Book Notes
These are personal notes taken from books I have read. They are not summaries or reviews of the books, but rather they contain points that I found interesting. I rework these points for my own understanding and, at times, include my own thoughts.
I continuously update my notes.
Elon Musk, by Walter Isaacson
Date finished: 04 Apr 2024
Elon Musk is one of the most important figures of the 21st century and this biography is fascinating in all the possible meanings of the word. Whether you feel hate, admiration, or indifference about Elon Musk, I think this book is an astounding read. I look forward to reading more of Isaacson's biographies.
The Millionaire Fastlane, by MJ DeMarco
Date finished: 08 Oct 2023
A lot of good thinking and insight. Some books take 300 pages to convey an idea that could have been expressed in 10 pages. This book feels like 30 of those books compressed. There is no new or groundbreaking information, but there is a lot of good information all in one place. I think the book is most effective and useful if you ever wanted to start your own business but didn't, yet. DeMarco's tone is quite particular and takes some getting used to.
The Lessons of History, by Will and Ariel Durant
Date finished: 12 Apr 2023
Amazing book written by a couple who studied History for their entire lives. The Durants present what History taught them about topics like Equality, Religion, Economics, and Government in short chapters. While compact, I found it incredibly insightful and powerfully calming to read. The most profound realization for me was that human society is in constant flux and that we have been in social-economic-political situations similar to today's many times in the past.
Zero to One, by Peter Thiel
Date finished: 05 Apr 2023
Opinionated book on startups, companies, businesses. An inspiring read with a positive outlook on the future, that encourages taking ownership of your life and making the best out of it. A refreshing contrast to the "accept what is" western-neobuddhism style that seems to be popular the past decade.
Show Your Work, by Austin Kleon
Date finished: 26 Feb 2023
Showing your work publicly is the best way to connect with people who are passionate about the same things as you. It helps you invent yourself, lets your fans find you, and helps you improve at what you do. People who you look up to probably share their work as part of their routine.
Anything You Want, by Derek Sivers
Date finished: 15 Nov 2022
A very short, easy to read, beautiful, honest book. Derek shares some of the lessons he learned through his journey of creating, growing, and finally selling his company CD Baby. The book feels incredibly honest and simple. Just read it. You will smile many times, and nod your head in agreement several others.
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin
Date finished: 14 Nov 2022
A charming and witty narration of various events from Franklin's life, with nuggets of wisdom often hidden among light-hearted puns and jokes.
The Evolution of Cooperation, by Robert Axelrod
Date finished: 06 Nov 2022
This book takes a classic problem in Game Theory, the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, and uses it to examine how cooperation emerges in societies. It is a very enjoyable read since there is no fluff in it. The author explains the experiments he did, presents the outcomes, and then tries to interpret and explain them. Incredible insights arise from this simple approach, including how cooperation can emerge among egoists, what can we do to encourage cooperation, and when you shouldn't even try to cooperate.