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Reading List

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Technology

Fluent Python (2nd Edition) by Luciano Ramalho.
Subtitled "Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming".

The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford.
Based on "The Goal", a novel about an IT organization's DevOps transformation.

The Unicorn Project by Gene Kim.
A Novel about Developers, Digital Disruption, and Thriving in the Age of Data.

The DevOps Handbook by Gene Kim, Patrick Debois, John Willis, and Jez Humble.
Definitive guide on all things DevOps with many real-life examples.

Testing in DevOps by Katrina Clokie.
Primary focused on the cultural and human aspects of a DevOps transformation.

Python Programming Illustrated for Beginners & Intermediates by William Sullivan.
Decent (but imperfect) way to keep "Python on the mind" when not coding.

Lean Management

The Machine that Changed the World by James Womack, Daniel Jones, and Daniel Roos.
Lean concepts in all areas of the global automotive business.

Lean Thinking, 2nd edition by James Womack and Daniel Jones.
Lean concepts applied to many industries with a variety of examples.

Gemba Walks, 2nd edition by James Womack.
Collection of essays on Lean production, management, supply chain, and more.

Toyota Kata by Mike Rother.
A detailed look at the "Improvement Kata" and "Coaching Kata" within Toyota.

Theory of Constraints (TOC)

The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt and Jeff Cox.
Novel about a failing manufacturing plant that improves with the TOC.

Beyond the Goal: Theory of Constraints by Eliyahu Goldratt.
Recording of a seminar in which Goldratt discusses TOC.

Isn't It Obvious by Eliyahu Goldratt.
TOC applied to retail operations (store, region, and company).

It's Not Luck by Eliyahu Goldratt.
TOC applied to marketing, distribution, and corporate management.

Critical Chain by Eliyahu Goldratt.
TOC applied to project management.

Leadership

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
Former Navy SEALs discuss their military experiences with application to business.

The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
The sequel to "Extreme Ownership", this book explores balancing leadership traits.

Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal.
Former Army General discusses forming large-scale teams to solve complex problems.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell.
Concise and real-life examples of extraordinary leaders and their characteristics.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni.
Leadership fable of how to build effective teams.

The Five Temptations of a CEO by Patrick Lencioni.
Leadership fable of how CEOs often fail to lead their companies.

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni.
Discuss of organizational health and its impact on business.

Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni.
Leadership fable of how to tear down barriers between teams.

The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni.
Discussion of the three core values and their business relevance.

Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni.
Discussion of the three fears that great consultants must overcome.

The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni.
Applying business tools to create a better family life.

The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni.
Focus on the leadership role in building a healthy organization.

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job by Patrick Lencioni.
Discussion of the three elements that make work miserable, and how to improve.

Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni.
Techniques for improving the focus and effectiveness of meetings.

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.
The eyewitness account of Operation Redwing and the lost heroes of SEAL team 10.

Fiction and Fun

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
High fantasy describing a classic story of good versus evil set in ancient times.

  1. The Fellowship of the Ring
  2. The Two Towers
  3. The Return of the King

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
A lone-surviving astronaut must save the sun from extermination.

The Martian by Andy Weir.
On the surface of Mars, a stranded astronaut seeks to survive and escape.

Artemis by Andy Weir.
Story about a young smuggler on a moon colony who wants to get rich.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Book about mid-20th century culture, life, injustice, in the US deep south.

1984 by George Orwell.
The definitive tale of police state behaviors and thought crimes.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Dystopian fiction telling a story of subjugation, rebellion, and victory.

  1. The Hunger Games
  2. Catching Fire
  3. Mockingjay
  4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (prequel)

Year of the Four Emperors by James Mace.
Covers an tumultuous time in Rome's history whereby many men claimed to be emperor.

  1. Reign of the Tyrants
  2. Rise of the Flavians

The Great Jewish Revolt by James Mace.
Describes the anti-Roman Jewish rebellion of 67 AD and Vespasian's response to it.

  1. Rebellion in Judea
  2. Vespasian's Fury
  3. The Fall of Jerusalem

Soldier of Rome by James Mace.
Follows the career of a Roman Legionnaire through many battles and promotions in the ranks.

  1. The Legionary
  2. The Sacrovir Revolt
  3. Heir To Rebellion
  4. The Centurion
  5. Journey to Judea
  6. The Last Campaign

Master and Command by C. S. Forester.
Fictional British Naval history and a friendship between two men.

  1. Master and Commander
  2. Post Captain
  3. HMS Surprise

The Adventures of Horatio Hornblower by C. S. Forester.
An epic tale of the adventures of a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars.

  1. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
  2. Lieutenant Hornblower
  3. Hornblower and the Hotspur
  4. Hornblower and the Crisis
  5. Hornblower and the Atropos
  6. The Happy Return
  7. A Ship of the Line
  8. Flying Colours
  9. The Commodore
  10. Lord Hornblower

The Adventures of Charles Hayden by S. Thomas Russell
Another collection of British naval historical fiction from the early 19th century.

  1. Under Enemy Colors
  2. A Battle Won
  3. Take, Burn, or Destroy
  4. Until the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead

The Adventures of Thomas Kydd by Julian Stockwin.
A young Englishman is pressed into Naval service and works his way up through the ranks.

  1. Kydd
  2. Artemis
  3. Seaflower
  4. Mutiny
  5. Quarterdeck
  6. Tenacious
  7. Command
  8. The Admiral's Daughter
  9. Treachery
  10. Invasion
  11. Victory
  12. Conquest
  13. Betrayal
  14. Caribbee
  15. Pasha
  16. Tyger
  17. Inferno
  18. Persephone
  19. The Baltic Prize
  20. The Iberian Flame
  21. A Sea of Gold
  22. To the Eastern Seas
  23. Balkan Glory
  24. Thunderer
  25. Yankee Mission
  26. Sea of Treason

Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson.
Sci-fi space combat movie mixed with humor.

  1. Columbus Day
  2. SpecOps
  3. Paradise
  4. Trouble on Paradise
  5. Black Ops
  6. Zero Hour
  7. Mavericks
  8. Renegades
  9. Home Front
  10. Armageddon
  11. Valkyrie
  12. Critical Mass
  13. Brushfire
  14. Breakaway
  15. Fallout
  16. Match Game
  17. Failure Mode
  18. Aftermath

Business and Money

Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze.
Financial management tips for parents to help their chilren understand how money works.

Grinding it Out by Ray Kroc and Robert Anderson.
Subtitled "The personal story behind McDonald's Founder Ray Kroc's Success".

Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross and Marylou Tyler.
Next-generation sales techniques for long-term business success.

Founding FUBU by Daymond John.
Short story detailing the founding of a modern clothing brand.

Sell with a Story by Paul Smith.
How to capture attention, build trust, and close the sale by storytelling.

The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen.
A detailed analysis of how new technologies cause great firms to fail.

The Essential Drucker by Peter Drucker.
Drucker's writing over sixty years of thought leadership in business management.

Traction by Gino Wichman.
Get a grip on your business by focusing on what matters.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries.
How to continually test hypotheses, learn, pivot, persevere, and win.

A Seat at the Table by Mark Schwartz.
Defining what future CIOs need to stay relevant and bring business value.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.
An alternative view on how to view assets, liabilities, and more.

Rich Dad's Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki.
Differentiate between employees, specialists, business owners, and investors.

The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason.
A (mostly) fictional but powerful story on building wealth in ancient Babylon.

Making Work Visible by Dominica Degrandis.
Application of Kanban to time management to preserve the flow of work.

Resonate by Nancy Duarte.
Present visual stories that transform audiences for better presentations.

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss.
High-stakes negotiation skills from a former FBI negotiator.

Million Dollar Consulting, 5th edition by Alan Weiss.
Expert advice on building a successful consulting firm.

Value-Based Fees by Alan Weiss.
Contrarian advice on how to charge equitable fees, not hourly ones.

The Millionare Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko.
Subtitle says it all: "The surprising secrets of America's Wealthy".

The Addictive Brain by Thad Polk.
"Great Courses" lectures on human addictions of all kinds.

The Rise and Fall of the British Empire by Patrick Allitt.
"Great Courses" lectures on the history of the topic in title.

The American Civil War by Gary Gallagher.
"Great Courses" lectures covering both the military and political impacts.

The History of the United States by many authors.
"Great Courses" lectures covering US history from the early days to roughly 2000.

  1. Early history: Allen Guelzo
  2. Civil War: Gary Gallagher
  3. Post-war and present: Patrick Allitt

The Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr.
Description of how supermarkets work on all levels of business.

Five Families by Selwyn Raab.
Discusses the five Italian mob families operating in New York City.

Critical Business Skills for Success by many authors.
"Great Courses" lectures of key business management areas (30+ hours).

  1. Strategy: Michael Roberto
  2. Operations: Thomas Goldsby
  3. Finance and Accounting: Eric Sussman
  4. Organizational Behavior: Clinton Longenecker
  5. Marketing: Ryan Hamilton

Crashes and Crises by Connel Fullenkamp.
"Great Courses" lectures covering financial disasters and their impacts.

Financial Literacy: Find Your Way in the Financial Markets by Connel Fullenkamp.
"Great Courses" lectures on how markets work: bonds, stocks, banks, the Fed, and more.

Economics, 3rd Edition by Timothy Taylor.
"Great Courses" lectures on macroeconomics that study the economy from the top down.

The New Economics, Third Edition by W. Edwards Deming.
System of economic transformation for Industry, Government, and Education.

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.
One of the world's best known (and first written) classical economics books.

The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner.
Comprehensive advice on building passive income through real estate investments.

Biographies

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow.
A richly nuanced portrait of the father of the USA.

Can I Say by Travis Barker.
Subtitled "Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums" by the Blink-182 drummer.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore.
Subtitled "The Dark Story of America's Shining Women".

Deviant by Harold Schechter.
Subtitled "The Shocking and True Story of Ed Gein, the Original Psycho".

The Polygamist's Daughter: A Memoir by Anna LeBaron and Leslie Wilson.
Story as told by one of Ervil LeBaron's daughters.

A Higher Call by Adam Makos.
Historic story of an encounter between an American and German pilot during WWII.

Accused by Tonya Craft.
True story about a mother's legal battles against false allegations.

The Napoleonic Wars by Alexander Mikaberidze.
Subtitled "A Global History", this describes the impacts worldwide.

Napoleon: A life by Andrew Roberts.
A detailed account of one of the world's most capable conquerors.

Beyond Band of Brothers by Dick Winters (MAJ US Army).
War memoirs from an American folkhero and WWII combat veteran.

American Drug Addict by Brett Douglas.
A raw and unrefined account about the scourge of drug addiction.

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington.
Mix of autobiographical and 19th century business content from a former slave.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass.
Detailed account of the societal rot brought by slavery in the 19th century.

Grant by Ron Chernow.
Historical accounting of U. S. Grant's life and two-term presidency.

Pryor Convictions by Richard Pryor.
Subtitled "And Other Life Sentences" by the legendary comedian.

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl.
A profoundly interesting journey by the drummer of Nirvana and front-man for the Foo Fighters.

Will by Will Smith and Mark Manson.
Autobiography detailing the life of a highly accomplished musical artist and actor.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.
Subtitled "How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World".

A Promised Land by Barack Obama.
A retrospective autobiography on the 44th US President.

Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Details the author's journey through bodybuilding, acting, and politics.

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou.
Subtitled "Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup" about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes.

American Icon by Bryce Hoffman.
Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company.

The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert (Bob) Iger.
Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.

Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance.
Subtitled "Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future", a fitting title for Musk's life.

I Can't Make This Up by Kevin Hart.
Life Lessons from a legendary comedian and entertainer.

The Snowball by Alice Schroeder.
Subtitled "Warren Buffet and the Business of Life", a viewport into Buffet's thought process.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.
A memoir by the founder of Nike and the early days of the company.

The Everything Store by Brad Stone.
A history of Jeff Bezos and the age of Amazon.

Einstein by Walter Isaacson.
Biography about one of the greatest thinkers of all time.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.
A window into the mind of another brilliant entrepreneur.

History

Endurance by Alfred Lansing.
Story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to the Antarctic in 1915.

The Anatomy of Fascism by Robert Paxton.
An objective and historically nuanced account of fascist governance.

Red Notice by Bill Browder.
True story of investing in Russia and being targeted by oligarchs.

The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang.
Well-researched description about Japanese atrocities in China during WWII.

Caesar's Legion by Stephen Dando-Collins.
Historical account of Rome's Tenth Legion and their many battles.

The Color of Law by Stephen Dando-Collins.
Well-researched and thorough account of Government-driven racism in the USA.

To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy.
Firsthand account of WWII combat in Europe from a decorated US soldier.

The War Below by James Scott.
Mix of historical narration and firsthand accounts of WWII submarine warfare in the Pacific.

World War II at Sea by Craig Symonds.
Describes a "Global History" of various WWII naval battles from various perspectives.

Enemy at the Gates by William Craig.
Mix of historical narration and diary entries of the WWII battle of Stalingrad.

An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson.
Subtitled "The War in North Africa", this book details Operation Torch and beyond.

The Western Front by Nick Lloyd.
Subtitled "A History of the Great War, 1914-1918".

Ghost Wars by Steve Coll.
A history of Afghanistan from 1980-2001 and the CIA's involvement throughout.

The Storm of War by Andrew Roberts.
Focus on the "why" behind many of the key decisions in World War II.

Tower of Skulls by Richard Frank.
A History of the Asia-Pacific War: July 1937 - May 1942.

Japanese Destroyer Captain by Tameichi Hara.
Account of naval surface warfare in the Pacific during World War II.

The Story of World War II by Donald Miller and Henry Steele Commager.
A collection of personal stories, mostly from Americans, on this war.

Blood Red Snow by Günter Koschorrek.
A personal story from a German machinegunner with a focus on the eastern front.

Vietnam by Max Hastings.
A deeply historical account of the war, subtitled "An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975".

Masters of Greek Thought: Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle by Robert Bartlett.
"Great Courses" lectures of the aforementioned philosophers and their teachings.

History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach by Gregory Aldrete.
"Great Courses" lectures providing detailed analyses on spectacular defeats.

Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell.
Nonfictional chronicle detailing Napolean's last stand at Waterloo.

Life and Cognition

Greek Mythology Series by Stephen Fry.
Storytelling of ancient Greek history, mostly in chronological order.

  1. Mythos
  2. Heroes
  3. Troy

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson.
Subtitled "How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents".

The Lost Boy by David Pelzer.
Subtitled "A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family".

33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene.
Application of battle strategies into business/daily life.

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
Various techniques of coercion, subterfuge, cajolery, and more.

Sailing a Serious Ocean by John Kretschmer.
Sea stories and sailing tips from a world-renowned sailor.

Pimp by Iceberg Slim.
Real-life story of being a pimp and its associated antics.

How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram Kendi.
A new perspective on the urgent issues of race, justice, and equality.

The History of Politics and Race in America Since 1968 by Candis Watts Smith.
Well-researched piece discussing how race touches all aspects of American life.

The Mindbody Prescription by John Sarno.
Explanation of psychosomatic medical disorders and their treatments.

The Way Out by Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv.
An extension of Sarno's work, this book describes new methods to treat chronic pain.

A Dangerously High Threshold for Pain by Imani Perry.
Firsthand account of a lupus patient and her subsequent mental development.

Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis Jackson (50 Cent).
Collection of lessons learned from tragic personal loss to thriving businessman.

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry.
Perspective of both participant and witness as the community attempts to transcend its own decline.

Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Subtitled "An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones".

Million Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy.
Tips for thinking more clear and learning to increase your income.

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.
Subtitled "A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus".

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.
Story about family, loss, and the struggle for a better future.

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell.
Subtitled "What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know".

Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
Unique perspective on challenges, risk, uncertainty, and life in general.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.
Follow a man through his struggles with late stage cancer.

Don't Bite the Hook by Pema Chödrön.
Finding freedom from anger, resentment, and other destructive emotions.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
Relive the struggles of a young African American girl living in a world of violence.

12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson.
Detailed psychological analysis of human behavior with interesting advice.

Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins.
A book about gaining mental toughness to improve your resilience to life's challenges.

Relentless by Tim Grover.
Another controversial book on mental toughness by an athletic trainer.

Kick Ass by Mel Robbins.
Open discussion around adult problems with real people (only on Amazon Audible).

Tricks About Home Repair by Warren Green.
Short book with clear instructions on how to fix things at home.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.
Author's life story about growing up in South Africa.

Start With Why by Simon Sinek.
Leadership advice on inspiring others to believe in your vision.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
Principle-driven leadership and communications advice for all people.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Jason Satterfield.
Modifying undesirable behaviors through self-awareness, critical analysis, and goal-oriented change.

Scientific Secrets for Raising Kids Who Thrive by Peter Vishton.
"Great Courses" lectures providing empirical evidence on effecting parenting methods.

Masters of War: History's Greatest Strategic Thinkers by Andrew Wilson.
"Great Courses" lectures on military strategy and lessons learned.

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Advice on how to adjust speech, mannerisms, and actions for the better.

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson.
Explore the depths of public shaming on social media and how we enable it.

The Debutante by Jon Ronson.
Subtitled "From High Society to White Supremacy".

Medical School for Everyone by Roy Benaroch.
"Great Courses" lectures explaining various patient stories, diagnoses, and treaments.

Medical School for Everyone: Pediatrics by Roy Benaroch.
"Great Courses" lectures explaining child-oriented diseases and treatments.

Law School for Everyone by many authors.
"Great Courses" lectures describing the fundamentals of US law and its application.

  1. Litigation and legal practice: Molly Bishop Shadel
  2. Criminal procedure: Joseph Hoffman
  3. Civil procedure: Peter Smith
  4. Torts: Edward Cheng

Chinese History, Language, and Culture

The Chinese Zodiac in Cultures and Traditions by Cindy I-Fen Cheng.
Discusses the various animals and elements, along with their mythological meanings.

Becoming Fluent by Richard Roberts and Roger Kreuz.
Covers the adult language learning process and meta-learning techniques.

Learn Mandarin Chinese with Paul Noble by Paul Noble and Kai-Ti Noble.
Beginner Mandarian Chinese audio course.

Next Steps in Mandarin Chinese with Paul Noble by Paul Noble and Kai-Ti Noble.
Intermediate Mandarian Chinese audio course.

The Fall and Rise of China by Richard Baum.
"Great Courses" lectures on Chinese history from the 19th century to present times.

Understanding Imperial China by Andrew Wilson.
"Great Courses" lectures covering dynasties, life, and culture.

From Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History by Kenneth James Hammond.
"Great Courses" lectures focusing primarily on ancient Chinese history and customs.

Destined for War by Graham Allison.
Using "Thucydides' trap" as an explanation, the author describes the US/China relationship.

Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China by Ezra Vogel.
In-depth review of Deng's life and his impact on Chinese modernization.

The Third Revolution by Elizabeth C. Economy.
Subtitled "Xi Jinping and the New Chinese State".

Red Flags by George Magnus.
Subtitled "Why Xi's China is in Jeopardy".

Humanity

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