Reading List
A curated collection of books that have shaped my thinking across technology, leadership, creativity, and life. These are books I've genuinely enjoyed and found valuable, organized by theme.
Artificial Intelligence & The Future
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Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark Explores how AI is transforming civilization and what it means to be human in an age of intelligent machines.
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A Brief History of Intelligence by Max S. Bennett Traces the evolutionary development of human cognition and connects biological intelligence principles to modern AI.
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The Quest for Artificial Intelligence by Nils J. Nilsson A comprehensive history of AI from one of the field's pioneers.
Machine Learning & Deep Learning
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Machine Learning: A Probabilistic Perspective by Kevin P. Murphy The definitive probabilistic approach to machine learning.
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Neural Networks and Deep Learning by Michael Nielsen An accessible online book that builds intuition for neural networks.
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Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow et al. The comprehensive textbook on deep learning fundamentals.
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Machine Learning Yearning by Andrew Ng Practical advice on structuring ML projects from one of the field's best teachers.
Statistics & Mathematics
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Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler A conceptually clear approach to linear algebra.
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Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis by John A. Rice Rigorous foundations in statistical methods.
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Elements of Statistical Learning by Trevor Hastie et al. The advanced reference for statistical learning methods.
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Introduction to Statistical Learning by Trevor Hastie et al. A more accessible companion to Elements, with R examples.
Software Engineering & Systems
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Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold A masterful journey from telegraph to computer, building understanding from first principles.
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The Pragmatic Programmer by Andrew Hunt & David Thomas Timeless principles for software craftsmanship.
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Coders at Work by Peter Seibel Fascinating interviews with legendary programmers.
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Clean Code by Robert C. Martin Principles for writing readable, maintainable code.
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Real-World Bug Hunting by Peter Yaworski Practical field guide to finding security vulnerabilities.
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The Book of Why by Judea Pearl A paradigm shift in thinking about causality versus correlation.
Kubernetes & Cloud Native
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Kubernetes: Up and Running by Kelsey Hightower, Joe Beda & Brendan Burns The essential introduction from Kubernetes creators.
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Kubernetes Security by Michael Hausenblas & Liz Rice Security-first approach to Kubernetes deployments.
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Container Security by Liz Rice Deep dive into container security fundamentals.
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Kubernetes for Developers by Joseph Heck Developer-focused perspective on Kubernetes.
Leadership & Communication
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Leadership on the Line by Ronald A. Heifetz & Marty Linsky How to navigate the dangers and challenges of leadership while staying effective and maintaining integrity.
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Leadership Is Language by L. David Marquet How what you say (and don't say) shapes leadership effectiveness and organizational outcomes.
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The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher How to argue less and talk more—practical approaches to productive dialogue.
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Wise Guy: Lessons from a Life by Guy Kawasaki Life lessons and wisdom from Silicon Valley's legendary evangelist.
Thinking & Decision Making
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Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Nobel laureate's exploration of the two systems that drive how we think.
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Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck The groundbreaking research on fixed vs. growth mindsets.
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Drive by Daniel H. Pink The science of motivation beyond carrots and sticks.
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Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown The philosophy of doing less but better.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
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The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen Why great companies fail when disruptive technologies emerge.
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Zero to One by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters Contrarian thinking about creating new value.
Writing & Creativity
- If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland A timeless classic on creativity, artistic independence, and finding your voice.
Education
- Creating Schools Where Students and Teachers Want to Be by Michael Lawrence & Fabio D'Agostin Rethinking education through community collaboration and meaningful reform.
Parenting
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The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene A collaborative problem-solving approach for understanding and parenting easily frustrated, chronically inflexible children.
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Becoming Brilliant by Roberta Golinkoff & Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek Research-backed approach to nurturing children's development.
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Thinking Parent, Thinking Child by Myrna B. Shure Practical problem-solving approaches for parents.
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The Psychology of Babies by Lynne Murray Understanding early development through the lens of relationships.
Science & Nature
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The End of Ice by Dahr Jamail Bearing witness to climate disruption and finding meaning in the crisis.
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The Second Kind of Impossible by Paul Steinhardt The extraordinary quest to discover quasicrystals—a new form of matter.