Bookshelf
If you want to trip me up, the questions "do you have a good book recommendation?" or "what are you reading?" are good bets. And, yes, I do consider both more or less the same in casual conversation. Reading recommendations are often indistinguishable from virtue signaling, or overly specific to a single topic. For me, that topic is typically my latest craze, and virtue targeting is even harder than avoiding signaling altogether. None are particularly valuable to anyone.
Inspired by, among others, Patrick Collison's bookshelf, I think just listing what's on my shelf is a much better idea. It lets you see what has piqued my interest or wound up in my hands one way or another. But, it makes no assumptions about your interests, nor how I'm trying to impress you. It may not be for you, but I love the format.
I have not necessarily started – and certainly not finished – all the books on the list. There is no overarching theme to be gleaned, nor any order. I have tried to provide some context and opinion where valuable, but don't lean on it too much.
Cook County ICU
My middle-of-the-night read with the second baby, so I don't remember details – yet, a delightful set of honest stories from a career as a doctor.
Den of Thieves
These guys were so shameless that "Wall Street" seems like a thin veneer of the actual extent of the period.
Blitzed
What happens when you take a single lens on a world event and extrapolate it to its natural extreme. Fantastic read.
The Most Fun I Never Want To Have Again
An awesome "in a world where tech is a commodity" lens on the banking boom of the early 2000's.
Feed Your People
I was hoping to see more inspiration in this one, but it's not bad in a pinch, I guess?
The Flavor Matrix
Very light on actual methodology and science to the point of being just frustrating.
Ama: A Modern Tex-Mex Kitchen
The cookbook from the absolutely amazing restaurant where my wife and I hosted people for lunch after our wedding.
Investments (8th edition)
I'm Feeling Lucky
A fascinating story written by an impressive guy with an even more impressive case of imposter syndrome.
The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
A somewhat honest look at a beacon of light for many a hopeful. I walked away both impressed and perplexed by this guy.
Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World
– in which Michael Lewis leaves the United States of America but doesn't understand that people can be different from him. Also, a great history of the present financial state of especially Europe.
Know of a book, you think I would enjoy? Let me know about it!