Books I've read over the past couple years.
Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond
Provides an introduction to the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. It covers the basics of these technologies and how they can be used for investment, including the risks and rewards of investing in cryptoassets.
The Truth Machine: The Blockchain and the Future of Everything
Discusses the revolutionary technology of the blockchain and its potential to transform a wide range of industries. It covers a range of topics including the future of money, governance, and the role of trust in society. The book also examines the social and economic implications of the technology and how it may shape the future of society.
The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth
Examines the possibility of humans establishing a permanent presence beyond Earth and the potential implications for our future as a species. It explores the technical and philosophical challenges and opportunities of space colonization and the search for extraterrestrial life.
The Alchemist
Tells the story of a young shepherd named Santiago who embarks on a journey to fulfill his personal legend and discover the true meaning of his dreams. Along the way, Santiago meets a series of characters who teach him valuable lessons about following his heart, listening to his intuition, and persevering through obstacles. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, destiny, and the importance of following one's dreams.
The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time Offers a framework for fostering innovation within a company. It suggests a process for identifying and pursuing new ideas, and highlights the importance of taking calculated risks in order to drive growth and success.
Life After Google: The Fall of Big Data and the Rise of the Blockchain Economy
Discusses the potential impacts of blockchain technology on the economy and the role of traditional technology companies. It explores the ways in which the decentralized nature of blockchain could disrupt existing power structures and proposes a new model for the digital economy.
Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World
Examines the challenges facing the global order and the role of international institutions in addressing them. It looks at the rise of non-state actors and the increasing influence of emerging powers, and discusses the potential consequences of a more fragmented world. The book offers suggestions for how the international community can work together to address shared problems and strengthen cooperation in the face of these challenges."
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
Explores the potential benefits of psychedelics for treating mental health conditions and promoting personal growth. It discusses the history and current state of research into these substances, as well as the implications for our understanding of the mind and consciousness. The book also explores the role of psychedelics in addressing issues related to addiction, dying, and transcendence.
Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented the 20th Century
Celebrates the life and achievements of the renowned inventor, Nikola Tesla. It covers his many contributions to the fields of electricity and electromagnetism, including his patents and innovations that helped shape the modern world. The book also explores the personal and professional struggles that Tesla faced, as well as his unconventional ideas and approaches to problem-solving that made him a pioneering figure in the history of science and technology.
Why the West Rules for Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future
Attempts to explain why the West has dominated the world for the past 500 years, and what this might mean for the future. It looks at the ways in which technological and institutional developments have shaped the course of history and how these patterns may continue to play out in the coming years. The book also discusses the potential challenges and opportunities that the future may hold, and how the world may look in the coming centuries.
Rust in Action: Systems Programming Concepts and Techniques
Teaches the Rust programming language and its applications in building robust and efficient systems. It covers the fundamental concepts of systems programming, including memory management, concurrency, and low-level control, and shows how these can be applied in real-world scenarios using Rust.
The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization
Examines the forces that are driving the current global economic and political landscape, and how these may shape the future. It discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of nationalism, populism, and other anti-globalization movements, and how these trends may impact the future of globalization and international relations. The book also looks at the potential consequences of these developments for businesses, governments, and individuals, and offers insights into how we can navigate this shifting landscape.
Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions
Explores the ways in which the principles of computer science can be applied to everyday decision-making and problem-solving. It covers a range of topics including sorting, searching, and optimization, and shows how these concepts can be used to make better choices in our personal and professional lives. The book also discusses the role of heuristics and how we can use these mental shortcuts to make more efficient and effective decisions.
Genes vs Cultures vs Consciousness: A Brief Story of Our Computational Minds
Discovers the interplay between genetics, culture, and consciousness in shaping our thoughts and behaviors. It discusses the ways in which our brains process and interpret information, and how these processes are influenced by our genes and the cultural environments in which we live. The book also looks at the potential implications of these findings for our understanding of the mind and for addressing a range of social and personal issues.
The Behavioral Investor
Explores how an individual's behavior and emotions can affect their investment decisions. It is written by Daniel Crosby, a psychologist and behavioral finance expert. The book provides insights on how to identify and overcome cognitive biases and emotions that can lead to poor investment decisions and offers practical advice on how to improve investment outcomes.
How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
Explores that globalization isn’t inevitable and that any promises of decarbonization by 2050 are a fairy tale. It dives into the numbers or energy and production of goods such as each greenhouse-grown supermarket-bought tomato has the equivalent of five tablespoons of diesel embedded in its production, and we have no way of producing steel, cement or plastics at required scales without huge carbon emissions. It answers the most profound question of our age: are we irrevocably doomed or is a brighter utopia ahead? Compelling, data-rich and revisionist, this wonderfully broad, interdisciplinary guide finds faults with both extremes. Looking at the world through this quantitative lens reveals hidden truths that change the way we see our past, present and uncertain future.
Where is My Flying Car?: A memoir of Future Past
Delves into the reasons why society has not yet seen the widespread adoption of flying cars, despite the technology being available. The book explores the technical limitations, scientific and technological roots, and social factors that have contributed to this lack of progress. The author also examines the failure to adopt nuclear energy, the suppression of cold fusion technology, and the rise of a counterculture hostile to progress, and how these factors have had a negative impact on global wealth creation and distribution. The book also presents a framework for a future powered by exponential progress, in which technology advances in both the physical and digital world, leading to abundance and wonder.
The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind
Discusses the latest developments in the field of neuroscience and their implications for our understanding of the mind and consciousness. It covers a range of topics including brain-machine interfaces, telepathy, and artificial intelligence, and explores the ways in which these technologies may shape the future of the mind. The book also discusses the ethical and social implications of these developments and how they may impact our society and our sense of self.
The Big Change: America Transforms Itself, 1900-50
Examines the major social, economic, and political changes that took place in the United States during the first half of the 20th century. It covers a range of topics including the rise of industry, the growth of cities, and the impact of World War II, and shows how these changes transformed the country and laid the foundations for the modern world. The book also looks at the ways in which these changes affected the lives of ordinary Americans and how they shaped the country's culture and identity.
Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World
Tells the story of the fierce competition between Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and George Westinghouse to bring electricity to the world. It examines the innovations and inventions that each of these men developed and the ways in which they changed the course of history. The book also looks at the impact of electricity on society and how it transformed the way we live and work, and discusses the lasting legacy of these pioneers of the electrical age.