This is a reading list of books I have read or that I am currently reading. I include a quick description of each and links for additional information.
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
Date Completed: October 2021
ISBN: 978-0525657743
Michelle Zauner’s got a wonderful writing style. I had known her as the frontwoman of Japanese Breakfast and read this before seeing them in concert. This book captures Zauner’s family ties and connection to food. It chronicles her personal development and the shock and turmoil surrounding her mother’s terminal cancer.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The Answer Is …: Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek
Date Completed: August 2020
ISBN: 978-1982157999
Alex Trebek provides a thoughtful view into his life through this memoir. The short chapters facilitate quick meditations on humorous or eye-opening details and lessons. I didn’t know too much about him prior to reading, and now I more greatly appreciate his world view.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Class by Paul Fussell
Date Completed: July 2020
ISBN: 978-0671792251
Fussell breaks down social classes by addressing behaviors, actions, and mentalities. It’s a humorous and eye-opening read that has the well-cited sources of a college paper.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Conspiracy by Ryan Holiday
Date Completed: July 2020
ISBN: 978-0735217645
An interesting read about a modern day conspiracy that helps initiate the demise of a media outlet. Holiday intertwines classic theory about deception and strategy which brings a nice touch to this real-world turn of events.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Prey by Michael Crichton
Date Completed: July 2020
ISBN: 978-0061703089
This novel is about events unfolding at the hands of a rogue nanoparticle swarm in the desert. It’s got the classic suspense and drama expected from Michael Crichton but has a backdrop of technology with a focus on distributed systems.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Disclosure by Michael Crichton
Date Completed: June 2020
ISBN: 978-0345539007
A novel about a sexual harassment case at a large tech company. The book takes place over the course of a few days and this made it a quick read. Also, Crichton based the story off of a real case and his research of various components, like an in-depth view of legal proceedings, shines through.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
How to Be Useful by Megan Hustad
Date Completed: June 2020
ISBN: 978-0618713509
The title of this book may elicit some ridicule or giggles if you read this in public, but I found it fairly helpful. The author compiles and synthesizes the work of a range of motivational speakers and symbols of American success. Overall, it inspires reflection on stereotypical work culture.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Gorilla Mindset by Mike Cernovich
Date Completed: January 2020
ISBN: 978-1514672112
This is a fairly quick read with some decent actionable advice. It addresses controlling one’s own mindset and suggests tactics to improve overall mental health and physical fitness.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The Self-Taught Programmer by Cory Althoff
Date Completed: Fall 2019
ISBN: 978-0999685907
A guide for programming and understanding and practicing concepts in Python. This is a nicely organized read for those wanting to start or refresh their familiarity with programming. The most important take-away might be to practice diligently and to review other people’s code.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
60 Seconds and You’re Hired! by Robin Ryan
Date Completed: October 2019
ISBN: 978-0143128502
Ryan provides commonly asked questions for interviews and general recommendations for a job search. There’s no need to memorize any of this, but it can provide a confidence boost trying to calm pre-interview nerves.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Date Completed: September 2020
ISBN: 978-0446561754
This was some comfort to feeling like I’ve grown apart from the supposed reckless abandon that comes with being under 30. It flows fairly well and inspires action to build foundational success through a clinical psychologist’s perspective.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Travels by Michael Crichton
Date Completed: In Progress
ISBN: 978-0394562360
A peak into Michael Crichton’s personal life that blends details of his career and adventures around the world.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Date Completed: January 2019
ISBN: 978-1788164283
A workbook for discovering and channeling inner creativity. I’ve started a morning journal, as advised by this book. The whole text guides readers through a 12-week self-enforced course to stimulate the creative mind. Originally, I borrowed this from the library but bought a copy to keep up with the timeline for the course.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Date Completed: July 2018
ISBN: 978-1328994967
This book includes life advice from a wide range of experts in different fields. Whatever you seek advice on, it’s probably applicable to at least on of the mentors offering advice in this book.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss
Date Completed: July 2018
ISBN: 978-1328683786
A solid read for soul-searchers looking for practical inspiration from big names. It’s like a buffet for finding exercises and habits to enhance your lifestyle. Major points include increasing personal confidence and learning to embrace the art of saying ‘no.’
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
Date Completed: In Progress
ISBN: 978-0671695880
A classic must-read in circles of National Park Service employees. The author worked as a seasonal ranger at Arches National Monument, now Arches National Park, in Utah and chronicles his time in the desert.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Date Completed: May 2018
ISBN: 978-0399144462
A short story with a big ego that is heralded as a go-to for professionals experiencing change in their work lives. It felt like a fable for people looking for how to handle change in stride.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
Date Completed: May 2018
ISBN: 978-0307465351
Timothy Ferriss breaks down the stigma of a typical work-life relationship. He provides advice and personal stories for how to pursue any dream or interest. A majority of the book focuses on remote work options, which is best-suited for people with flexible careers.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondō
Date Completed: In Progress
ISBN: 978-1607747307
I purchased this book on the recommendation of a close friend. Marie Kondō’s fame stems from her ability to change habits in regards to clutter. A good reference for those looking to reduce their number of personal belongings for increased mental clarity.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Real Money Answers for Every Woman by Patrice Washington
Date Completed: April 2018
ISBN: 978-0062420268
Okay, maybe the title isn’t that great. Patrice Washington lays out a common issues women face when trying to sort out their personal finances. This is a guide to realistically tackling financial terms and concepts without dying of boredom.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Work It by Carrie Kerpen
Date Completed: March 2018
ISBN: 978-0143131816
A compilation of advice and stories from big names in business that makes you feel as if you have an A-list team of mentors. It includes highlighted advice sprinkled throughout the book, on every topic from investments to building your own network of advocates.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Date Completed: March 2018
ISBN: 978-0307463746
An easy read with advice from self-proclaimed ‘rule-breakers’ Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, developers of the open-source programming framework Ruby on Rails. It gives inspiration for getting started in business for people, like me, who overthink business plans and development.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Women Who Don’t Wait in Line by Reshma Saujani
Date Completed: March 2018
ISBN: 978-0544027787
Reshma Saujani chronicles the successes and failures that brought her to become a leader in the tech community and a role model for women.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-1585425402
A quick read and platform to gain insight into the inner workings of creative mastermind David Lynch. This book convinced me to make an effort to pursue training in Transcendental Mediation because of how meditation has influenced his life.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Anything You Want by Derek Sivers
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-1591848264
The founder of CD Baby, Derek Sivers, offers the story to how he started a business by creating a platform to distribute independent music. A short read about business that provides perspective on how to chase interests and solve problems.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Idiot’s Guides: Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s by Susan Shelly McGovern and Sarah Young Fisher
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-1465454621
A cut and dry reference book for easily confused financial terms and concepts. The assumption that you know absolutely nothing about finance is helpful for learners who wish to avoid feelings of insecurity.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Flip the Switch by Jez Rose
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-0857086792
An exploration of the behavioral psychology and habit formation. Jez Rose provides helpful exercises throughout the book for specific habits readers wish to change, improve, or create.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Coding for Dummies by Nikhil Abraham
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-1119293323
This book is focused mostly on web development. It offers a general overview of coding terms and free web resources.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-0399169274
I grabbed this at the library out of curiosity. Who better to learn about confidence in business than Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal? Granted, the business eventually filed for bankruptcy under her supervision but the inspiration might still be relevant.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
Girl Code by Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser
Date Completed: February 2018
ISBN: 978-0062472502
Labelled as a ‘young adult’ book, but still provides some good advice for girls learning to code. Sophie Houser and Andrea Gonzales talk about their experiences in the tech industry and how Girls Who Code provided a platform for them to combat stigmas surrounding women.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.
The Art of Stopping Time by Pedram Shojai
Date Completed: January 2018
ISBN: 978-1623369095
A book with daily activities for making the most of spare time through meditation and reflection. I did not follow the book’s suggested format of completing one activity a day for a year. I skipped around and took notes on practices I hope to repeat in the future.
Here’s the Amazon page for this book.