191–200 of 248 posts
The Enchiridion (handbook) by Epictetus. It’s really a summary of a single idea, but the most valuable idea I have encountered- how to recognize that the hardships and problems we face mostly come from failing to identify what we actually control, and mistakenly focusing our efforts and concerns on what we can’t control while neglecting what we can.
It's the first volume of a set of biographies of Lyndon B. Johnson, but it's so much more an exploration of how power works and shapes. Caro is obsessed with power (thus the other classic: Caro's The Power Broker). Learning how Johnson learned how to wield power made me see the impact of power in my daily work and interactions, and hopefully, taught me how to predict how 'upstairs' reacts. It's all about power.
Not any particular book but: Studying mathematics and physics has greatly improved my thinking and problem solving abilities. Already a semester or two (of real analysis, linear algebra, experimental physics, theoretical physics) would get one very far I think. As for books, https://theoreticalminimum.com/ might be a great starting point.
[Addendum] …or, generally, any book about back-of-the-envelope calculations (or Fermi estimates). I heard there are some great ones.
John Rawls: A theory of justice. It's attempt to derive a theory of justice (obv.) using methods borrowed from analytic philosophy was hugely influential. Whether you agree with Rawls' conclusions or not it's a brilliant, meticulously argued book, albeit incredibly dense.
Masters of Doom. It’s the story of two renowned game developers, John Karmack and John Romero, and how they built id Software, the video game company that profoundly changed PC gaming and graphics. I was writing software for enterprise / consulting companies at the time (early phase of my career). This book opened my eyes to the crazy/wonderful/scary world of ‘startups’, the idea that people can bring their passion i…
My three favorites from Gerald Weinberg: 1. 'The Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully' I was put off for a decade by the click-bait title but this is a profound little book that helped me get perspective on problem solving in my work and myself. 2. 'Becoming a Technical Leader' The text is great; working the exercises for yourself will make you a stronger thinker. 3. 'An Introducti…
I'm here for _Are your lights On? _ --associate member of the Weinborg
"The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics" (Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith) "Outliers: The Story of Success" (Malcolm Gladwell) "Data-Driven Science and Engineering: Machine Learning, Dynamical Systems, and Control" (Steven L. Brunton, J. Nathan Kutz) "Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories" (Dr. Seuss) "The Lorax" (Dr. Seuss)
- Seeing Like a State: how legibility informs how societies and people view reality - Antifragile: how things benefit from volatility - Hold Me Tight: relationship advice - The Lucifer Principle: energy flows - Scale: how patterns persist across various scales
Can you give the author?