Ali
Although it is a series of essays, you can find a cohesive narrative throughout the book. Practices presented in this book is not to be treated as baseline standards, but goals to be achieved, moon shots if you like, but not unattainable ideals. This is a must read for anyone (not just *Ops people) that work as a software engineer.
This is basically about skepticism, scientific method, basic statistics, how not to lie with statistics and then finally visualization. I have to admit I skipped most parts of details of advance visualizations.
Good prelude on how the field have been initiated and some fun back stories for books that I've read (mainly Nudge and Thinking Fast and Slow)
It is well written, full with background science and relevant examples.
The general problem with such books is they are mostly best-case or cliché scenarios, where all relevant people are cooperative, company organizations well defined and established and most people internally motivated to get better. Well, that doesn't happen very often in real life, few people approach others (colleagues or managers) with their problems, few entertain an analytic approach to problem solving and even fewer try to systematically resolve their meta problems.
This book has some solid pieces of advice and some recipes to use such advice, but you have a long way to actually incorporating them into your daily life.
It took me about 5% of the book to warm up, but it was a fascinating journey all the way to the end.
Well, I listened to the abridged version (unknowingly at first), I think I should at least partially reread the unabridged version. Points on mental models and systems thinking are useful and to the point.
Very good narration of team work in a highly, if not the most, innovative environment.
I know what I should call myself now, Libertarian Paternalist! Not too liberal, not too restricting and most importantly, non-manipulative!
I like the book and I like the idea of nudging people into better decisions.
... and yet in Iran, we are far from nudging. Government and private sector alike (though in different directions) are shoving people into decisions, which are not necessarily good for them.
I have mixed feelings about this book, and need to dig into scientific resources to validate some parts. It is well written in a sense that it provides good narrative to understand how we got here in terms of dietary advices and trends. Some parts like drawing on analogies and examples, or referring to religious practices as sources of wisdom (for fasting for example) was off-putting to me.
I do think I should read this book twice, just to make sure I've absorbed most of it.
It is a reductionist approach to macro-history. Which is both good (providing a nice narative) and bad (leaving out many factors and creating non-existing links).
I enjoyed first half of the book much more than the second half.
It was a good and amusing read with some geeky humor interspersed along with raw wisdom.
But like many other books (mostly motivational and self help ones) reader should beware of the survivorship bias! This is how Google works, described as clearly and directly as possible, but this is not necessarily how Google turned into a billion(?) dollar company. Many other dead companies have had few or most of such traits but didn't succeed!
So, my advise: apply with care! :)
Although it was mostly about processes in medicine, the message was clear: excellence can be achieved by constant desire and action for improvement.
An enlightening story, almost thrilling from time to time and eerily close to actual historical events.
A good read!
Like other books of Mr Gawande, this gives a nuanced and balanced narrative by focusing on particularities in last few months of life for terminal patients. This is a reality most of us would face sooner or later, either for loved ones or ourselves, being prepared for it and taking more parameters into account, rather than just focusing on prolonging life, would result in better outcomes both for the patient and the family.
It was a good wrap up on evolutionary aspects of human and other animals' sexuality. We are the odd ones among mammals and almost all animals when it comes to sexual traits, from the way children are born and cared for to burden of responsibility, bonding and marriage patterns and female menopause!
For quick take away: men can lactate and share the chore of feeding the children.
Fascinating read, I didn't expect to read such fundamental facts on will power, executive function and their broad effect on our various traits. I think I would read this at least once more, just to be sure I've absorbed the most!
The author sounded a bit over excited about growth hacking being the total replacement for old fashioned marketing. But the ideas and examples were well presented.
One the most depressing stories I've ever read.
I couldn't help but to relate with Charlie from time to time, and I find it somehow strange!
The journey of Charlie Gordon through some intellectual upheaval was portrayed very well.
Geeky survival story, good humor and believable drama.
Enjoyed various problem solvings by Watney and NASA!
A thorough overview of false beliefs in diet, sports, child rearing, etc. that originate from incomplete or skewed understanding of evolution. A must read if you have ever been exposed to anything paleo or want to vaccinate yourself beforehand.
It gave me a rather accurate account of how Amazon grew and how it works. The most surprising thing was their frugality.