When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
by Daniel Pink, 2018
Some interesting tidbits, but ultimately tries to accomplish more than it does. Many topics, such as the closing chapters on synchronization, really fall outside the purview of “when.” Audiobook read by the author, which was actually not a negative for once.
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – And Why Things are Better Than You Think
by Hans Rosling, with Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Ronnlund, 2018
Terribly interesting book about the (uplifting) state of the world. Builds on Hans’ famous TED talks. Recommended. Check out this pretest to see how much you really know, and then go watch the moving bubbles.
The Invention of Air: A story of science, faith, revolution, and the birth of America
by Steven Johnson, 2008
Profiles and the work and persecution of Joseph Priestley, a pioneer in chemistry, religion, and politics in the 18th century. Very interesting biographical take, with connections to Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
Good to Go: What the athlete in all of us can learn from the strange science of recovery
by Christie Aschwanden, 2019
Your body needs sleep to recover from exertion. Otherwise, there’s no consistent scientific proof that any other common or marketed form of recovery product or recovery activity does any good, outside of a well-documented placebo effect. Even common things like icing or ibuprofen (and other NSAIDs) may actually be doing more harm than good. If you think something is working for you (and it’s definitely not bad for you), keep doing it, but I would definitely suggest not spending money on the latest recovery fads or products.
From Marginal Revolution, via PNAS
Children of the Fleet
by Orson Scott Card, 2017
I enjoyed most all of the Ender’s Game books and the Shadow Series by Orson Scott Card. However, Children of the Fleet is just tedious, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The conflict is incredibly contrived, and the characters are constantly arguing with themselves. It seemed like half the book was made up of internal arguments inside characters’ heads that read like dialogue.
OM5085, Operations Strategy, Undergraduate Operations Management and Industrial Management Capstone: M/W/F, 10:10-11:05, Lindner 2245
OM4076, Operations Planning and Scheduling, Undergraduate OM/IM Elective: M/W/F, 2:30-3:25, Lindner 4225
How Google Works, 2017
by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
Well-written book by Google executives about how to work with smart creatives. While the specifics of hiring, 20% time, and investing in new ventures are discussed, it is really the overarching culture-building that is emphasized. Recommended.
I listened to this one on tape while running. Anyone that knows my exercise preferences can then tell you that it took me a long time to read this book. Yes. True. Hence why the review is so short: it’s taken me at least a year to read the book, and I don’t remember specifics from the first half of the book.
The Book of Dust (Volume 1): La Belle Sauvage
by Philip Pullman, 2017
I enjoyed Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (Golden Compass or Northern Lights, Subtle Knife, and Amber Spyglass) as a kid. This new trilogy, The Book of Dust, revisits that universe. The first book, which I listened to on a recent road trip, takes place before the Golden Compass, and Lyra is a baby. The next two books supposedly take place after the events of the original trilogy, with the second volume due out in October.
This book is pretty dark. Pullman said the trilogy name could easily be ‘His Darker Materials’. So buyer beware before giving it to an impressionable child.
A thriller, like the originals. Well-written, though relies a bit too much on the supernatural at points.
If you passively get your internet reading from Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc., you’re doing the internet wrong. Stop seeing what the algorithms want you to see, and start taking control. Two great recent articles about this:
On the perils of passive news consumption.
Personally, I like Feedly.