My Second Recommended Reading List

I published my first recommended reading list last year and received good feedbacks (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/my-first-recommended-reading-list-xinjin-zhao/). As a follow up, I have put together this second recommended reading list for you to enjoy:

Factfulness: Ten Reasons You Are Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling

I came across Dr. Hans Rosling’s work from his Ted Talk. It was sad to learn that he passed away last year but at the same time I felt so fortunate that he left behind such a remarkable book at his death bed for us to enjoy. This is one of those books that can fundamentally change how you view the world. Packed with vivid stories from real life situations from Dr. Rowling’s personal experience as a medical doctor around the world, his stories from the field illustrate the devastating results that our ignorance and biases can create. At the same time, his stories also tell a powerful message which clearly show the progress we, as a species, have made as a result of our better understanding of the facts. 

The book is extremely easy to read. You can find TedTalk videos of Hans presentation on the topic. Here is a website (https://www.gapminder.org/factfulness/) which is dedicated to the book.

Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom by Robert A. Levy and William Mellor

While the country is going through the highly charged Supreme Court confirmation hearing, I thought I would recommend this book which was published a few years ago. The authors were from Cato Institute which is one of the highly regarded libertarian think tanks in Washington DC. Obviously people will agree or disagree with some of the rulings depending on the readers political point of views. However, this is a valuable book for all of those who want to understand the inner work between the US government and the Supreme Court. Many of the rulings have had and will continue to have fundamental impact on the American society. In today’s highly polarized political environment, it is wise for all voters to understand the implication and roles of the Supreme Court.

Capitalism without Capital by Jonathan Haskel and Stian Westlake

If it was good enough for Bill Gates (https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Capitalism-Without-Capital), I figured it would be a good read for me as well. Over the past decades, the nature of investment has been gradually shifting from tangible assets such as property, plant, and equipment to intangible assets, i.e. computerized information, innovative property, and economic competencies. In the United States, the amount invested in intangible assets has surpassed the sum invested in tangible assets since the mid-1990s. The portion of the world's economy that doesn't fit the old model just keeps getting larger. That has major implications for everything from tax law to economic policy to which cities thrive and which cities fall behind. The rules that govern the economy have by and large not kept up. Haskel and Westlake make a compelling case that both the society and economy of developed countries have to adapt to this shift for achieving higher prosperity.

The Second Machine Age by Eric Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee

The authors argue that the Second Machine Age involves the automation of a lot of cognitive tasks that make humans and software-driven machines substitutes, rather than complements. Overall, the book does a good job of identifying and explaining the forces that will be critical to the economy and job market of future. The book heavily focuses on AI and the latest threat that mass-automation may have on our economy, and society.

The book also contains many policy recommendations including reforming education to pay teachers more but also make them accountable, jump starting entrepreneurship, better job matching technologies, investing more in basic scientific research, upgrading national infrastructure, expanding skilled immigration, implementing smarter taxes, expanding the earned income tax credit. I find many of the policy prescriptions reasonable but not obvious how to actually implement the recommendations. Nevertheless, a valuable read.

When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail by Eric Jay Dolin

As the trade war between the United States and China officially begins, it is important to remember that the relationship between the two countries have been reciprocal and mutually beneficial throughout most the history since the formation of the United States two and half century ago. At the very beginning, early Americans had their eye on trade with China, which at the end of the eighteenth century was one of the most powerful countries in the world. 

One of the first American trade ships launched a year after the States’ independence in 1784 was named the “Empress of China” and carried 30 tons of ginseng, 2,600 animal skins, cotton, and a few barrels of pepper to China in exchange for tea and silk. Not only did this first voyage yield a hefty profit for its captain and investor syndicate, subsequent trade with China created some of the wealthiest Americans of that time.

This book takes you from the origin of America's trade with China through the 19th Century. The result is a valuable foundation to better understand the potential and the challenge of today's US-China trade. 

Getting More by Stuart Diamond

You're always negotiating. Whether making a business deal, talking to friends or booking a holiday, negotiation is always going on. Dr Stuart Diamond, one of the world’s leading experts on negotiation, teaches one of the most popular classes at the Wharton Business school MBA program. This book came out a few years after I finished the program and in fact it cites examples with several of my classmates in the book. Highly readable and impactful!

Here is a short essay Dr Diamond wrote on ten ways to be a master negotiator based on this book (https://www.businessinsider.com/10-ways-to-be-a-master-negotiator-2011-1).

Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days by Jessica Livingston

Founders at Work is a book, written ten years ago, composed of interviews with the founders and co-founders of famous technology companies at the time concerning what happened in their early years. Although it is somewhat outdated, the learnings and experiences about the start up companies are just applicable today. The advice in this book is quite useful for any aspiring entrepreneurs. The discussions on the founders' thought processes as they were faced with changes were all very insightful.

Meb for Mortals by Meb Keflezighi

With his historic win at the 2014 Boston Marathon, Meb Keflezighi, at the ripen age of close to 39, cemented his legacy as one of the greatest long-distance runner by becoming the first American man to win the race in 31 years.

The book reads like a narrative than an exercise book. It's about Meb and what worked for Meb, not necessarily designed to be a general guide on how to improve one's running. It is however full of interesting anecdotes, tips, and insights on how Meb approaches training and racing.

What I enjoyed the most is less about winning marathon race but more about his passion and dedication for the profession he chose. Regardless that you are a serious runner, a weekend runner, an occasional runner, or not a runner at all, you could benefit from the book on how to implement the training, nutritional, and mental principles that guided him throughout his long career.

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

I read this book a few years ago but noted that there is a reprint of this book a few months ago. Shawn Achor is one of the world’s leading experts on happiness, success, and potential. This book is based his research and classes he was teaching at Harvard. 

The book is anchored on scientific research, hard statistics, and rigorous studies but illustrated delightfully with entertaining anecdotes. Conventional wisdom holds that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy. The book describes the recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology that demonstrates that this formula is actually backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. Happiness is not a result of success, but a precursor, even a prerequisite to it. 

Get your copy today and you will be happy you did. Who knows, you might be more successful as well.

Switchers by Dawn Graham

In today’s so called second machine age, more and more people will be expected to switch careers at some point during their careers. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current average worker today stays at each of his or her jobs for 4.4 years. Whether you are looking for a new industry to reinvigorate your passion, or you are forced to start a new career due to organization change, this is a unique book written for professionals who wants to switch careers and seize success. Many of the recommendations are also applicable for new retirees who want to seek new activities to fulfill their retirement outside of their original career. I find the chapter on networking by forging powerful relationship very practical. Any professionals, even if you are not in a mood of switching, could benefit from the book. This is one of my favorite quota cited in the book: “We are kept from our goals not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”

I hope you enjoy reading some of the recommended books. At the same time, I would love to hear your recommendations of good books in the comment section.