Recently reading
I love to read, and I hope you do too. Here are some of my recent favorites. No affiliate garbage, just direct Amazon product links.
The New New Thing
michael lewis • 2000 • AMZ
This was a wild ride through the 90s scene in Silicon Valley. Jim Clark's actual life unfolds out like a rollercoaster. I felt I was right there in the thick of it, watching the birth of Netscape and Silicon Graphics, one of my favorite companies/brands. It reminded me of why I got into tech at an early age, feeling the rush of something revolutionary.
Make Something Wonderful
Steve Jobs • 2023 • AMZ
A rare peek into Steve Jobs' mind through his own words. Simultaneously inspiring and nostalgic. His passion and vision never fail to lift your spirit and feed the urge to build and create. This really emphasized the man as more human than legend, which was really refreshing, and frankly encouraging. Quick read, huge impact, highly recommended.
Build
tony fadell • 2022 • AMZ
I get a kick out these 'insider tour' style books about designing and building. This one is like a startup crash-course. Also recommended is the documentary 'General Magic' which follows the company Fadell worked at previous to Apple. It's a small world. Fadell makes me rethink my approach problem-solving and design. I wish this book existed a decade ago.
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson • 1992 • AMZ
This cyberpunk classic somehow predicted our current online reality, but with Pizza-ninjas and digital viruses. It's like a coked up history book from the future. Made me take a second look at Ready Player One and wonder if it's a documentary. Guaranteed to fry your neural pathways in a good way.
The Creative Act
Rick Rubin • 2023 • AMZ
Dropping wisdom bombs on creativity like he's producing a hit album. This book isn't for musicians, it's for everybody who wants to exercise or locate that creative bone in their body. I like the zen-master approach (literal gongs between tomes) and the focus on the importance of play and curiosity. It's a great reminder to keep learning and keep creating. Refreshing in our anxiety-riddled and hyper-connected world. Go unplug, get messy and create. Pairs beautifully with 'Make Something Wonderful' by Steve Jobs.
We Are Legion
Dennis E. Taylor • 2017 • AMZ
This was a fun romp through the 'Bobiverse.' I'm a sucker for a good sci-fi novel and this one had me at 'Bob' (short for Bob Newby, the main character). It's a fun adventure with a lot of heart. Like if Silicon Valley were to colonize space. Not so far fetched anymore. Fun and geeky, made my own projects feel more possible. Highly recommended.
Creativity, Inc.
Ed Catmull • 2014 • AMZ
One of my 3D heroes, Ed Catmull, shares his wisdom on creativity and innovation. An inside lookk behind the curtain at Pixar and how they think about creating. It's actually more about problem solving than creativity, althought there are plenty of great stories about the creative process. You need to have a 'braintrust' to bounce ideas off of and help center your thinking. It's not a long book, but packed with precient advice.
Also highly recommeded
Do not sleep on these classics, even if you've already read them.
