A Month of Ideas and Inspiration: My January Reading Recap
The beginning of the year is a strange time for reading. On the one hand, it feels like a fresh start: new books, new goals, new ideas. On the other hand, there’s the pressure to choose wisely—there’s only so much time you can spend on books, so I really want to make it count. Here’s my January reading recap: the hits, the misses, and a few surprises along the way.
Non-fiction
Skin in the Game, Antifragile, and The Bed of Procrustes by Nassim Nicholas Taleb: This month, I was finally able to complete Taleb’s Incerto series, and it turned out to be one of the most engaging reading experiences of my life. Each book delves into profound ideas—Skin in the Game explores the ethics of accountability and decision-making, Antifragile examines how systems thrive under stress and uncertainty, and The Bed of Procrustes offers a sharp, aphoristic take on human behavior and thought. The series left such an impression that I feel ready to start a re-read immediately. Taleb’s writing is as thought-provoking as it is challenging, and the Incerto series is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, risk, and the complexities of modern life.
The Molecule of More by Daniel Z. Lieberman MD, Michael E. Long: I really enjoyed this book. It explores fascinating ideas about drive, willpower, and the effects of dopamine on our lives. The authors discuss how dopamine shapes everything from our desires and ambitions to our relationships, highlighting the tension between seeking more and appreciating what we already have. The insights into how dopamine influences our decisions, behavior and relationships make it a deeply engaging and thought-provoking read.
Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini: I really like books about communication, and this is definitely one of the better ones. The book delves into the psychology of why people say "yes" and how to apply these insights ethically. It introduces key concepts like reciprocity, social proof, and authority, offering a framework for understanding and influencing human behavior. One of my favorite examples was how small, thoughtful gestures can build trust and lead to significant positive outcomes. These ideas are both timeless and highly applicable, making this a standout read in the realm of communication.
Leading Effective Engineering Teams by Addy Osmani, Ray Greenley: This is a great engineering leadership book... just not for me. It might be because I’ve read too many of these and I have already come across most, if not all, of the ideas covered. That being said, I think this would be an excellent introduction for a person new to leadership, offering a comprehensive guide to different aspects of leading engineering teams, including fostering collaboration, managing technical debt, and prioritizing effectively.
Generative AI in Action, Video Edition by Amit Bahree: This is a very interesting book covering all the core techniques for utilizing AI, from different types of prompts, through RAG and fine-tuning, all the way to how to deploy enterprise applications with AI. The book introduces frameworks and step-by-step guides for building AI-driven products, which I found particularly practical. The style is a bit dry, and I would have hoped for even more prompting tips, but overall, I learned a lot from this book.
Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: I really liked this book—it surprisingly made me tear up a couple of times. It’s packed with practical advice and heartfelt insights on how to craft and share meaningful stories. The core concepts focus on finding the extraordinary in everyday moments, building emotional connections, and leading teams or groups by inspiring through storytelling. One of the exercises, called "Homework for Life," stood out as a fantastic way to build a habit of finding and capturing stories in everyday life. I think it’s going to be incredibly useful for leading teams, as storytelling can help foster trust, alignment, and shared purpose.
Atomic Habits by James Clear: An excellent guide to building new habits. I think I have intuitively followed some of these concepts before, especially around reducing friction for things I want to incentivize myself to do, but the book provides a useful framework to really start building new habits. Clear explains practical techniques like habit stacking and the importance of creating systems over relying on motivation. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to make lasting changes.
Fiction
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within and Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers: These two entries in the Wayfarers series are some of the best sci-fi books I’ve read recently. Becky Chambers masterfully explores deep and compelling topics like relationships, community, and personhood. Record of a Spaceborn Few delves into the lives of people aboard a spaceship, exploring what it means to belong to a community with a shared history and purpose. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within presents a quieter, character-driven story that highlights empathy and connection across species. Both books are beautifully written, with vivid characters and themes that resonate long after you’ve finished reading. If you’re a fan of thoughtful, inclusive, character-driven science fiction, these books are a must-read.
Parenting Books
This month, I also explored some insightful books on parenting, which offered both practical tips and thoughtful perspectives on raising children.
Welcome to Your Toddler's Brain by Lise Eliot: This book dives into the fascinating development of a toddler’s brain and provides actionable advice for parents navigating this chaotic and rewarding stage of life. Topics include how toddlers process emotions, develop language, and build social skills, with tips on how parents can support these milestones effectively.
The Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood by Selma H. Fraiberg: An old but classic book that has stood the test of time, offering practical techniques and timeless advice for parents. It covers key ideas like understanding a child’s emotional world, how to handle tantrums effectively, and fostering healthy psychological development. The anecdotes and examples make it easy to apply the advice to real-life situations. This is a must-read for parents looking to better understand and support their child’s growth during the critical early years.
Community Building
Together with
we might be cooking up something interesting. I gotta admit it's a bit of a slow burn right now though. However, I was doing some reading to figure out how to best get our idea off the ground, hence the focus on product growth books.Get Together: How to Build a Community with Your People by Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh, Kai Elmer Sotto: I really liked this book. It breaks down the core principles of building and nurturing a community, emphasizing that successful communities grow through shared rituals, storytelling, and a clear sense of purpose. The authors highlight the importance of empowering members to take ownership and actively contribute, making these principles incredibly actionable.
The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn if Your Business is a Good Idea When Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick: This book provides invaluable insights into how to have honest conversations with customers. It emphasizes asking the right questions and avoiding bias to truly understand customer needs. A key takeaway for me was the idea of avoiding leading questions and instead focusing on uncovering real problems through open-ended, objective conversations. It’s practical, direct, and something I’m eager to apply.
Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares: A highly engaging read on growth strategies for startups, this book introduces the "Bullseye Framework," which is a systematic approach to identifying and prioritizing the best marketing channels for your startup. The framework involves three concentric circles, with the inner circle representing the most promising channels that need to be tested first. By running experiments and tracking results, you can gradually focus on the channels that bring the most traction, allowing you to allocate resources effectively while avoiding wasted effort on less impactful avenues. This structured method ensures clarity and efficiency in scaling your startup's growth. It offers concrete steps and actionable advice that I’m looking forward to implementing.
Closing Thoughts
January’s reading list was a mix of highs and lows, but it left me with plenty to think about. A recurring theme across many of these books was the importance of connection—whether it’s within a community, a team, or even with oneself. From Becky Chambers’ exploration of empathy and personhood in her sci-fi stories to the actionable frameworks for building habits, communities, and leadership in non-fiction, this month’s reading reinforced how central relationships and self-awareness are to growth and progress. These ideas will undoubtedly stick with me moving forward.
What did you read in January? I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations!