Readings
A collection of books I've read and my thoughts on them.
97 Things Every Programmer Should Know
by Kevlin Henney
Collective Wisdom from the Experts - A collection of programming wisdom from experienced developers covering various aspects of software development.
Key Insights
- Programming is as much about communication as it is about code
- Simple solutions are often better than complex ones
- Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in software development
Personal Reflection
Good collection of programming wisdom, though some advice felt repetitive. Useful as a reference for best practices and reminders about fundamental principles.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
Timeless principles for building relationships and influencing others through genuine interest and understanding.
Key Insights
- Show genuine interest in others to build meaningful relationships
- Remember that a person's name is the sweetest sound to them
- Avoid criticism and focus on positive reinforcement
Personal Reflection
This classic book contains timeless wisdom that has fundamentally shaped how I interact with people. The principles are simple but incredibly powerful when consistently applied.
La Filosofía de Bitcoin
by Álvaro D. María
How Bitcoin changes the way we relate to money, redefines property ownership, and can transform our political system.
Key Insights
- Money is a social construct reflecting power structures
- Bitcoin redefines the concept of private property
- Removes the state's monopoly on money creation
Personal Reflection
This book fundamentally changed my understanding of what money actually is and how Bitcoin represents a paradigm shift in economic and political systems.
21 Lessons: What I've Learned from Falling Down the Bitcoin Rabbit Hole
by Gigi
A dive into the philosophical, economic, and technological lessons learned from exploring Bitcoin's rabbit hole.
Key Insights
- Bitcoin represents a fundamental shift from trust-based to proof-based systems
- The 21 million supply cap creates a new form of absolute scarcity in the digital age
- Bitcoin's proof-of-work transforms energy into digital value and security
Personal Reflection
This book offers a solid introduction to Bitcoin's philosophical and economic implications. Gigi does a good job breaking down complex concepts into accessible lessons, though some ideas felt repetitive or too shallow.
The Obstacle Is The Way
by Ryan Holiday
The timeless art of turning trials into triumph through stoic philosophy and practical wisdom.
Key Insights
- Obstacles are opportunities in disguise: they reveal our path forward
- Perception, action, and will are the three disciplines to overcome challenges
- What stands in the way becomes the way: embrace difficulties as fuel for growth
Personal Reflection
This book's stoic approach has been very interesting to read. It taught me to see challenges not as barriers but as a path to success.
Never Split the Difference
by Chris Voss
Learn the techniques used by FBI hostage negotiators to get what you want in any negotiation.
Key Insights
- Use tactical empathy to understand the other party's perspective
- The 'No' response is often the beginning of negotiation
- Calibrated questions give you control without confrontation
Personal Reflection
This book transformed my approach to difficult conversations. The mirroring technique alone has helped me navigate complex professional situations with much better outcomes.
The Pragmatic Programmer
by Andrew Hunt & David Thomas
Your Journey to Mastery - A comprehensive guide to becoming a more effective and professional software developer.
Key Insights
- Invest in your knowledge portfolio continuously
- Write code that's easy to change and maintain
- Think beyond the immediate problem to the bigger picture
Personal Reflection
Comprehensive guide that covers both technical and professional aspects of software development. The pragmatic approach resonates with real-world development challenges.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
by Mark Manson
A counterintuitive approach to living a good life by choosing what to care about and what to let go.
Key Insights
- Choose what to care about wisely - you can't care about everything
- Pain and struggle are necessary for growth and meaning
- Take responsibility for your problems to gain control over them
Personal Reflection
This book's blunt approach to life philosophy resonated with me. It helped me prioritize what truly matters and stop wasting energy on things I can't control.
Clean Code
by Robert C. Martin
A handbook of agile software craftsmanship that teaches how to write code that is readable, maintainable, and professional.
Key Insights
- Code should be written for humans to read, not just for machines to execute
- Functions should do one thing and do it well
- Meaningful names are crucial for code readability
Personal Reflection
This book fundamentally changed how I write code. The principles of clean code have made my software more maintainable and my team collaborations much more effective.
Start with Why
by Simon Sinek
How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action - Understanding the power of purpose and the Golden Circle framework.
Key Insights
- People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it
- The Golden Circle: Why, How, What framework for communication
- Great leaders inspire action by starting with purpose
Personal Reflection
Powerful framework for understanding motivation and leadership. The Golden Circle concept has influenced how I approach communication and decision-making.
The Little Book of Stoicism
by Jonas Salzgeber
Ancient wisdom for everyday life - practical Stoic philosophy for modern challenges and personal growth.
Key Insights
- Focus on what you can control, accept what you cannot
- Virtue is the highest good and leads to eudaimonia
- Practice negative visualization to appreciate what you have
Personal Reflection
A concise introduction to Stoic philosophy with practical applications. The modern examples made ancient wisdom accessible and relevant.
Sprint
by Jake Knapp
How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days - A practical guide to design sprints.
Key Insights
- Five-day process to solve big problems and test ideas quickly
- Structured approach prevents common pitfalls in innovation
- Rapid prototyping and testing saves time and resources
Personal Reflection
Good framework for rapid problem-solving, though the rigid structure might not work for all teams. Useful for time-constrained projects.
Java Head First
by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates
A Brain-Friendly Guide to learning Java programming with a unique approach that engages multiple learning styles.
Key Insights
- Learning through multiple modalities enhances retention
- Hands-on practice is crucial for programming mastery
- Understanding concepts before memorizing syntax
Personal Reflection
The Head First approach made learning Java much more engaging and memorable. The visual learning style really helped solidify concepts.
The Power of Habit
by Charles Duhigg
Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business - Understanding the science of habit formation and how to change them.
Key Insights
- Habits follow a cue-routine-reward loop
- Keystone habits can trigger positive changes in other areas
- Willpower is a finite resource that can be strengthened
Personal Reflection
Interesting insights into habit formation, though some concepts felt repetitive. The scientific approach to understanding habits was valuable.
Atomic Habits
by James Clear
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones.
Key Insights
- Systems are more important than goals
- 1% better every day compounds to massive change
- Environment shapes behavior more than motivation
Personal Reflection
Changed my approach to professional projects by focusing on small, consistent improvements rather than big transformations.