If your iPhone is more appealing than your first cup of coffee when your alarm goes off or if you’ve ever blown an entire evening on Pinterest, then you’ve experienced the phenomena detailed in this book: psychological marketing. Hooked is a guide for startup founders, product managers, marketers and designers for creating more of what we humans can’t seem to get enough of: habit-forming technology. Eyal takes us inside the
Burn Math Class: And Reinvent Mathematics for Yourself by Jason Wilkes My rating: 4 of 5 stars What a clever book that serves a brilliant purpose: helping adults and students alike get rid of “bad math tapes” and start anew with mathematics. Is it possible to shift a mental mindset around a subject that has terrified millions? I think so. And if anyone can do it, it’s Jason Wilkes. His
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins My rating: 5 of 5 stars I rarely claim that anything is “the best” because I know that while there can be many exceptional things, there is rarely ever “a best.” I just may break my rule with Mother Bruce. And maybe it won’t go down in history as The Best Ever picture book (reviews and people are too subjective for that!), the book
Next of Kin by James Tucker My rating: 4 of 5 stars I'm lovin' this book for two reasons. First, it's by a new, local author--book one of a two book deal with Thomas & Mercer. Second, it's just a super-fun read--heart-stopping suspense from page one. Ben, the 10-year old lone survivor of the savage murder of his wealthy family, will take hold of your heart and carry you through
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have a love-hate relationship with this book. On the one hand, it's an instructional guide on how to be an asshole. And on the other, it reveals the assholes' ways to protect the good. The 48 Laws of Power is entirely unsavory, fascinating, and useful. Each of the 48 Laws is brought to life by
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong My rating: 4 of 5 stars I Contain Multitudes is a wonderful, beautifully written book that transforms what could be a dull, tedious scientific read into a masterful, delightful adventure introducing microbes' role in health, evolution, ecology, and culture. Utterly fascinating, clever and filled with engaging stories, this book is a winner. And Ed
What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars by Jim Paul My rating: 4 of 5 stars What I learned Losing a Million Dollars offers a fascinating look into the mindset, behaviors, and life of Jim Paul, a man of privilege who, early on in life, developed an appetite for little work and large gains—i.e., a fast buck. This ultimately led him to the financial markets. Success bred hubris and other
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie My rating: 0 of 5 stars A fascinating and meticulously researched compendium. This book will appeal more to those who love to study history than those who love to study people. View all my reviews
The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book will likely be embraced or rejected in large part by one’s current political leanings, which is unfortunate because there’s a lot to be gained by reading it. Whether you accept his perspectives or not, Nichol’s has got one thing right: “…the most dangerous aspect of the
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom My rating: 4 of 5 stars Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom reads a bit like a textbook. And unless you're already passionate about the topic, it requires patience and perseverance to get through it. While the content is complex, the structure is simple and straightforward, making Superintelligence easy to follow. I'm not an AI expert; I picked up this book to learn. And that's
