Reading List

Professor Stuart Russell’s epic course book on every major branch of AI.

Despite being written two thousand years ago, the Gita is still the best thing ever written on the fact we are all “born into action” and how to resolve the conundrums that this creates. Stephen Mitchell’s translation is inspired and accessible.

This was given to me by a musician friend when I asked him what music really was. It’s part music theory, part philopshopy, and wholly good!

Simple, practical and comprehensive advice to keep our bodies moving and healthy by fitness power couple Kelly and Juliet Starrett. They are inventors of the couch stretch and former owners of the gym I used to go to in SF for a while.

Two of my favorite things in the world coming together in one book: literary theory and photography. Roland Barthes is an unending sources of creativity. Random fact: he died the same hour I was born.

One of the most practical things people can read from 2024 on how to think about AI in the workplace.

We all need to have crucial conversations from time-to-time. When the stake are high, no matter the reason, it’s worth knowing the rules to prepare and deliver. Here they are!

Both Data Flow and Data Flow 2 are great sources of inspiration for interface and information design projects. They have obsessively catelogued hundreds of great examples.

A genuine and practical book on the seemingly incompatible realms of mindfulness and parenting!

I’ve been using the GTD system in one form or other since Evan Williams (Blogger, Twitter, Medium) recommended this book to me in 2004. I’ve since given out at least a hundred copies.

This is the most useful single volume I’ve read on how people make decisions.

I stumbled upon this in my college library when I was 16, and it changed how I studied. After many years of using mind mapping as a practical tool, it ultimately led me to an interest in developing AI to read and map content, which led me to doing Quid.

I am willing to guarantee you’ll be a better human being after reading this. Even if you haven’t read his work yet, you are using techniques that Rosenberg developed. Get back to the source and listen to any audiobook or workshop recording by Rosenberg.

I couldn’t have a reading list without including my favorite type of book. And there is no finer dictionary than the OED.

Aside from covering the subject in its subtitle, Range also provides a powerful framework for thinking about high-value skill development in the age of AI.

If you only read one book on how to present to an audience, let it be this one. Nancy Duarte has written the talks for some of the world’s top CEOs including Apple and Salesforce for many years. In Resonate, she dissects the underlying concepts that lead to compelling talks.

Bill Gates: “The Anxious Generation is a must-read for anyone raising, working with, or teaching young people today. With this book, Haidt has given the world a wake-up call about where we’re headed – and a roadmap for how we can change course.” Nuff said.

Memory and memory systems are considerably undervalued in modern life. They were the underpinnings of education for most of history and for good reason. Get interested in memory.

I own way too many information design books. But this one is a standout as an homage to the power of circular diagrams through the ages.

Checklists make the world go round. This book is a loveletter to the checklist. A more captivating read than you’d expect.

Sir Ken Robinson, who you may know from his popular TED Talk, provides inspiration and practical guidance for how to work at the intersection of your passion and talent.

The only way to start a company! Lean!

Because Eckhart Tolle’s voice conveys so much, I prefer his audiobook versions. If you haven’t listened to Tolle before, start with this classic.

Everything by Brené Brown is good. Very useful for those of us that need to study the emotional realm for it to make sense.

LinkedIn founder, Reid Hoffman, shares some useful lessons on how to live an entrepreneurial life, regardless of your career field.

It’s so useful that scientists have started to study mindfulness techniques and measure their impact at a cellular level.

An inspiring book to help unlock your creativity. Written by one of the most creative people I’ve ever met.

Yale Professor Tufte is the master of information design. If you care about laying out information on a page (be it via interface design, graphic design, presentations, anything) you need to read Tufte. Plus his books are so beautiful, they are worth owning just for the craftsmanship.

What is Zen? Do tell us, Alan.

A foundational book for anyone in startups. Through many conversations with Peter since 2005, I saw him develop and implement the thinking behind Zero To One. So it was very cool to see his thinking come together in this book.