The Martian

The Martian is basically the survivalist fantasy for anyone who thrives on problem-solving under pressure—with a sarcastic edge. Mark Watney isn’t just stranded on Mars; he’s in a nonstop battle of wits against physics, limited resources, and a planet that literally wants him dead. But the magic is in how he makes it feel like a grimly hilarious science project. For someone like me who loves systems, optimization, and a touch of dark humor, this book is peak efficiency porn. It’s not just about surviving—it’s about iterating, adapting, and doing the math until you win. It’s “FP&A in space,” with potatoes.