Books
A selection of books I've enjoyed and what I learned from them.
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Calm the Chaos
One of the better parenting books I've read. It teaches you to play to your child's strengths, go on offense, and turn "difficult traits" into superpowers. Most parenting books teach defense: rules, consequences, discipline. This one helps you harness the best of the child.
Clarity & Connection
I find its short verses refreshing. It's an easy go-to read and reread to reset and reflect.
Coming Into View: How AI and Other Megatrends Will Shape Your Investments
A good framework for thinking through how investments may play out if AI flies, stalls, or disappoints. And how to navigate each scenario.
Competing Against Luck
Clear framework for spotting breakthrough ideas by talking to users and figuring out JTBD, though it's easier said than done. You'll still need luck.
Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
You can MVP life hypotheses, test them, and iterate quickly based on lived experiences.
Designing Products People Love: How Great Designers Create Successful Products
Introduced me to the five UI states: ideal, empty, error, partial, and loading. This framework deeply changed how I look at and design products.
Don't Make Me Think
Changed the way I look at every interface and touch point.
Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success
Refreshing research on what I think is common sense. Just give generously and don't be an asshole. And avoid assholes and getting exploited.
High Output Management
Output = Manager x Leverage, where Leverage = A mix of system, process, software, culture, and smarts. It makes management easier to process.
How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking
Reveals math's hidden role in everyday life.
How the World Really Works
A data-driven view of the forces shaping our economy, energy and environment.
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
The best book I've read about climate change. Easy to understand, data-driven.
Inner Game of Tennis
Mastering your mindset can beat raw skill. Teaches focus and self-belief in high-pressure moments.
Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
Super easy to read, understand, and process. I love the format: short essays, followed by quick bursts of quotes. Makes you feel good while reading, but also gives you space to pause and self-reflect. Highly recommend.
Managing Oneself
Build your life and career around your strengths, values, and how you work best. Be very self-aware.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Good read to understand the difference between fixed and growth mindsets. No one has a pure growth mindset; it varies by area and situation. For tennis, I am content with where I am (i.e. contentment mindset). For work, I'd like to think I lean toward a growth mindset.
Never Split the Difference
Super practical advice that's easily applicable if you put in some effort.
No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life
Fun and educational read. The Awesome Portfolio is dead simple to follow, optimizing for peace of mind.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
A practical framework for compassionate communication: observe without judgment, name your feelings and needs, and make clear requests. This was one of the first books that made me realize I could communicate more effectively. I must admit, I did not really improve much until I became a parent.
Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning so Customers Get It, Buy It, Love It
An easy framework to identify and execute positioning. I use it as part of my workflow when building products.
Outliers: The Story of Success
Success is rarely just talent. Timing, opportunity, culture, and effort compound over time. Even your birth month can matter more than you think.
Principles: Life and Work
An inside look into Bridgewater's systems and principles. Fascinating but also a little too overwhelming imo. In short, systemize but also humanize.
Quantitative Trading: How to Build Your Own Algorithmic Trading Business
Gets into the details of quant trading. Fun.
Raising Good Humans
Good intro to mindful parenting. It teaches you to regulate yourself and respond properly. Much harder to execute in the heat of the moment though.
Raising Mentally Strong Kids
TL;DR: Learn to let go. Applies to adults too.
Runnin' Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love
A timely read as I think about what to build next. Very grateful to Bill for sending a copy of his book.
Start with Why
This book got me into the habit of asking why we do what we do. Clarity is key. Once the "why" is clear, the "what" and "how" become much easier.
Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days
Great book that gives you a practical five-day framework to reduce product uncertainty and gain clarity.
Stephen Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions
Mind-blowing. Fascinating stuff. Joyful read.
The Art of Happiness
Blends ancient wisdom with modern psychology. Go-to book when one isn't in the happy state.
The Book of Joy
Two leaders share how to find lasting happiness amid hardship. A joyful read.
The Design of Everyday Things
A useful book on human-centered design. When users struggle, the design is often the problem. It teaches you to spot friction and use clear visual cues to make products intuitive.
The Intelligent Investor
Must-read on value investing. Some parts are dated, but the core principles still hold. It teaches you how to take advantage of Mr. Market's mood swings instead of becoming a victim of them. Great book for building a value investing system and keeping your emotions in check.
The Man Who Solved the Market: How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution
Fascinating to see the ups and downs of how Jim Simons and a group of non-Wall Street mathematicians and scientists came together to create one of the world's most successful quant funds.
The Self-Driven Child
Encourages you to give your children more autonomy. Be more of a buddy consultant than a helicopter parent. Let them make age-appropriate choices, fail, and learn early while the stakes are still low.
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down
This book made me slow down and reflect. It made me feel calmer and wiser. Useful for anyone going through transitions, or anyone who needs space to think more deeply.
The Whole-Brain Child
Helps you understand how the different parts of a child's developing brain work together, in plain English. And when the brains don't work. It gives you ways to "debug" meltdowns and navigate difficult moments.
Think Like a Rocket Scientist
Teaches problem-solving by mixing bold ideas with logic. I enjoy its space-stories examples.
Tiny Habits
Easy-to-execute steps. Useful for kids and myself to build good habits.
Trillion Dollar Coach
Insightful leadership lessons from a coach's point of view.