Duped by Timothy R Levine
Goes into extreme depth about the so-called “truth-default theory”, the latest in the social science of lying and deception. Backed by an impressive amount of research, it’s a fascinating journey around how and why people lie. https://amazon.com.au/Duped-Truth-default-Theory-Science-Deception/dp/0817320415/
The King Air Book by Tom Clements
Yes, the aviation theme continues. The King Air 350 is in my Top 2 favorite aircraft, and one I enjoy in a simulator – and it’s been a lot of fun applying the techniques in this brilliant book to some simulator flying. https://amazon.com.au/King-Air-Book-Tom-Clements/dp/0578045346/
New Laws of Robotics by Frank Pasquale
Probably the most erudite book I’ve read on how societies should manage AI & robotics to their benefit, not to their detriment. Lots of food for thought and good – but difficult – policy lessons to be found here. https://amazon.com.au/New-Laws-Robotics-Defending-Expertise/dp/0674975227/
The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian
Starts off nice & easy on bias and representation in datasets, but quickly dives into details of models such as cooperative inverse reinforcement learning & then gets pretty philosophical. Surprising & delighting. https://amazon.com.au/Alignment-Problem-Machine-Intelligence-Values/dp/1786494310/
Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K Gann
A fascinating, engrossing, almost poetic memoir of the early commercial aviation era. A brilliant classic that I trust even those not particularly interested in aviation could easily and pleasantly lose themselves in. https://amazon.com.au/dp/1908059028/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_X9QAWQRJ31PR472Q3H7P
Keeping Chickens – An Australian Guide
A bit of a departure from regular themes, but a very informative and interesting read.
Not to mention a very necessary read, as these guys who came in an incubator for babysitting ended up staying. https://amazon.com.au/dp/014300638X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_11JV7R64F11Y4RCZ6P1Q
The Psychology of Thinking about the Future, edited by Gabriele Oettingen, A. Timur Sevincer, and Peter M. Gollwitzer
A fascinating look at how humans think about the future, and what the various consequences of different ways of going about it are. A great introduction to neurocognitive & other perspectives in future-thinking. https://amazon.com.au/Psychology-Thinking-about-Future/dp/1462534414/
The Lonely Century by Noreena Hertz
Looks at the many threads that cause people to feel increasingly lonely (it’s not just the pandemic) & what we could do to reverse it. Unfortunately, many trends are driving more loneliness, with severe implications. https://amazon.com.au/dp/0593135830/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_P013SXXREK1Q6VNMMER0
The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh
Emphasizes mindfulness. A gentle, rather Buddhist guide to compassionate communication; all abiding by its advice would eliminate or transform probably 99% of online chatter. And that would be a good thing. https://amazon.com.au/dp/1846044006/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_JZK0MNC7PYRE3S3PP9AZ
Open by Johan Norberg
Maybe a little over-infused with history and has a slight whiff of conceptual overreach, but also makes an extremely compelling case that open societies are critically important for progress and for their overall success. https://amazon.com.au/dp/1786497166/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_KPXZM7N26RXBKR8P1RNH
Australian Women Pilots by Kathy Mexted
Tells fascinating stories of Australian pilots who happen to be women, something that was often used as an excuse to throw obstacles in their way. Inspiring and informative, even for those who don’t care about aviation. https://amazon.com.au/dp/1742236979/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_WM9769A5DXR791AP3SX3
Humble Pi by Matt Parker
Tells fascinating stories of a plethora of math mistakes, with consequences ranging from humorous to deadly serious. We’ve all heard a math error story, but this offers in-depth accounts and a selection next to none. https://amazon.com.au/Humble-Pi-Comedy-Maths-Errors/dp/0141989149/
The Divide by Jason Hickel
Underscores that much of inequality on the macro-level is not accidental, but the result of various systems being structurally stacked against reducing inequality. Win-win solutions exist too, but they need to be taken seriously. https://amazon.com.au/Divide-Brief-Global-Inequality-Solutions/dp/1786090031/
The Turbine Pilot’s Flight Manual, 4th ed, by Brown & Holt
Approx 99.94% of people couldn’t care less about this, but I (again, given I read the 3rd ed. 9mo ago) learned heaps, found it super-interesting and overall a great read. Even more than usually, YMMV. https://amazon.com.au/Turbine-Pilots-Flight-Manual/dp/1619549190/
The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton
Is a brilliant, eye-opening intro to MMT (Modern Monetary Theory) and should really be mandatory reading for all government members of countries with a fiat currency + everyone feeling the need to comment on govt debt. https://amazon.com.au/Deficit-Myth-M
Apocalypse Never by Michael Shellenberger
Is a voice of reason (backed by mostly, but not 100%, accurate facts) coaxing us from the edge of increasingly apocalyptic environmentalism to environmental humanism. A much-needed work of systemic pragmatism with regards to environmentalism. https://amazon.com.au/Apocalypse-Never-Environmental-Alarmism-Hurts/dp/0063001691/
Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
A snappy coverage of the Ikigai concept (see diagram), but also a host of other mostly Japanese building blocks to a good life like diet and even exercises. As good a blueprint as any, but best absorbed thoughtfully. https://amazon.com.au/Ikigai-Japanese-secret-long-happy/dp/178633089X/
Sandworm by Andy Greenberg
Great storytelling, good facts, detail at a level most people would understand, scary facts. Time is well and truly running out of taking this lesson to heart. If you don’t know what lesson I mean, you need to read this book. https://amazon.com.au/Sandworm-Cyberwar-Kremlins-Dangerous-Hackers/dp/0525564632/
Normalization of Deviance by Karlene Petitt
Covers a study of pilots, uncovering maladaptive cultures, deficient training and issues arising from mandating automation. The lessons extend beyond the aviation industry, and they need to be tackled ASAP. https://amazon.com.au/Normalization-Deviance-Threat-Aviation-Safety/dp/1944738096/
The Right It by Alberto Savoia
This is, I’m happy to report, an exception in the vast sea of useless books on innovation; unlike most, it actually has practical, usable ideas that _will_ help you steer towards the ‘right it’ in terms of your business idea. https://amazon.com.au/Right-Many-Ideas-Yours-Succeeds/dp/0062884654/
Pulling Wings from Butterflies by Mike Simkins
When corporate culture goes south – think normalizing deviance deep south – all too often it’s up to rare people like Mike Simkins to be the last line of defense. It would have been all too easy for this story never to be heard. https://www.amazon.com.au/Pulling-Wings-Butterflies-Tercio-Varas/dp/183831301X/
The Good Ancestor by Roman Krznaric
Starts off a little weak and uneven, but gets better and contains actually useful and practical strategies (and a lot of examples) on encouraging the adoption of a view with a longer time horizon, at all scales. https://amazon.com.au/dp/075355450X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_8TJ9HXC6415PCR4NP8T5
To Be Fair by Ben Fenton
Has a fairly long-winded intro and delves more into history than I would have cared, but does consider the topic of fairness in extreme depth and detail. It’s fair to say it gives fairness a fair go 😉 https://amazon.com.au/Be-Fair-Ultimate-Fairness-Century/dp/1912914247/
The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul
A brilliant book that shows how we can think more effectively and creatively; a strong argument against the traditional ‘brainbound’ school of thought and one of the most mindset-shifting books I’ve read recently. https://amazon.com.au/Thinking-Outside-Brain-Annie-Murphy/dp/0544947665/
The Smart Wife by Yolande Strengers and Jenny Kennedy
Unloads a lot of justified criticism on issues around gendered virtual assistants, ‘smart’ things & robots. Goes off on some tangential topics, but makes a compelling case for re-imagining our assistants. https://amazon.com.au/Smart-Wife-Devices-Feminist-Reboot/dp/0262044374/
Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Will, despite being a quick read, probably teach you a fascinating thing or three about your brain; almost as importantly, it will likely help you unlearn a wrong thing or two, too. https://amazon.com.au/Seven-Half-Lessons-about-Brain/dp/0358157145/
Flight: A Visual Guide by Zack Scott
The perfect intro to aviation; clearly and simply illustrated, it weaves theory into the evolution of aviation at a level understandable to most people while still including a surprising amount of technical detail. https://amazon.com.au/Flight-Zack-Scott/dp/1472247876/
Freefall by William Hoffer and Marilyn Mona Hoffer
This is a bit special – it tells the amazing true story, complete with passenger accounts, of ‘Gimli Glider’, a 767 that ran out of fuel but made a successful emergency landing where everyone survived.
The special bit is that the book was sent to me by the Captain of the flight, Bob Pearson, himself, along with some memorabilia. I also happen to own a plane tag made of the skin of the actual Gimli Glider plane. https://amazon.com.au/dp/0312029195/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_5GQRC6E86M8B4MRNB00P
Think Again by Adam Grant
A concise guide to better thinking, better working, and really better living. Comes with 30 ‘actionable’, sensible, and proven things to do and approaches to adopt which will help with the before-mentioned areas. https://amazon.com.au/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What/dp/0753553899/
How to Decide by Annie Duke
Is really an interactive decision-workbook, so it’s best approached with some decisions to make in mind. From pre-mortems to mental contrasting & backcasting, the book is packed with practical tools for better decision-making. https://amazon.com.au/dp/0593418484/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_BX2KR3M50Z5RQ7VSW2R3
The Science of Can and Can’t by Chiara Marletto
A book that introduces an entirely new paradigm to physics, yet does so in a low-jargon, accessible way, showing a new way of thinking is possible. You have not seen a science book like this before. https://amazon.com.au/Science-Can-Cant-Physicists-Counterfactuals/dp/0241310946
The Geography of Transport Systems by Jean-Paul Rodrigue
With the global logistics SNAFU of 2020–> I wanted to improve my understanding of the system basics – this great read certainly fit that bill very well. Has a good online resource at https://transportgeography.orghttps://amazon.com.au/Geography-Transport-Systems-Jean-Paul-Rodrigue/dp/0367364638/
Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford
I had a really hard time with this book; it takes a novel approach, but it’s very uneven with a highly exaggerated broad-brush first half and an excellent second half. A tough thing to review. https://amazon.com.au/Atlas-AI-Kate-Crawford/dp/0300209576/
The Power of Strangers by Joe Keohane
This is one of those books you’d want everyone to read. An engrossing journey about & into the critical importance of talking to strangers. I hope it’ll light a spark & you’ll go talk to some armed with the guidance herein. https://amazon.com.au/Strangers-Joe-Keohane/dp/0241399130/
Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out. by Tracey Lovejoy and Shannon Lucas
It is fair to say this was not my cup of tea. It’s a ‘You are a vehicle for magic‘ [sic]-level fluff about supposedly heroic Catalysts, a word I am henceforth allergic to. YMMV, obviously. https://amazon.com.au/Move-Fast-Break-Shit-Burn/dp/1544515782
Compliance Capitalism is yet another gem by Sidney Dekker.
Painstakingly crucifying the folly of deregulation so dear to prevailing neoliberalism. Anyone arguing that deregulation is a good thing should read this and be ready to change their minds. https://amazon.com.au/Compliance-Capitalism-Markets-Overregulated-Workers/dp/1032012358/
Arriving Today by Christopher Mims
Takes you on an incredible in-depth journey into the logistics chain all those products you’ve ordered online have traveled. It’s a journey both fascinating and depressing, awe-inspiring and a little scary. https://amazon.com.au/Arriving-Today-Factory-Everything-Changed/dp/006298795X/
The Power of Ethics by Susan Liautaud
This is about ethics at the ‘edge’, where we now find a plethora of issues emerging from, a point where laws and regulations no longer protect us. An indispensable framework on how to make more ethical decisions. https://amazon.com.au/Edge-Ethics-Susan-Liautaud/dp/1471188574/