Embedded Files
In 2024, I still got to read 27 books. The following are my favorite books and I hope you at least take time to read one of them.
Until We Are Free: My Fight for Human Rights in Iran, by Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate
Dr. Ebadi is a women's rights icon whose fight is truly inspiring. In this book, she discusses her post-Nobel life and how the Nobel Prize made her life more challenging. Like a dramatic film, multiple events unfold simultaneously as Dr. Ebadi details her struggle for human rights in Iran, navigating constant attacks from the authoritarian regime. The government seized everything from her, including the foundation she established with her Nobel Prize money, yet she never stopped fighting. Dr. Ebadi's colleague Narges Mohammadi also received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, whom she discusses in the book. Iran has two Nobel laureates: Dr. Shirin Ebadi, who lives in exile, and Narges Mohammadi, who's imprisoned serving a 36-year sentence for advocating for women's rights in Iran.
The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma, by Mustafa Suleyman
Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and now leading AI at Microsoft, takes you behind the scenes of AI's rapidly evolving landscape. He draws compelling parallels to how the internet reshaped the world, and argues that AI's impact in the next decade will be even more profound. He has a balanced perspective, acknowledges AI’s potential while warning about the dangers if it falls into the wrong hands. Suleyman doesn’t shy away from the hard truths: how we approach AI today will define whether it becomes a tool for empowerment or a weapon of manipulation.
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering, by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell returns with a new angle on how small ideas spread to become massive trends, and this time, he dives into the darker side of social influence. As someone who enjoyed The Tipping Point, I found this follow-up especially interesting because it highlights how those same “tipping” concepts can be used to shape everything from viral misinformation to political movements.
Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead, by Laszlo Bock
The author is Laszlo Bock, former SVP of People Operations at Google. I love reading about workplace culture and leadership, and Laszlo Bock’s inside look at Google did not disappoint. He emphasized on trust, empowerment, and data-driven decision-making and that is not just for managers—anyone looking to create a more positive work environment (or even just be a better team member) can learn a lot from the book. In the books he mentioned Project Oxygen, where Google ran an experiment to see what differentiates the best managers. The following are the key findings of Project Oxygen:
Be a good coach.
Empower the team and do not micromanage.
Express interest/concern for team members’ success and personal well-being.
Be very productive/results-oriented.
Be a good communicator—listen and share information.
Help the team with career development.
Have a clear vision/strategy for the team.
Have important technical skills that help advise the team.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse