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I’m going to try and read 52 books this year. For the third year in a row. Because three times is a charm. Here’s the list for 2020. https://twitter.com/matthan/status/1079989876735524864
Book #1 - The Anarchy by @DalrympleWill. A history of India from the perspective of the East India Company. Deeply researched and not short, by any stretch of the imagination, on graphic details. A good start to the year. https://www.amazon.com/Anarchy-Company-Corporate-Violence-Pillage-ebook/dp/B07W952J1F/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=the+anarchy+william+dalrymple&qid=1578890245&sprefix=the+anarchy&sr=8-1
Book #2 - Human Compatible by Stuart Russell. A book about AI and the challenges we will have controlling it when it goes out of control. Familiar tropes with a solution to the challenge that I felt were no more realistic than the problem articulated. https://www.amazon.com/Human-Compatible-Artificial-Intelligence-Problem-ebook/dp/B07N5J5FTS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=human+compatible+artificial+intelligence+and+the+problem+of+control&qid=1579223593&sprefix=human+compatible&sr=8-1
Book #3 - Nano Comes to Life by @SONIACONTERA. It’s not often that I come across a popular science book that seems to so completely occupy the realm of science fiction. The impact of nanotechnology on biological sciences is going to be profound. https://www.amazon.com/Nano-Comes-Life-Nanotechnology-Transforming-ebook/dp/B07RSD6JVW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=nano+comes+to+life&qid=1580187571&sr=8-1
Book #4 - In Service of the Republic by @ajay_shah and Vijay Kelkar. The definitive text book on public policy in India. Rich with examples and unique explanations of policy in India this is a must-read for anyone with an interest in policy making. https://www.amazon.com/Service-Republic-Science-Economic-Policy-ebook/dp/B081HXR95C/ref=nodl_?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B081HXR95C
Book #5 - India’s Founding Moment by @MadKhosla. Deeply insightful, often counter-intuitive but always richly academic. A seminal work on the forces that shaped the writing of the Indian constitution. This is a book I’ll be coming back to again and again. https://www.amazon.com/Indias-Founding-Moment-Constitution-Surprising-ebook/dp/B082DJV2M3/ref=nodl_?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B082DJV2M3
Book #6 - Conscious by @annakaharris. A short but surprisingly interesting read on what it means to be conscious. And therefore alive. Well worth the read even if you are not hugely into mindfulness. https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Brief-Guide-Fundamental-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07G13W75M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=annaka+harris&qid=1581480258&sr=8-1
Book #7 - Agency by @GreatDismal. The master of near future fiction does not disappoint with a story so real I’m not sure it hasn’t already happened. https://www.amazon.com/Agency-William-Gibson-ebook/dp/B072NXSB14?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B072NXSB14
Book #8 - Midnight’s Machines: A Political History of Technology in India by @arunmsukumar. We cannot hope to understand our present until we know our past. Must read for anyone working in the tech policy space in India. https://www.amazon.in/Midnights-Machines-Political-History-Technology/dp/067009109X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=midnight+machine&qid=1582352413&sprefix=midnights+ma&sr=8-1
Book #9 - Atomic State by Jahnavi Phalkey. Insightful narration of the history of atomic energy in India and the personalities that shaped its final destiny. https://www.amazon.in/dp/8178243768/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_udYyEb4TCGG6K
Book #10 - Gut Feelings by Gerd Gigerenzer. In a world where machines and automation has driven us towards increasing objectivity in decision making a book that offers a reassuring counter argument in favor of intuition. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TO0T8U/ref=nodl_?tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
Book #11 - Infocracy by Malka Older. A hard science fiction book about a world where AI micro governments run our democracy. Good concept but the execution is a bit convoluted. https://www.amazon.com/Infomocracy-Book-One-Centenal-Cycle-ebook/dp/B0151U75ME/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=infocracy&qid=1584372636&sr=8-1
Book #12 - Big Billion Startup by @MihirDTweets. This story of Flipkart is set in surroundings I am intimately familiar with and features lots of people I know. Well worth reading to get a sense of what the startup scene in Bangalore is like. https://www.amazon.com/Big-Billion-Startup-Untold-Flipkart-ebook/dp/B07XY2LFDM/ref=nodl_
Book #13 - She Has Her Mother’s Laugh by @carlzimmer. The most detailed and readable history of genetic science I have come across. Recommended reading before you listen to Ep.1 of @exmachinapod. Or after - it’s a long book. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075PVZRQ1/ref=nodl_?tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
Book #14 - Big Disruption by Jessica Powell. A satirical comedy about life in Silicon Valley - that could just as easily have been true of any number of Indian tech startup I have known over the years. https://www.amazon.in/Big-Disruption-Totally-Fictional-Essentially/dp/1732067961/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=big+disruption&qid=1585656838&sr=8-3
Book #15 - Good Economics for Hard Times by Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee. Surprisingly enjoyable book filled with more economics than I can normally swallow. Examples from all over the world that shine new light on traditional ways of thinking. https://www.amazon.com/Good-Economics-Times-Abhijit-Banerjee-ebook/dp/B07PCQLKSS
Book #16 - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemsin. I was looking for a fantasy series to get me through the lockdown. This book was a delightful start. Jemsin is the queen of her genre. https://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Thousand-Kingdoms-Inheritance-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B002ZDJZO2/ref=reads_cwrtbar_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002ZDJZO2&pd_rd_r=e42cb751-ae93-41c0-89a4-0dc30a5a84ae&pd_rd_w=20FcV&pd_rd_wg=ewCX8&pf_rd_p=dc653f06-36ab-4589-b62f-77fafd26b5a4&pf_rd_r=B4H2HNTKNXZW095H9X2P&psc=1&refRID=WEMBAGC8J1W2DMKGRHME
Book #17 - The Broken Kingdoms by NK Jemisin. Part 2 of the Inheritence Trilogy and I’m loving it. On to part 3. https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Kingdoms-Inheritance-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B003YFIV5E
Book #18 - The Kingdom of Gods by NK Jemisin. Part 3 of the Inheritance Trilogy. This one was a bit much. Dragged on but ended with a bang. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RCNGV2?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_2&storeType=ebooks
Book #19 - Don’t Believe a Word by David Shariatmadari. If you enjoy words and grammar and the science of language you will love this book. All about what it takes for humans to communicate. https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Believe-Word-Surprising-Language-ebook/dp/B07TK5K5XX
Book #20 - The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff. A deeply researched rant against Big Tech. I’d have liked it better if it were a bit more balanced and also offered some solutions to the problems it highlighted. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2QEZE2?tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
Book #21 - The Science of Star Wars by Mark Brake and Jon Chase. Using the Star Wars universe as a jumping off point the book explores a wide range of scientific facts, theories and possibilities. Recommended for science nerds. And Star Wars fans. https://www.amazon.com/Science-Star-Wars-Scientific-Behind-ebook/dp/B01HDVCX8A
Book #22 - How to take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens. @tanujb dragged me down the rabbit hole of improving my writing workflow using smart notes and Zettlekasten. This book teaches you how. Highly recommended if you, like me, love productivity life hacks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WVYW33Y?tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
Book #23 - Edison by Edmund Morris. I’ve always been a fan of the great inventor and here’s a comprehensive look into his life and times. Told in reverse chronological order it covers all the various phases of innovation. Good but long read. https://www.amazon.com/Edison-Edmund-Morris-ebook/dp/B07NCMDWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=edison&qid=1590369726&sr=8-2
Book #24 - AI Superpowers by @kaifulee. Deeply insightful book that contrasts all that went into the development of AI in the US and China and that ends on a surprisingly philosophical note. Helped me better understand India’s place in this world. https://www.amazon.com/AI-Superpowers-China-Silicon-Valley-ebook/dp/B0795DNWCF/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=ai+superpowers&qid=1590976728&sr=8-1
Book #25 - The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet by @jkosseff. At a time when the world is trying to find the right balance between free speech and social media censorship a book that helps put things in historical context. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07JKGZ8XQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1591579584&sr=8-1
Book #26 - Sandworm by @a_greenberg. A detailed but thoroughly gripping description of the most aggressive and devastating cyber attacks of our times. One part fascinating. Three parts terrifying. Highly recommended. https://www.amazon.com/Sandworm-Cyberwar-Kremlins-Dangerous-Hackers-ebook/dp/B07GD4MFW2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sandworm&qid=1592097378&sprefix=sandwor&sr=8-1
Book #27 - Some Assembly Required by @NeilShubin. A gripping book that mixes genetics, paleontology and evolutionary biology to explain how life as we know it on earth came to be. https://www.amazon.com/Some-Assembly-Required-Decoding-Billion-ebook/dp/B07RYHNGZY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=some+assembly+required+neil+shubin&qid=1592718173&sprefix=some+assem&sr=8-1
Book #28 - The Ethical Algorithm by @mkearnsupenn and @Aaroth. A remarkably accessible explanation of the complexity of modern algorithms with suggestions as to how we can still achieve ethical outcomes by implementing socially responsible design. https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Algorithm-Science-Socially-Design-ebook/dp/B07XLTXBXV/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ethical+algorithm+the+science+of+socially+aware+algorithm+design&qid=1593352860&sprefix=ethical+al&sr=8-1
Book #29 - Why Fish Don’t Exist by Invisibilia’s @lmillernpr. Masterfully crafted book - part biography of the deeply flawed founding President of Stanford, part exploration of the scientific method and a deeply personal life story all rolled into one. https://www.amazon.com/Why-Fish-Dont-Exist-Hidden/dp/1501160273/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=why+fish+dont+exist&qid=1594001687&sr=8-1
Book #30 - The Body by Bill Bryson. Written in his inimitable style this book proves that there is no subject that he cannot write engagingly about. Information about the human body that you’ve never heard about but absolutely need to know. https://www.amazon.com/Body-Guide-Occupants-Bill-Bryson-ebook/dp/B07M82PNSX/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+body&qid=1595822131&sr=8-1
Book #31 - The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels by @AlexEpstein. I try to engage with points of view different from my own. But never before has a book so methodically challenged my views on climate change. Worth a read - even if you’re not a climate denier. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INIQVJA/?coliid=I1BLGC58TS8MKA&colid=2EME3TDCXN4PB&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Book #32 - Draft No. 4 by the legendary John McPhee. If you want to learn how to write better look no further than this masterful work by a true master of the craft. I learned some thing new from every page. https://www.amazon.com/Draft-No-4-Writing-Process-ebook/dp/B06X18NHC1/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=draft+no+4&qid=1596988169&sprefix=draft+no&sr=8-1
Book #33 - The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe. A grand prophetic book that posits that the world turns in cycles - and that we are due a crisis right now. Very America centric but definitely worth a read. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001RKFU4I/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1597976973&sr=8-1
Book #34 - A Memory Called Empire by @ArkadyMartine. This year’s Hugo Award winner. A glorious science fiction novel describing a world where memories and personalities can be inherited. https://smile.amazon.com/Memory-Called-Empire-Arkady-Martine-ebook/dp/B07C7BCB88/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+memory+called+empire&qid=1598665964&s=digital-text&sprefix=a+mem&sr=1-1
Book # 35 - Mythos by @stephenfry. A delightful romp through Greek literature told in the inimitable style of one of my favorite raconteurs. https://www.amazon.com/Mythos-Ancient-Mythology-Telling-Classical-ebook/dp/B07SLLYGF6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mythos+stephen+fry&qid=1599446267&sprefix=mythos&sr=8-1
Book #36 - The Wall by @gautambhatia88. I love speculative fiction and there are so few Indian writers in the genre. The book weaves law and human rights into a fictional universe making an interesting study of how far restrictions on liberty can go. https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08B7SS1CL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qkLxFb5VN15K8
