What I Read in 2024

My timeline is filled with reflections on the passed 2024. One such series that I love is the What-I-Read-Last-Year posts. I am a big sucker for such lists. Almost all the high-impact books I’ve read have come through recommendations from people I admire and trust.

Some of the best books I read in 2024:

1.??????? Daemon by Daniel Suarez

Re-read this old fiction book about an automated system wreaking havoc in the real world. If you are dreaming up on AI agents and other autonomous systems, this will be a very timely and thought-provoking read. Highly imaginative and unique and extremely timely when we are debating about AGI and ASI.

2.??????? Read Write Own It by Chris Dixon

A compelling dive into the Web3 movement and the principles of decentralization. Dixon does an excellent job of making complex concepts accessible, laying out how this paradigm shift could redefine ownership, content, and the internet as we know it.

3.??????? The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman

A very comprehensive argument on the transformative impacts of big tech led waves such as AI, synthetic biology, and energy innovations. What I liked the most is the attempt to balance the excitement of a great future and the perils that come along with that. I found myself ruminating quite a few times as I read this book. ?

4.??????? The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen

A book that strongly resonates with my past experience on understanding and building network effects and platforms. This book combines compelling case studies with actionable insights, making it quite a valuable source for anyone interested in product growth. The book feels like a mentor’s advice distilled into pages.

5.??????? Economic Writing by Deirdre McCloskey

This is a classic for anyone who’s intereted to improve their writing skills. Found myself chuckling many times on problems the author point remembering that many of us do the same. It breaks down the elements of good writing and why clear and precise communication is crucial.

6.??????? Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch

A book more than a decade old and yet an incredible read even today. Some of the conclusions and thought process in the book especially on topics such as multiverse was incredible. It wasn’t an easy read for me and I may have skipped a few pages that didn’t hold my attention :)

7.??????? Aztec by Gary Jennings

A fascinating historical fiction in the world of Aztecs. The story is stunning from the get go covering ?Aztec life, culture, and history, with an unforgettable narrative. It’s both an adventure and a deeply human story. Some of the topics are quite disturbing and may not be for everyone.

8.??????? Something deeply hidden – Quantum worlds and emergence of spacetime and The Big Picture – on the origins of life, meaning and the Universe by Sean Carroll

I was surprised that I had never heard of Sean Carroll till last year. He has an amazing talent in easing into concepts linking physics, philosophy, math and biology. I found myself totally engrossed and reflecting what he has written for a long time. Some of the books I want to keep reading whenever I find time.

May 2025 bless us with books so good we forget to check our phones. Here’s to reading more, skimming less, and pretending to understand all the big ideas in the world - also staying one step ahead of our AI overlords by consuming all the wisdom we can now.

Happy new year, everyone.

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