The Win Without Pitching Manifesto — Blair Enns

MUST HAVE!

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

and

The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier

Just finished Atomic Habits by James Clear - really recommend this one, even if you aren't interested in the principals behind habits, the cold openings of each chapter are really interesting.

Now I'm on to The 5am Club by Robin Sharma - so far so good :)

Currently reading Hacking Growth which I'm trying to digest slowly as it's really interesting and has insights I can learn a lot from I think.

Before that, I read Zero to One and Nudge which were also really good reads.

What I noticed recently is that because I read too fast, not much tends to stick in my head, so this year my approach is to read slowly and develop some sort of a note-taking practice (not sure how to start that yet), where I can gather my thoughts and learnings and take the time to really learn stuff, as most books are really interesting and full of little details that could help me grow.

Ego is the enemy —Ryan Holiday

It doesnt have to be crazy at work -David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried

Homo Deus/Harari, Design Systems/Kholmatova

Currently reading Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky. It's the perfect read to start the new year

Rich dad poor dad Sorry I am a bit late to the party

Right now Hyperion. Really loving the world Dan Simmons builds with these books.

The Final Empire (Mistborn I) by Brandon Sanderson and 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Just finished “It Doesn’t Have To Be Crazy At Work” by the founders of Basecamp. Definitely recommend!

Now reading Remote by the same authors.

AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order

(Written by the founder of Google China and one of the world's most respected experts on AI. )

Super interesting read about the future of AI, how China and the US will be at the forefront, and the massive effect it'll have on the job market and society as a whole.

Basically, we're all fucked. :)

Visual Explanations by Edward R. Tufte

Hit Refresh

Just Finished The Story of Art by E.H Gombrich. It's good to realise how the visual cultures emerged and how its role changed throughout history. Was more eye-opening than most of the 'faux-productivity' books I've glimpsed at really.

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True by Edwin Catmull. We designers don't usually get any education related to managing people, projects and processes. So, this book is very inspiring to me because I want to be a better leader.

Gleick's The Information and Houston's The Book

Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness Great book if you like to ponder in the more existential questions.

Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman

Discussing Design re-reading with my team right now. Excellent book.

The Secret Art: A Brief History of Radionic Technology for the Creative Individual

I Wonder by Marian Bantjes - one of the most exquisite books I have ever seen.

Don't make me think

In my yearly review I wrote a good bit about my favorite books of 2018. There not necessarily design books, but, I think the most interesting were:

• Enlightenment Now
• Deep Work
• The Rational Optimist
• Seeing Like a State (Not for everyone, but I found it interesting)
• Sapiens

Right now I'm reading The Making of the Atomic Bomb. It's been slow to start. I almost gave it up, but now that I'm deep into WWI I've found the book incredibly interesting.

Based on recommendations—mostly from friends and colleagues, I've got the following books lined up for 2019:

• Why We Sleep
• Factfulness
• Empire: Howard Hughes
• The Snowball: Warren Buffett

I am currently looking for my next read, but here are a few of my favorite books from the past couple of months.

Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives by Sarah Williams Goldhagen

New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future by James Bridle

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer

Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat Holmes

Metaphors We Live By byGeorge Lakoff and Mark Johnson

Because I am traveling every morning and evening to my workplace, I listen most of my books (it isn't that efficient as reading, but at least I can learn new things)

So, I am currently listening to:

• Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think from Hans Rosling

• Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind from Jocelyn K. Glei

• The subtle art of not giving a f* from Mark Manson

Upcoming:

• The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business from Charles Duhigg

• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action from Simon Sinek

Thinking, fast and slow — Daniel Kahneman

Hit Makers: How Things Become Popular by Derek Thompson

"Thompson uncovers the hidden psychology of why we like what we like and reveals the economics of cultural markets that invisibly shape our lives."

They aren't design-related. But I think it's important to just be open to anything to find ideas and related things.

Right now:

"Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life," by William Finnegan "All The Light We Cannot See," by Anthony Doerr

Design-related, "A Designer's Research Method"

New Horizons in Color by Faber Birren

Adrian Newey's "How To Build A Race Car" (His Autobiography, quite an interesting read)

Doit It Today - Darius Foroux

Really worth it!

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

'Predictably Irrational' by Dan Ariely. It's simple and easy to read, though not as deep and thorough as 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman. I highly recommend the later.

Walden — Henry David Thoreau

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance

I just wrote about my 2018 reading list - https://medium.com/@rohicks/2018-reading-list-in-review-b151d2cd04ea - I read 95% nonfiction.

But I'm currently reading: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

Organizing for Creative People by Sheila Chandra.

This is Service Design Thinking Piece of shit

It's a classic I never read, but the design of everyday things by don norman (the revised edition). Its a fuckin BANGA highly recomend.

Just read Gideon Falls: The Black Barn, which I can recommend, but if you want just work-related books, I'm also reading a great book on designing information environments for people rather than sales called Living In Information by Jorge Arango.

Discourses and Selected Writings - Epictetus

Design for Dasein: Understanding the Design of Experiences

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Pretty great off-beat fantasy and mind bubbling thoughts :) https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/03/29/books/book-reviews/hard-boiled-wonderland-and-the-end-of-the-world/

Currently reading:

• Creative strategy and the business of design (its ok 4.5/7)
• Value Proposition Design (its great! 6/7)

Next up is:

• The Win Without Pitching Manifesto

The hate U give

Currently reading Irresistible by Adam Alter.

Right now I'm reading The Main Enemy. Not design related, but a personal interest of mine :) I also just finished reading What Every Body Is Saying which also isn't really about design, but it's applicable in everyday life. Great read if you aren't naturally comfortable in social situations.