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Good Books for a Lousy Year

gatesnotes.com

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Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#11

Post by happy_path »

jcynix wrote: post #8
happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Your free time should be the time when you do things unrelated to your professional work. A healthy advise I got from Usenet a long time ago is that one should have a hobby unrelated to computers. That advise was given when there where no eBook readers, Smartphones or other mobile stuff. But it's still a good advise IMO as long as you use these tools for mainly recreational activities. So long note, short answer: rea…

Well, my native language is not English, so I could think that reading in English improve that language skill.

What about if I feel I'm not a good software engineer?

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#12

Post by Ma8ee »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

I certainly hope you consider yourself something more than a software engineer. As a human, living with other people in a society, reading other books will not only help you and make your life richer, but also enhance the lives of the people around you.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#13

Post by janekm »

happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Unless you're a "code monkey" being a software engineer involves using creativity, which in my experience requires giving your brain enough "downtime" as well as a broad range of inputs. Reading a broad range of books (fiction too) will give your brain the stimulus to create the connections that enable creativity.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#14

Post by happy_path »

janekm wrote: post #13
happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Unless you're a "code monkey" being a software engineer involves using creativity, which in my experience requires giving your brain enough "downtime" as well as a broad range of inputs. Reading a broad range of books (fiction too) will give your brain the stimulus to create the connections that enable creativity.

I'm not a code monkey but, in my current place of work, there is no much place for creativity (micromanaging) and I miss that. I'm trying to learn some things on the side (because I'm not assigned enough challenging tasks.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#15

Post by apples_oranges »

I have read "Range" and was underwhelmed. I feel like the idea in it can be summarised in a 5-15 minute blog post.

I also think that this year was probably not lousy for many people, me included, and I'm a bit tired of giving 2020 negative adjectives.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#16

Post by happy_path »

digikazi wrote: post #9
happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

Reading books that are unrelated to what you do for a living is not a waste - not in my opinion at least. The stuff you read "for work" will undoubtedly increase your technical knowledge and make you a better software engineer, but the books you read for pleasure might just soothe your soul, increase your knowledge about the world you live in (good, interesting biographies, history books, etc) or they might just be g…

Thank you. I needed to read that.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#17

Post by happy_path »

Ma8ee wrote: post #12
happy_path wrote: post #3

When I see this kind of lists I always think of getting some of these books and reading them. However, I feel like reading books that have no relationship with my job (software engineer) is a waste. Do any feel the same? Is this a harmful mindset and should stop worrying about "wasting" my free time?

I certainly hope you consider yourself something more than a software engineer. As a human, living with other people in a society, reading other books will not only help you and make your life richer, but also enhance the lives of the people around you.

Good question, but being a software engineer is a big part of my life. Maybe a too big part.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#18

Post by lentil_soup »

happy_path wrote: post #11
jcynix wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your free time should be the time when you do things unrelated to your professional work. A healthy advise I got from Usenet a long time ago is that one should have a hobby unrelated to computers. That advise was given when there where no eBook readers, Smartphones or other mobile stuff. But it's still a good advise IMO as long as you use these tools for mainly recreational activities. So long note, short answer: rea…

Well, my native language is not English, so I could think that reading in English improve that language skill. What about if I feel I'm not a good software engineer?

I'd advise you try to not think of all reading as something that needs to "improve" something in you.

We do many things just for pleasure; we go on holiday, we have friends, we eat dessert, we go for walks, we read books.

If you feel you need to improve your English or your technical skills, that's fine, you can study. But that's unrelated to all the other activities you might do for your own pleasure.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#19

Post by bawolff »

happy_path wrote: post #17
Ma8ee wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I certainly hope you consider yourself something more than a software engineer. As a human, living with other people in a society, reading other books will not only help you and make your life richer, but also enhance the lives of the people around you.

Good question, but being a software engineer is a big part of my life. Maybe a too big part.

Learning about a variety of topics can help with that - the world is not full of discrete boxes, skills from different things often will indirectly improve your abilities in other areas.

Re: Good Books for a Lousy Year

#20

Post by Brajeshwar »

Every year, I add Gates' recommended books to my reading list. This year, 2020, when the Pandemic hit and our prospective Investor walked off, leaving me with a team I cannot support; I turn to extra reading for support. In early 2020, when I realized I read over 50+ books in 2019, I had decided to read slower, and more picky to digest the books better.

Unfortunately, I ended up reading lot more this year. By GoodReads counts I have already read 70+ books, so, with the re-reads and other physical books, I will be hitting 80+ books this year (I didn't participate in their book count this year).

When I'm anxious, I either read or play chess. If I'm pitching or have an important meeting, I would have likely played few games of chess.

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