquantifiable elements of the human heart. As Klara herself notes, “I believe I have many feelings. The more I observe, the more feelings become available to me.” Ishiguro’s novel, luminous with gentle insights and observations, proves that the sun isn’t the only source of energy that gives life—it’s also the connections we forge, the love we share, and the hope we hold for one another.
#Engeneering: Project Hail Mary
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir is a cosmic cocktail of interstellar intrigue, mixing a pinch of amnesia, a dash of doom, and a generous pour of science, shaken not stirred. Ryland Grace wakes up millions of miles from Earth with two dead crewmates, no memory, and the fate of humanity resting on his bewildered shoulders. As he pieces together his mission to save Earth from an extinction-level threat, Grace finds that space isn’t just the final frontier, but also the ultimate puzzle. Weir crafts a tale that’s as much about rediscovering one’s purpose as it is about solving cosmic mysteries, proving that “the power of friendship isn’t just a cheesy line from a kid’s show… It’s real.” In a story where the stakes are as high as the laughs are frequent, Weir demonstrates that science, humor, and human resilience are a winning combination for any galaxy-saving endeavor.
