Category: Book Reviews (Page 4 of 8)

The Sentient Machine by Amir Husain

Review: I just read “The Sentient Machine” by Amir Husain. It’s an insightful and well-constructed overview of AI in today’s world. There’s no big idea, but it will give you a solid foundation for where things are headed. Husain is a computer scientist, but his writing is very readable, without a lot of jargon or technical terms.

Rating: ★★★★

Black Mirror

Review: I finally got around to watching Black Mirror on Netflix. After all the hype, I had high expectations. The first two episodes shattered them.

I was so disappointed in Season 1, Episode 1: THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. The decisions the characters made were inane. No one would do that. Episode 2 was just plain boring.

Then I watched Episode 3: THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF YOU, and I was converted. It was clever and well done.

Principles by Ray Dalio

Review: The book Principles by Ray Dalio is packed with ideas. Clearly, Ray Dalio is a brilliant guy who has accomplished an enormous amount. He’s a pioneer in management and investment.

The problem is that, except for the beginning, the book reads like an automobile instruction manual. Dalio thinks of companies as giant machines, and his book is a list of principles that he has developed over the years.

Extreme Ownership: How the US Navy Seals Lead and Win by Leif Babin and Jocko Willink

Review: Extreme Ownership: How the US Navy Seals Lead and Win is a business book by Leif Babin and Jocko Willink. It’s a fun read.

It’s thrilling to hear the lessons learned from two amazing Navy Seals who fought in Iraq. The business lessons are less exciting. They are mostly common sense, like own the job, prioritize what’s important, simple is better than complex, etc. Very basic stuff.

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Review: Just finished reading START WITH WHY by Simin Sinek. He’s a talented writer, but this book is too repetitive. He keeps articulating the same, simple message over and over.

The gist of the book is that leaders should not explain what they’re doing. If they want to inspire and motivate, they need to explain why they are doing it.

He gives plenty of examples, from Steve Jobs to Martin Luther King. The other 90% of the book explains why it’s so important to explain why.

Thinking Fast and Slow — By Daniel Kahneman

Review: Does our intuitive judgment work? What is intuition? How can we best solve problems? These are some of the questions answered in THINKING FAST & SLOW. It’s an interesting but not exciting read. Lots of information to digest. Would have been perfect at half the length.

Rating: ★★★★

Speaking the Language to Succeed in Silicon Valley

Review: If you like Make Elephants Fly, we think you might also like another book that sheds light on how Silicon Valley works, Valley Speak: Deciphering the Jargon of Silicon Valley by Rochelle Kopp and Steven Ganz. Where Steve Hoffman’s book shows you how you can innovate like the best of those who came before you, Valley Speak gives you a grasp of the ‘lay of the land’: the techniques, assumptions, and jargon that you will need to navigate.

Black Edge by Sheelah Kolhatkar

Review: Black Edge is a shocking book about the excesses and corruption that pervade Wall Street’s largest hedge funds and investment banks. It’s a meticulously researched and well told story of greed and power.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Book of Mistakes

Review: My friend, Skip Prichard, just launched his new book called: The Book of Mistakes. You’ll love it and learn a lot.

Maybe you’ve heard one of these:

“You need to work harder!”

“The secret is getting more education. Go back to school.”

“Just be a suck-up at work to get ahead.”

  • But then you see that someone who doesn’t work as hard gets that management job.
  • You don’t have the time or money to get another degree.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

divergent

Review: I just read DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. If you like HUNGER GAMES, you will enjoy this book. It has the same blend of fantasy, action and suspense.

It’s well written, although the ending is a bit predictable. The most interesting part is the dystopian world the author creates. I wish she had gone even further, but that is what sequels are for.

Rating: ★★★

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