Author, Investor, Speaker, Mentor
When I was young, some of my favorite books were written by Roald Dahl. Far too often, children’s literature is bland and boneless. Dahl’s stories were filled with grotesque figures, tart-tongued narrators, and real danger and consequences. Which is why I feel some sadness that new editions of Dahl’s work have been edited to remove … Continue reading Editing Roald Dahl (However Dumb) Isn’t Wokism, It’s Capitalism
“Fish do not see water.” (Count Hayashi) I first came to Silicon Valley in the Fall of 1990, when I started my freshman year at Stanford. Since then, other than a five-year stint in Boston (or rather, Cambridge), I have lived in Silicon Valley, all within a five mile radius of my original freshman dorm. … Continue reading Book Review: Uncanny Valley
Step 1: Read books. For all that we mock the traditional publishing industry, any book that makes it through that process has gone through many quality filters. If you further limit yourself to books that have withstood the test of time, reading books is the best way to inject concentrated, high-quality knowledge into your brain. … Continue reading How To Hack The Learning Process
I was affected and inspired by Paul Tough’s recent book, “How Children Succeed.” In this book, Tough combines neuroscience, educational research, and striking stories to explain how both sides of the political spectrum are both right and wrong about how to fix America. Conservatives are correct that character is the keystone of success. Over, and … Continue reading Grit, Policy, and Politics
Warren Buffett’s biography, “The Snowball“, is a remarkable book that covers both his incredible career as an investor and businessman, as well as the details of his unusual personal life. Buffett gave his biographer Alice Schroeder full access, with the proviso that she not be afraid to be hard on him. Her portrait of Buffett … Continue reading Warren Buffett’s Secret of Success
I was grateful to Gretchen Rubin when she offered me a review copy of her new book, “Happier at Home.” Happiness is probably my favorite subject in the world. I’ve been an avid reader of positive psychology books for over a decade (you can find a summary of some of the things I’ve learned in … Continue reading Happier at Home: My Brief Reflections
When I read, I’m looking for either recency or quality. There’s a saying that day-old newspaper is used to line birdcages. I read online content with the expectation of learning the latest, and I accept the lower quality as a necessary by-product of speed. I read books with the expectation of reading a well-thought-out, carefully-edited … Continue reading Recency or Quality?
These facts come from Po Bronson’s book, “NutureShock,” a survey of the science of parenting. For a complete outline, visit the Book Outlines Wiki.1. Self-Esteem Doesn’t Do SquatNone of the 200 scientifically valid studies on self-esteem showed that high self-esteem has any impact on grades, achievement, alcohol use, or violence. 2. Tiger Mothering WorksControlled experiments … Continue reading 11 Surprising (but crucial) Scientific Facts About Parenting
I’ve been a fan of Marcus’ work since his original breakthrough book, “First, Break All The Rules.” His core message of the importance of casting people in the proper roles has stuck with me. Where Marcus’ previous books focused on the role of managers, StandOut focuses on your individual career, and better understanding yourself and … Continue reading Book Summary: “StandOut” by Marcus Buckingham
I like to tell people that when I was at Stanford, I studied the second and third best startup majors: Product Design and Creative Writing. (The best major of course is Computer Science. The worst is Political Science) Creative Writing is great for entrepreneurship, and not just because it lends itself so easily to business … Continue reading Disrupt (Book Review & Outline)