Dean’s Suggested Reading

Here’s some non-fiction books I’ve read that I’d recommend to anyone. In order of how seriously I recommend you go read it right now:

1) Getting things Done

Relevant to: everyone

I’ve read this book twice. It’s very good. You should read it too. It taught me how to handle the 4 billion things on my various “todo” lists. I could go on and on. It’s not a very long book (more of a manual) and I’d definitely recommend everybody give it a shot. Key take-aways:

• Keep your “inbox” empty. When something comes in either do it straight away, junk it, delegate it, or schedule it for later.
• Change your “todo” lists to be a list of “actions”, to the means of achieving a “goal”. Not a list of goals.
• Realise the Natural Planning Model. (purpose, outcome visioning, brainstorming, organising, identifying next actions)

2) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Relevant to: everyone

I’ve read this book twice. It’s very good. You should read it too. Since you were going to ask anyway, the habits are:

• 1) Be Proactive (Roles, Responsibilities, Relationships)
• 2) Begin with the End in Mind (Outcome Visioning, Brainstorming)
• 3) Put First Things First (Planning, Prioritisation)
• 4) Think Win-Win
• 5) Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
• 6) Synergize (The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.)
• 7) Sharpen the Saw (Continuous improvement)

3) Thinking Fast and Slow

Relevant to: everyone

This is a psychology book about the two ways we think: Fast (automatic, subconscious) and Slow (calculated, deliberate) and how fundamentally nobody can make us do anything everything we do is by our own choice given the scenario. It covers biases, anchoring, substitution, the framing effect, the sunk cost fallacy, and of course rationality and happiness. My main take-away from this book was: Between stimulus and reaction there is the opportunity for choice.

4) The Paradox of Choice

Key take-aways:

• People are happier with their decisions if they had less to choose between in the first place.
• We only have the cognitive capacity to put effort into so many choices per day. By the end of the day when you’re exhausted you’re putting less effort into choices. “Go with the flow” on unimportant stuff.

5) Sun Tzu’s The Art of War

Relevant to: everyone (kinda)

Classic. not for everyone. Not evidently relevant to anything we do day-to-day, still a fun read and a few insightful take-aways such as: If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers. I.e. communication is a two way street. You need to be certain the person you’re communicating with understands.

6) The Mythical Man Month

Relevant to: Software Project Managers

Throwing more people at a software project will slow it down, not speed it up.

7) Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Identify the difference between expenses and assets. Make your money work for you.