9 Books recommended by David Heinemeier Hansson
David Heinemeier Hansson is a Danish programmer, racing driver and the creator of the popular Ruby on Rails web development framework and the Instiki wiki. He is also a partner at the web-based software development firm Basecamp. Hansson co-wrote Agile Web Development with Rails with Dave Thomas in 2005 as part of The Facets of Ruby Series.
David Heinemeier Hansson
Book Recommendations
The Age Of Absurdity
The Age Of Absurdity
Michael Foley
PhilosophyThe good news is that the great thinkers from history have proposed the same strategies for happiness and fulfilment. the bad news is that these turn out to be the very things most discouraged by contemporary culture. this knotty dilemma is the subject of the age of absurdity - a wry and accessible investigation into how the desirable states of wellbeing and satisfaction are constantly undermined by modern life. michael foley examines the elusive condition of happiness common to philosophy, spiritual teachings and contemporary psychology, then shows how these are
“great book on philosophy in the current age”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
A Guide to the Good Life
A Guide to the Good Life
William B. Irvine
One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life. in a guide to the good life, william b. irvine plumbs the wisdom of stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives. in a guide to the good life, irvine offers a refreshing presentation of stoicism, showing how this ancient
“an introductory text that summarizes a lot”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
The Big Short
The Big Short
Michael Lewis
The #1 new york times bestseller: "it is the work of our greatest financial journalist, at the top of his game. and it's essential reading."—graydon carter, vanity fairthe real story of the crash began in bizarre feeder markets where the sun doesn't shine and the sec doesn't dare, or bother, to tread: the bond and real estate derivative markets where geeks invent impenetrable securities to profit from the misery of lower- and middle-class americans who can't pay their debts. the smart people who understood what was or might be happening
“That was a good one”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
Turn the Ship Around!
Turn the Ship Around!
L. David Marquet
Business & Economics“One of the 12 best business books of all time…. Timeless principles of empowering leadership.” – USA Today "The best how-to manual anywhere for managers on delegating, training, and driving flawless execution.” —FORTUNE Since Turn the Ship Around! was published in 2013, hundreds of thousands of readers have been inspired by former Navy captain David Marquet’s true story. Many have applied his insights to their own organizations, creating workplaces where everyone takes responsibility for his or her actions, where followers grow to become leaders, and where happier teams drive dramatically better results. Marquet was a Naval Academy graduate and an experienced officer when selected for submarine command. Trained to give orders in the traditional model of “know all–tell all” leadership, he faced a new wrinkle when he was shifted to the Santa Fe, a nuclear-powered submarine. Facing the high-stress environment of a sub where there’s little margin for error, he was determined to reverse the trends he found on the Santa Fe: poor morale, poor performance, and the worst retention rate in the fleet. Almost immediately, Marquet ran into trouble when he unknowingly gave an impossible order, and his crew tried to follow it anyway. When he asked why, the answer was: “Because you told me to.” Marquet realized that while he had been trained for a different submarine, his crew had been trained to do what they were told—a deadly combination. That’s when Marquet flipped the leadership model on its head and pushed for leadership at every level. Turn the Ship Around! reveals how the Santa Fe skyrocketed from worst to first in the fleet by challenging the U.S. Navy’s traditional leader-follower approach. Struggling against his own instincts to take control, he instead achieved the vastly more powerful model of giving control to his subordinates, and creating leaders. Before long, each member of Marquet’s crew became a leader and assumed responsibility for everything he did, from clerical tasks to crucial combat decisions. The crew became completely engaged, contributing their full intellectual capacity every day. The Santa Fe set records for performance, morale, and retention. And over the next decade, a highly disproportionate number of the officers of the Santa Fe were selected to become submarine commanders. Whether you need a major change of course or just a tweak of the rudder, you can apply Marquet’s methods to turn your own ship around.
“a wonderful book”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
“very inspirational”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
Understanding Exposure
Understanding Exposure
Bryan Peterson
PhotographyMore than 100 vivid, graphic comparison pictures illustrate every point in this revised classic and can help any photographer maximize the creative impact of his or her exposure decisions. peterson stresses the importance of metering the subject for a starting exposure, and then explains how to use various exposure meters and different kinds of lighting. the book contains lessons on each element of the exposure-aperature, shutter speed, iso-and how it relates to the other two in terms of depth of field, freezing and blurring action, and shooting in low light
“the first primers I read on this”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
Political Order and Political Decay
Political Order and Political Decay
Francis Fukuyama
HistoryWriting in the wall street journal, david gress called francis fukuyama's origins of political order "magisterial in its learning and admirably immodest in its ambition." in the new york times book review, michael lind described the book as "a major achievement by one of the leading public intellectuals of our time." and in the washington post, gerard degrott exclaimed "this is a book that will be remembered. bring on volume two." volume two is finally here, completing the most important work of political thought in at least a generation. taking
“a fantastic two-part book”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
The Origins of Political Order
The Origins of Political Order
Francis Fukuyama
Political ScienceVirtually all human societies were once organized tribally, yet over time most developed new political institutions which included a central state that could keep the peace and uniform laws that applied to all citizens. some went on to create governments that were accountable to their constituents. we take these institutions for granted, but they are absent or are unable to perform in many of today’s developing countries—with often disastrous consequences for the rest of the world.francis fukuyama, author of the bestselling the end of history and the last man and
“a fantastic two-part book”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
Drive
Drive
Daniel H. Pink
Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. that's a mistake, says daniel h. pink (author of to sell is human: the surprising truth about motivating others). in this provocative and persuasive new book, he asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction-at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.drawing on four decades of scientific research on human
“I like the book – but kind of obnoxious language of business.”
Oct 27, 2016 — Source
