Book Recommendations

This is another book full of references to scientific studies. A deep dive on preferences, where they come from, and how they change. One key insight: we like what is familiar. (View on Amazon)

Napoleon rewrote the rules of war in 19th century Europe, conquering pretty much everything in his path. The book explains how this (essentially middle-class, non-french) guy from Corsica became Emperor of France. And then he stopped following his own rules and lost it all… (View on Amazon)

Everything you ever wanted to know about genetics, from the very very beginning when humans knew nothing, through some of the amazing things that scientists are able to do with today’s modern technology.  (View on Amazon)

I had never heard of Robert Moses before this book. It is spectacularly well researched, detailed to the max. After the first chapter, I was hooked on the story. This guy RAN New York through the administrations of multiple mayors, governors and presidents. He’s single-handedly responsible for almost all of the state parks, parks, and road networks in the region. And he’s a real asshole. (View on Amazon)

The prevalence of “normal” and “average” have always bothered me. The author does a great job of adding evidence to my feelings. People are “jagged”, and averages are often BS. There’s a story in here about US Air Force planes and crashes that really drives the point home. Recommended for anyone who struggles to embrace their weird. (View on Amazon)

I’m a big fan of this book. I learned a lot about the oddities of how the mind works, and corner cases where it seems like it’s not working. Especially memorable topics were “Blindsight”, Conscious vs Unconscious brain systems, and the effectiveness of mental practice on physical performance. (View on Amazon)

Bill Nye! A thorough overview of all of the technologies that are being theorized or developed that can help address the obvious human impact on our climate. Don’t believe in the human impact? Let’s talk after you’ve finished this book. (View on Amazon)

After reading about how Kim Philby played the UK and US for so long in the Soviet Union’s favor, I was happy to learn the story of a dramatic spy operation going the other direction. This is the story of the most impactful spy that the US had against the Soviet Union, and possibly the first inside Moscow (right under the KGB’s noses). The book dives into spycraft, which is really interesting. (View on Amazon)

Kim Philby was an upper-class English guy who went to the “right” prep school and college, then joined the intelligence service during WW2. He rose to become the head of counterintelligence at MI6, focused specifically on the Soviet Union. Then, in 1963, he defected to the Soviet Union — and it turns out he was working for them the entire time. Almost all intelligence operations during the 40s and 50s against the Soviet Union failed because of his tip-offs. A remarkable story. (View on Amazon)

It’s as if this book was made for the audiobook format. Because it’s mostly written as a diary, it really fits. And the narrator kicks ass at his role! (View on Amazon)