asr.network

Metamorphosis / Franz Kafka

Hilarious, dark and Kafkaesque just how I like it.

Same as Ever / Morgan Housel

I adore the concept behind this book -- that all things which seem new aren't new at all, they're repetitions of the past in new mediums. Explains the cyclical Zero-Sum nature of human behaviour with emphasis on the finance related-aspects

The Psychology of Money / Morgan Housel

Got me into sane-finance. Taught me one of the leading principles of life which I still do end up overlooking -- time. Give anything enough time and it will burgeon into something remarkable. The book is also more stoic than I had imagined -- explaining the hidden and unquantifiables in life (risk, hope), amazing awesome read.

A brief history of time / Stephen Hawking

Explains symmetry breakdown theory like I'm a five year old. Most of the book is preambles and context but it really does add up and explain particle behaviour and the universe awesomely.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck / Mark Manson

One of the first 'adult' books I read when I was in grade 6 or so. Got me into how to prioritize things which truly matter and the things that don't.

Everything is Fucked / Mark Manson

Mark does like to swear in the titles. This one was alright, I loved the examples given and the meaning behind hope being an unquantifiable but very important part of the equation that is growth and life -- didn't have to be some 270 pages long though.

What if? / Randall Munroe

All my second-grade absurd questions neatly compiled in big red book. I love how concise it is.

What If? 2 / Randall Munroe

🔥 (I couldn't write anything new about it, its the same as the first one)

Dreams from My Father / Barack Obama

I like Obama's voice, and the development him and all people go through. Every small moment experienced adds up to changes in a person's character. I like to imagine what moments I'd be looking back at to recount my own character in the future.

A Promised Land / Barack Obama

I was curious as to how exactly a person runs the country, how diplomacy is managed internally without sidelining other parties. The management of personal interests with the external is also very interesting. Huge book with a lot of things to learn from a managerial aspect.

Are you smart enough to work at Google? / William Poundstone

Awesome puzzles listed in a chapter-by-chapter format. Questions I'm not obligated to answer but can still ponder without having to fail an interview at Google. I like it.

Thinking, Fast and Slow / Daniel Kahneman

May his soul rest in peace. The behavioural model given in the book is pretty good at explaining the intricacies and plain nature that is human behaviour. Control over the circuitry of your own brain push you towards greatness while submission towards the uncontrolled circuitry leads to a downfall.

Ramayan / Adi Kavi Valmiki

A story explaining the triumph of good over evil with simple and easy to understand language. A ray of hope when despair strikes -- Shri Ram being the example every person should strive towards.

Mental Fitness / Tom Wujec

Like 'Are you smart enough to work ate Google?' but in an even more concise writing. Each puzzle being super short and entertaining.

Atomic Habits / James Clear

The ideas behind the book are great and highly important. I just don't get why it has to be stretched out into such a drag of a book. Here's the summary:
 

1. Make good habits easy in both action, visibility and reward.

2. Do the exact opposite for bad habits.

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Just read the scorecard on the website: atomichabits.com/cheatsheet

Guide to Technical Analysis and Candlesticks / Ravi Patel

Man the thousands of unnecessary videos on candlestick training can be completely crushed by this old, obscure book. Short and to the point, was very important to learning trading -- still refer to it whenever I get back into it.

A Brief History of Science / Thomas Crump

How science evolves with respect to time is a very important field of its own, it lays out the patterns of thinking people have used to achieve breakthroughs in history. Today we focus more on the progression of theory while Crump describes it in the way we actually progressed -- through tinkering and the evolution of machines and gizmos.

Immune / Phillip Dettmer

The doctor-to-be in me is blown away by how vast the human body is despite its meager size. To have been told through beautiful illustrations and language that a world as vast and infinite as the human body exists inside as the immune system makes me go Waaa??

The Change Book / Mikael Krogerus, Roman Tschäppler

The epitome of writing and conveyance of information. Short, to the point and so efficient in delivering information that I treat the book more like art than.. well a book. Explains different models of interactions, human, non-human.

And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie

The following is an inside joke:


Ten Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons went out to Dine, one choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  stayed up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  travelling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.

Seven Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  going through a door; One stubbed his toe and then there were four.

Four Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was One.

One Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons  left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there was one sad person with no Strawberry Ice-Cream Cartons to guzzle.

​

Only one human can understand this ever.

​

Decent story, a bit too old English type for me but entertaining if bored.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 1-14 / Jeff Kinney

Man third grade humour is something else altogether. I believe I found the plots to be hilarious back then, but today I can only look back to see the books which got me into speed reading.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory + Great Glass Elevator / Roald Dahl

I remember the story pretty well but don't seem to reconcile what I learned from it -- maybe it fueled my fascination and interest in gastronomy? Did increase my reading speed though.

Surrounded By Idiots / Thomas Erikson

Fantastic book. This book uses Thomas' experience backed methods to classify people into different types and how to interact with them all. It's an extrapolation of basic human behaviorology + just good ol' hiring experience.

Adolf Hitler, A Biography / Pegasus Publishing House

Summarises among humanity's worsts -- Adolf Hitler. Many interesting revelations were had in this book, through a factual lens with numbers and timelines. I believe I must read Mein Kampf completely to understand what Hitler was thinking when he killed six million Jews.

The Rudest Book Ever / Shwetabh Gangwar

Edgy Indian version of the Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 1-14 / Jeff Kinney

Man third grade humour is something else altogether. I believe I found the plots to be hilarious back then, but today I can only look back to see the books which got me into speed reading.

The Communist Manifesto / Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

I was initially surprised how short it is -- I guess the shorter the better for spreading a message. Doesn't convince me with the modern lens I have, but I can understand why it convinced so many to join.

48 Laws of Power (Concise Edition) / Robert Greene

Very actionable tips on success in the exact crispy and concise things I need. Super-Machiavellian in the tone and steps necessary. Hands down awesome.

The Daily Stoic / Ryan Holiday

Essentially a holy book to me. Stoicism is by far the most common-sense way to lead my life, there is nuance but I must say that my life has improved greatly following stoic principles. I read one page a day (as intended) -- yes, information is repeated but my god phenomenal towards daily and lifetime goals. I love it.