The bookshelf
A literary journey through technology, philosophy, fiction, and beyond.
Library
Everything I've read, with ratings, notes, and the odd recommendation.
Currently Reading (72)
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
An analysis of the risks and strategic challenges posed by the prospect of machine superintelligence.
Machines of Loving Grace
A history of the quest to build intelligent machines and the tension between AI and human augmentation.
The Singularity Is Near
Kurzweil's argument that accelerating technological change will soon transform human civilization.
The Singularity Is Nearer
A 2024 follow-up revisiting Kurzweil's predictions in light of the recent AI explosion.
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
McLuhan's seminal work on how media, as extensions of ourselves, reshape perception and society.
Source Code: My Beginnings
Gates' memoir of his early life, family, and the formative years leading to Microsoft.
The Rebel
Camus' philosophical examination of rebellion, revolution, and the limits of justified revolt.
The Myth of Sisyphus
The foundational essay on absurdism and how to live in the face of a meaningless universe.
Meditations
The private Stoic reflections of a Roman emperor on virtue, mortality, and self-discipline.
Chaos: Making a New Science
The story of how chaos theory emerged and revealed order hidden inside complex systems.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks
Harari traces how information networks have shaped humanity from the Stone Age to the age of AI.
The Intellectual Life
A classic guide to the spirit, conditions, and methods of a life devoted to thought and study.
AI Engineering
A definitive guide to building applications with foundation models, from evaluation to deployment.
Grokking Machine Learning
An intuition-first introduction to core machine learning algorithms with minimal jargon.
Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch)
A hands-on, code-first walkthrough of implementing a GPT-style LLM step by step.
Deep Learning with Python
The creator of Keras introduces deep learning through practical, intuition-building examples.
Fluent Python
A deep dive into writing idiomatic, effective Python by leveraging the language's data model.
A Game of Thrones
The first volume of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Philosophy 101
A primer on the history of Western thought, Plato to metaphysics.
Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will
Sapolsky's biological case against free will.
In Praise of Idleness
Russell's essays on work, leisure, and freedom.
Relativity: The Special and the General Theory
Einstein's own popular exposition of relativity.
Six Easy Pieces
Feynman's most accessible introduction to physics.
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm
Tales from Alagaesia, returning to the world of Eragon.
CUDA by Example
An introduction to general-purpose GPU programming.
Quantum Computing for Everyone
An accessible, math-light introduction to quantum computing.
Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python
Computation, modeling, and data analysis with Python.
The Gene: An Intimate History
A sweeping history of the gene and heredity.
He Who Fights with Monsters 2
The second volume of the HWFWM LitRPG series.
The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
The collected gothic tales and verse of Poe.
The Odyssey
Homer's epic of Odysseus's long journey home.
Rhythm of War
The fourth Stormlight Archive novel.
This Is Your Brain on Music
The neuroscience of why music moves us.
Tao Te Ching
The foundational text of Taoism.
The Republic
Plato's dialogue on justice and the ideal state.
The Emperor's New Mind
Penrose on computers, minds, and the laws of physics.
Critique of Pure Reason
Kant's foundational work on the limits of human knowledge.
Masters of Doom
How Carmack and Romero built id Software and transformed games.
Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius
Seneca's Stoic letters to Lucilius.
Quanta and Fields
The Biggest Ideas in the Universe on quantum fields.
The Oxford Handbook of Critical Improvisation Studies, Vol. 1
Scholarship on improvisation across disciplines.
The Real Book, Volume I (C Edition)
The classic jazz fake book of standards.
The Big Picture
On the origins of life, meaning, and the universe itself.
Make It Stick
The science of successful, durable learning.
The Mismeasure of Man
Gould's critique of biological determinism and IQ.
Being Mortal
Medicine, aging, and what matters in the end.
On China
Kissinger on Chinese history and statecraft.
The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom
America and China, 1776 to the present.
From Eternity to Here
Carroll on time, entropy, and cosmology.
Thus Spake Zarathustra
Nietzsche's philosophical novel of the Ubermensch.
On the Genealogy of Morals
Nietzsche's polemic on the origins of moral values.
AI Superpowers
China, Silicon Valley, and the new world order in AI.
Peak
The science of deliberate practice and expertise.
The Hundred-Year Marathon
China's long-term strategy to surpass America.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
King's part-memoir, part-toolkit on writing.
War and Peace
Tolstoy's panoramic novel of Russia in the Napoleonic era.
Jade City
The Green Bone Saga opener: magic, family, and organized crime.
Deep Learning
The foundational deep learning textbook.
The Knowledge Gene
On the supergene behind human creativity.
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (JS Edition)
The classic SICP, in JavaScript.
Foundation
Asimov's classic of psychohistory and a falling galactic empire.
The Definitive Guide to OpenSearch
Search and analytics with OpenSearch.
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bryson's accessible tour through the sciences.
The Doors of Perception
Huxley on mescaline and the nature of perception.
Mortal Questions
Nagel's essays on death, mind, and subjective experience.
The Master and His Emissary
The divided brain and the making of the Western world.
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
Jaynes's bold theory of the origin of consciousness.
Complete Works of Plato
Collected dialogues and teachings of Plato.
Professional CUDA C Programming
A deeper, practical guide to CUDA C.
The Fisherman
A quiet cosmic-horror novel about grief and fishing.
The Vital Question
Energy, evolution, and the origins of complex life.
Words of Radiance
The second Stormlight Archive novel.
2026 (1 books, 387k words)
The Way of Kings
The sweeping first volume of The Stormlight Archive, set on the storm-scoured world of Roshar.
2025 (47 books, 4.1M words)
Empire of AI
An investigative account of OpenAI and the ambitions, costs, and power behind the modern AI industry.
Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope
Manson's follow-up examining hope, values, and meaning in a world of comfort and distraction.
Everything Is Tuberculosis
A history of humanity's deadliest infection and the injustice of who still dies from a curable disease.
Warbreaker
A standalone epic fantasy of returned gods, awakened color, and political intrigue in the city of Hallandren.
The God Delusion
Dawkins' case against religious belief and an argument for atheism grounded in evolutionary biology.
The AI Engineering Bible
A practical guide to building, deploying, and scaling production-ready AI systems.
The Software Engineer's Guidebook
Navigating senior, tech lead, and staff engineer positions at tech companies.
Meditations on First Philosophy
Descartes' exploration of doubt, certainty, and the nature of existence.
Delivered from Distraction
Getting the most out of life with Attention Deficit Disorder.
The Problems of Philosophy
Russell's introduction to the central problems of philosophy.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
A comprehensive guide to understanding and managing adult ADHD.
Discourse on Method
Descartes' foundational work on scientific method and rational thinking.
Driven to Distraction
Recognizing and coping with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Think
A compelling introduction to philosophy and critical thinking.
The Art of Impossible
A peak performance primer on the science of achieving the impossible.
Yes to Life
Previously unpublished lectures by the author of Man's Search for Meaning.
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
Behind-the-scenes stories of how video games are made.
Deeply engaging insider look at the gaming industry. Often a bit shallow, but potentially better for it.
Lessons in Stoicism
A modern introduction to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.
Accessible introduction to Stoic principles and history.
Building a Second Brain
A proven method to organize your digital life and unlock your creative potential.
Frankenstein
The original science fiction novel about creation, responsibility, and what makes us human.
Getting Things Done
The definitive guide to stress-free productivity.
The Gunslinger
The first book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series.
Fantastic, but weird af. No one warns you how weird this will be.
Rework
A manifesto for doing business differently in the modern world.
The Fellowship of the Ring
The first part of the epic Lord of the Rings saga.
The GOAT
Flow
Groundbreaking research on the psychology of peak performance and happiness.
Foundational understanding of optimal experience. Changed how I think about work and creativity.
Choke
A darkly comic novel about a sex addict working at a colonial theme park.
Palahniuk at his darkest and funniest. Uncomfortable but compelling.
Digital Minimalism
A philosophy of technology use that focuses your online time on activities that strongly support things you value.
Fight Club
A dark satire about masculinity, consumerism, and modern alienation.
A classic. Everything you expect from the movie, and more. Great introduction to the author.
Deep Work
Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Diary
A surreal psychological horror about an artist trapped in a mysterious conspiracy.
Learn Faster, Perform Better
Neuroscience-based techniques to improve learning and performance.
Dry at times, and difficult to immediately apply to your practice. Still, engaging and thorough!
Thinking, Fast and Slow
How our minds make decisions and the cognitive biases that influence them.
The Magicians
A darker, more adult take on magical education and the cost of power.
Decent. Characters can be frustrating, world building is mediocre at best, but I still find myself enjoying the writing. Soft spot because of the show, so I am biased...
Make a Game By Yourself
A practical guide to solo game development.
Short, and a bit shallow. But inspiring nonetheless for aspiring indie developers.
Dagon
Early Lovecraft story about a sailor's encounter with an ancient sea god.
Absolute classic. Short but impactful. A great introduction to Lovecraft's style and themes.
The Call of Cthulhu
Classic cosmic horror short story about an ancient, sleeping god.
Seminal work of cosmic horror. Lovecraft's masterpiece of existential dread.
The Brain
The story of you - an exploration of neuroscience and consciousness.
Perfect intoduction to neuroscience for curious minds. Eagleman is a fantastic communicator.
At the Mountains of Madness
A chilling tale of an Antarctic expedition that discovers ancient, terrifying secrets.
Masterful cosmic horror that builds dread through atmosphere and discovery. A bit long.
Man's Search for Meaning
Holocaust survivor's insights on finding purpose in suffering.
The Practice of Practice
How to boost your music practice with deliberate practice techniques.
A solid introduction to deliberate practice for musicians. Practical and well-explained. Somewhat dated.
The Hobbit
A hobbit's unexpected journey to help dwarves reclaim their homeland.
Notes from Underground
A psychological and philosophical exploration of human nature.
The Inner Game of Music
Mental approach to musical performance and learning.
Deep Learning
The definitive textbook on deep learning by leading experts.
Decent introductory text, but somewhat dry and lacking in substance. Will feel repetitive after other resources.
He Who Fights with Monsters 1
A LitRPG adventure following Jason through a magical world of monsters and magic.
Writing can be weak at times, and it often feels overly long. However it proves the fundamentals of the LitRPG genre done well, and so for me it will remain a classic.
The Inner Game of Fingerstyle Guitar
Mental approach to mastering fingerstyle guitar technique.
The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Time, Space, and Motion
Space, Time, and Motion explained for curious minds.
2024 (4 books, 817k words)
Inheritance
The final battle between Eragon and the evil King Galbatorix.
Brisingr
Eragon forges a new sword and uncovers shocking family secrets.
The best book in the series, a classic for me.
Eldest
Eragon continues his training while the war against the Empire escalates.
Eragon
A young farm boy discovers a dragon egg and becomes a legendary Dragon Rider.
A meme for a reason, but it has a special place in my heart.