I finished 69 books in 2020, started and abandoned another 10 or so. And was really happy with a lot that I read. I figured hey, why not share some quick highlights from some of my favorites in no particular order.
by Tom Papa
I’ve always thought Tom Papa was a super hilarious comedian, a far back as the days when I use to stay in Friday nights so I could watch Stand Up on Comedy Central. The book combine Tom Papa’s dry and absurd delivery and with this interesting meditation on the 21st life. How we’re all stressed, over worked, over anxious, hooked to our phones. And somehow is reassuring in all of it. It’s easy for comedians to say the world is doomed and so are you, Papa goes the other way on this one, and it’s a very funny read.
So I didn’t realize this was a series by Taleb, maybe way too far into the book. But ultimately I took a few interesting assertions away from the book. First, at least be aware when people are giving advice but the outcome has no impact on them. Many people are employed in the business of prognosticating, yet few have their lives changed by the accuracy of those predictions – they have no skin in the game and are more concerned with saying something than saying something true. Second, extremists win. – Maybe that’s too simple of an understanding, but it really opened my eyes. A quote from Taleb:
The Kosher population represents less than three tenth of a percent of the residents of the United States. Yet, it appears that almost all drinks are Kosher. Why? Simply because going full Kosher allows the producer, grocer, restaurant, to not have to distinguish between Kosher and nonkosher for liquids, with special markers, separate aisles, separate inventories, different stocking sub-facilities. And the simple rule that changes the total is as follows:The Kosher population represents less than three tenth of a percent of the residents of the United States. Yet, it appears that almost all drinks are Kosher. Why? Simply because going full Kosher allows the producer, grocer, restaurant, to not have to distinguish between Kosher and nonkosher for liquids, with special markers, separate aisles, separate inventories, different stocking sub-facilities. And the simple rule that changes the total is as follows: A Kosher (or halal) eater will never eat nonkosher (or nonhalal) food , but a nonkosher eater isn’t banned from eating kosher. So the minority rule may produce a larger share of halal food in the stores than warranted by the proportion of halal eaters in the population, but with a headwind somewhere because some people may have a taboo against Moslem food. But with some non-religious Kashrut rules, so to speak, the share can be expected converge to closer to a hundred percent (or some high number).
Nassim Nicholas taleb
Taleb gives a number of examples of this in the book, and it’s interesting and eye opening.
Long time fan of Planet Money. When I heard Jacob Goldstein was writing a book I bought it right away. It’s a Scrooge McDuck style deep dive into money. It’s written with the entertaining and illuminating style that’s made me such a hardcore fan of Planet Money all these years. Easy to understand, fun to read. A must for people who are trying to understand more how money works.
I liked this book enough to read it twice in a row. If this sounds like it may appeal to you, you’re right. More than anything, it’s validating for people who had less than perfect childhoods.
by Ted Chiang
I listened to Tim Ferriss recommend this book to like 12 guests in a row on his podcast, and I had to read it. Well written and unique collection of short science fiction stories. I’m not much into the genre, but it was very good to me. It’s like Black Mirror, but a book, and less annoying.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for 7 years. It was one of the more interesting books I’ve ever read. Great examination of the process of learning, of coaching, of improving. A perfect read for someone who’s spent any period of time working on their craft, or helping others learn.
Freakonomics got me to read this one. Poker is like life, many variables, your knowledge, other’s knowledge, the common knowledge, the probabilities, the interplay of persuasion and manipulation, and in the end LUCK. Maria breaks down how she learned to understand each in the context of poker to become a tournament winner. But, also, how those same contexts apply to life, and how to try to handle each like a poker master.
Joseph Campbell is essential reading. That’s all I have to say.
Since you came to birth in this world at this time, in this place, and with this particular destiny, it was this indeed that you wanted and required for your own ultimate illumination. That was a great big wonderful thing that you thereupon brought to pass: not the “you” of course, that you now suppose yourself to be, but the “you” that was already there before you were born. You are not now to lose your nerve! Go on through with it and play your own game all the way!
Joseph Campbell
If you’ve worked in a corporate world read this and become even more disillusioned.
I’m not gonna lie, this whole book is filled with cheap Pinterest wisdom. Which is to say, a lot of it is cliché, motivational, non-sense, stuff that we already know, things that people post on their Facebook timelines, and caption it like “💪💪💪💪💪💪” to imply they got their shit together, when you know they’re the person with the most drama in your life. BUT, it’s a very well done version of it, and in turn, is pretty enjoyable.
by Seth Godin
For every creative who’s ever felt stuck. Seth Godin is a wonderful writer, who inspires with his clear and direct writing. He’s heard all of the excuses and he wants to help you get past them.
Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Creative, because you’re not a cog in the system. You’re a creator, a problem solver, a generous leader who is making things better by producing a new way forward. Work, because it’s not a hobby. You might not get paid for it, not today, but you approach it as a professional. The muse is not the point, excuses are avoided, and the work is why you are here.
Seth Godin
by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele
A powerful perspective. Patrisse is amazing, and the work she’s doing with Black Lives Matter is important and necessary. Patrisse gives insight into the socioeconomic factors that creative a culture of disparity without sounding like a wonk. It’s humanizing, it’s painful, it’s powerful. It’s a call for reform. It’s a great book for people who don’t quite get what Black Lives Matter means.
by Phil Knight
One of the more interesting entrepreneur biographies. Knight wrote this late in his career, after Nike was already an established powerhouse, and because or that it’s an unvarnished examination of his career that becomes a thousand times more interesting because it shows the blemishes and failures along the way. Often reading business bios, it’s a tale of how some dude went into a meeting, wasn’t sure if he was gonna crush it, totally crushed it, and then drank champagne. Knight does have his moments of victory. But also his moments of failure that stick with you, like when he’d become so enraged he smashed his phone, 3 times in a row. And that when the telephone repair man told Phil on his third visit this was no way to act, he was ashamed. That’s the entrepreneur biography I want to read.
This was a random pick up from the library. Samantha Irby is super funny, and this book is hilarious.
