“I’ve spent my life trying to undo habits—especially habits of thinking. They narrow your interaction with the world. They’re the phrases that come easily to your mind, like: ‘I know what I think,’ or ‘I know what I like,’ or ‘I know what’s going to happen today.’ If you just replace ‘know’ with ‘don’t know,’ then you start to move into the unknown. And that’s where the interesting stuff happens.” — a quote from Humans of New York
Below, I present a curated selection of literature that has broadened my understanding by revealing what I didn’t know:
On Leadership
“Solitude and Leadership,” a seminal speech delivered by William Deresiewicz to the plebe class at the United States Military Academy at West Point in October 2009. Deresiewicz emphasizes the importance of introspection, asserting that true leadership stems from the ability to be alone with one’s thoughts. Originally published in The American Scholar in 2010.
“Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when Stakes are High” equips readers with strategies to navigate emotionally charged discussions. Whether facing anger, reluctance, or conflict, this book provides invaluable guidance for effective communication.
Michael Watkins’ “The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter” offers actionable insights for navigating career transitions. Irrespective of career stage, Watkins’ strategies empower individuals to conquer the challenges inherent in new roles.
Eliyahu Goldratt’s “The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement” introduces the Theory of Constraints, emphasizing the identification and resolution of bottlenecks to optimize performance. Recommended to me by Jeff Wilke, former CEO of Amazon and someone who I immensely admire, this book provided invaluable insights during my tenure leading research teams for Amazon Fulfillment Technologies and Amazon Logistics.
The 2002 HBR article “Crucibles of Leadership” outlines the crucible of a transformative experience through which an individual comes to a new or an altered sense of identity.
On Intelligence
Turing’s paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” in 1950 explores the question of whether machines can exhibit intelligent behavior. It introduces the concept of the Turing Test as a criterion for determining machine intelligence and discusses various objections and arguments related to the possibility of artificial intelligence. The paper also touches upon topics such as machine learning, language understanding, and the nature of consciousness. Overall, it is a foundational work in the field of artificial intelligence.
On Computer Engineering
Turing’s paper “On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem” is a seminal work in the field of computer science. Published in 1936, it introduces the concept of a theoretical computing machine known as the Turing machine. In this paper, Turing explores the limits of what can be computed algorithmically. He demonstrates that there are problems for which no algorithmic solution exists, which has significant implications for the field of mathematics and computer science. The paper also addresses the Entscheidungsproblem, a question posed by mathematician David Hilbert about whether a general algorithm exists to determine the truth or falsity of any mathematical statement. Turing’s work laid the foundation for the theory of computation and played a crucial role in the development of modern computers.
“Reflections on Trusting Trust” by Ken Thompson stands as a cornerstone in Computer Science literature, emphasizing the critical importance of trust in code authored by others. Originally presented as the Turing Award Lecture in 1984, this paper in the Communications of the ACM continues to resonate within the field.
Claude Shannon’s seminal work, “A Mathematical Theory of Communication,” not only lays the foundation for information theory but also captivates readers with its clarity of thought.
“Principles behind the Agile Manifesto” puts forth simple principles for continuous delivery of valuable software through agile processes.
On Physics
When I was in middle school in India, my father instilled in me a love for physics through “The Feynman Lectures on Physics.” Later, during my teenage years, I explored more works by this brilliant physicist, including “QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter” and “The Character of Physical Law.” When my younger brother was eight years old, he saved up money to buy me a birthday gift—”Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” To this day, we both enjoy reading that book over and over again, along with “What Do You Care What Other People Think?” Feynman’s books continue to inspire us and remind us that the best mindset for learning is to approach things with a sense of lightness and curiosity.
Edward Purcell’s “Life at low Reynolds number” is a seminal paper in the field of biophysics, published in 1977. It explores the behavior of small organisms, such as bacteria and sperm cells, in fluid environments characterized by low Reynolds numbers. The paper elucidates how these organisms navigate, interact, and propel themselves in such environments, where viscous forces dominate over inertial forces. Purcell’s work sheds light on fundamental principles governing the locomotion and dynamics of microorganisms, contributing to our understanding of biological systems at the microscopic scale.
On Research
Richard Hamming’s renowned 1986 lecture, “You and Your Research,” offers great advice on the pursuit of excellence in scientific inquiry. His assertion that “If you don’t work on important problems, it’s not likely that you’ll do important work” remains a guiding principle for researchers worldwide. (Source: Bell Communications Research, 1986)
Martin A. Schwartz’s essay, “The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research,” published in the Journal of Cell Science in 2008, challenges conventional notions of intellect in the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs.
Marc Levoy’s commencement speech on “Where do disruptive ideas come from?” at the 2012 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, explores the origins of disruptive ideas. His advice to “Know your fears, know also what you really want, weigh the odds, and occasionally, make a run for it” inspires us to embrace risk and innovation.
“Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases” by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky delves into the intricate mechanisms of human decision-making amidst uncertainty, offering invaluable insights into cognitive processes.
George E. P. Box’s enlightening piece, “Science and Statistics,” published in the Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 71, No. 356, Dec 1976, presents a compelling discourse on the symbiotic relationship between science and statistical methods, illuminating the role of data analysis in scientific inquiry.
On Reading
Srinivasan Keshav’s paper “How to Read a Paper” offers a structured approach to effectively read papers and conduct literature surveys. Published in the 2007 ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, the paper outlines a systematic process involving three passes: skimming, understanding, and critical evaluation, aiding readers in efficiently comprehending and assessing the content.
On Writing
“How to Write a Great Research Paper” by Simon Peyton Jones is a comprehensive talk on presented at Microsoft Research.
“Whitesides’ Group: Writing a Paper” by George M. Whitesides offers guidance on organizing research papers, originally published at Harvard University in 1989.
“Writing Technical Articles” by H. Schulzrinne is a detailed resource providing insights into the art of crafting technical articles for academic and professional audiences.
On Entrepreneurship
Marc Andreessen’s “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” in 2023 advocates a proactive approach to technology, emphasizing optimism, innovation, and boldness as catalysts for progress and solutions to humanity’s complex challenges. It asserts that technology acts as a lever on the world, enabling more with less. Embracing and leveraging technological advancements are deemed essential for shaping a brighter future, fostering continuous innovation, economic prosperity, and societal progress.
