2015 In Review
- Dec 25, 2015
- 5 min read
As 2015 comes to an end, I’ve decided create a list of the books that I have read this year.
If you know me well, you’ll know that I am not a book hog and that i’ll happily make book recommendations upon request. Why? Because I think that knowledge is a very powerful thing and that it should be made universal by those who possess it. That’s why I read (to get smarter), and why I’ve decided to make this post (to spread the knowledge). I also think that reading is cool and probably the easiest way to become smarter. As the Farnam Street blog would say about becoming smarter, “the best way to do this is to read a lot.”
I give much credit to the Farnam Street blog, my college professors, other academics, colleagues, fellow Toastmasters, and friends, for providing me with the inspiration, drive, and enthusiasm to become comfortable with the uncomfortable and to keep turning the pages. I do not believe that there is any shortcut to knowledge, which is why I have not posted any summaries of the books mentioned below. I also think that would be a complete waste of my time; I have already read the book, and if you are interested then you will read it too. However, in order to aid the reader in making her next book selection, I have provided some commentary for a few titles.
Some brief commentary… As a reader, you will often times find it difficult to read. This is okay. I have started to read several books which I will eventually have to put down because either 1. I was bored, or 2. At the time of reading, I could not properly make sense of the material. I follow a rule for this “problem”: If I become severely uninterested in a book, I will put it down (for the time being) and move onto another. Keep this in mind as you continue your reading journey.
I present to you below a collection of the stories, pages, and words that have consumed hundreds of my waking hours. The list below contains selections which I have read. I have listed the titles in the order of which I have read them. I have bolded the titles which I fell capture the major ideas. Nonetheless, the others are of high quality as well. This reading list has been compiled through multiple sources. Some books have been have taken off of other lists that are similar to this one (Farnam Street blog, Amazon, Bill Gates, Nassim Taleb, etc.). I also attend talks and other seminars regularly (Universities, Toastmasters Clubs, etc.) and I always take notes when a book recommendation is made. Lastly, I have a slick habit of asking smart people for a book recommendation after finishing a really awesome conversation. Enjoy!
2015
January:
The Big Short by Michael Lewis
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
These are good primers on the 2008 Financial Crisis and the (still) ongoing High Frequency Trading (HFT) games that are played by many of the big banks on Wall St. These two books complement each other well.
That Used to Be Us by Michael Mandelbaum and Thomas L. Friedman
February:
The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This is a must read. If you want to avoid being a sucker or a turkey, read this book. While, this book can be exhaustive at times, a few reads over-and-over will allow the reader to fully grasp the concepts.
March:
Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This is another must read, and should be read together with the aforementioned, The Black Swan. Taleb has a few other great titles which he has written on similar subjects. You can Google those titles for yourself. Personally, I found these two to be very comprehensive.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
This read was gifted to me by a very close friend who ironically, works with underprivileged, minority, students in Washington D.C. This book is perfect for the twentysomething undergraduate who is facing the troubles of deciding what to study and how to apply it to the real world.
A History of World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
Recommended by a high school history professor whom I met at Barnes and Nobles. This book presents a neat and unique approach to explaining history through the creation of various alcoholic drinks. Cheers!
April:
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
Mankind is an ever evolving species. Read this if you want to understand Mother Nature’s role in our evolutionary path. You might be surprised to see how similar we are to other species.
Dark Pools by Scott Patterson
May:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
A must read.
June:
Zero to One by Peter Theil
Outliers by Malcom Gladwell
The Misbehavior of Markets by Benoit B. Mandelbrot
August:
The Three Marriages by David Whyte
Trying to “balance” work, life, and relationships? Then read this. You might be surprised to find that a “balance” of all three may not actually be the best approach. Read this if you are looking for true inspiration, peace, and focus in your happy life.
Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? By Louis V. Gerstner Jr.
September:
The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant
They say history repeats itself. Find out how with this short book.
The Buddha Walks into a Bar by Lodro Rinzler
Sit Like a Buddha by Lodro Rinzler
October:
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
I must have been feeling biographies in the month of October. These two titles are absolute must reads. The lessons taken from the lives of the Wright Brothers; their attentiveness to detail, hard work, and perseverance, will give you a few guiding principles for leading your life. Elon Musk tells the story of the South African-born, business man, engineer, scientist, inventor, and investor who currently spreads his week in two as he manages Tesla and SpaceX.
November:
Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Amy Wallace and Ed Catmull
A must read for any manager/leader.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Already seen the movie? Cool. Now read the book.
December:
Misbehaving by Richard Thaler
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Guarantana
Unleash the power of practicing mindfulness through Shambhala meditation. This is a fantastic read for anyone looking to learn how to meditate.
Currency Wars by James Rickards
How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler
Reading is an art, this book will help you master the art of reading comprehension and it will show you how to read for understanding. I like to pick up this title before I start a new book. This way I can refresh my memory on the guidelines for attentive reading.
Currently reading in December:
Havana Nocturne by T.J. English
Think Twice by Michael Maubossin
More than you know by Michael Maubossin
Reinventing American Healthcare by Ezekiel J. Emanuel
Who Moved my Cheese Spencer Johnson
Goals for 2016: To read, read, and read more and gain more knowledge. Fine tune mental models to be able to quickly classify, recall, and frame problems.
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