Book summaries resources

The Cold Start Problem

When a networked product launches, it faces a chicken-and-egg problem: people need to use it for it to be worth anything. So how do you start the very first network without a basis to work from? Andrew Chen, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, calls this the Cold Start Problem. The Cold Start Problem is Chen’s attempt to help us better understand network effects: how to solve the Cold Start Problem, how to scale network effects, how to manage growth plateaus, and so on. Chen’s Cold Start Theory is broken down into 5 stages: 1. the cold start problem; 2. the tipping point; 3. escape velocity; 4. hitting the ceiling; 5. the moat.

The Design of Everyday Things

How do designers improve their products to work around flaws in human logic? In The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman teaches the top frameworks behind “human-centered” design system, the three most important areas of design, and why designers must consider additional principles besides logic, such as psychology, cognitive science, and art, to design excellent products that work better across any industry.

Atomic Habits

Why is it so hard to form new habits and break bad ones? We read Atomic Habits by James Clear, which explores the psychology behind habit formation and the mechanisms that create habits. This book summary includes frameworks to help you (1) make decisions, (2) form habits, (3) simple habit hacks, and (4) how the UK biking team excelled with these techniques, and many more. James Clear posits that the reason is that most people fail to understand what really makes a habit stick. Atomic Habits gives practical advice for how the mechanisms to form habits can be leveraged and manipulated for a person to stick to the habits they want to keep and avoid the ones they want to abandon.

Rogue Waves

How do you prepare your business for black swan events like pandemics or financial crises? Rogue Waves by Jonathan Brill explores how to prepare for and profit from systemic threats and turn them into outsized opportunities. Brill shares key insights and frameworks to help you (1) understand your current state and the forces that keep you stable (2) run scenarios to learn where to intervene (3) experiment to maximize success, and (4) identify potential threats, plus many more.

Good Strategy, Bad Strategy

Even some of the world’s biggest organizations do strategy poorly, and incorrectly credit their success to personal decision-making skills. We read the book Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt and break down the key insights between good and bad strategy.

How Will You Measure Your Life

Management theories not only can be applied to our careers, but also personal lives. Think of them as a resource allocation problem. You have limited time, energy, wealth and talent to grow several "businesses", like your work, relationships with your family and your community. Clayton Christenson imparts the top strategies for how to navigate all these competing priorities and come out ahead with a more fulfilling, balanced, and purpose-driven life.

The Psychology of Money

How should investors manage the inevitabilities of risk? What are the most powerful wealth-building tools that require little technical skill? How do our brains hold us back from a more prosperous future? Morgan Housel answers these questions and shares how human thought, habits, and emotions are intertwined with investment. He shares insights and strategies for how investors can leverage these connections for personal gain — not only financial but personal and emotional as well.

Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction

Did you know it's possible to make accurate predictions about the future without psychic powers? Given the right practice and strategies to explore, you can become what’s known as a super forecaster. In Super Forecasting by Wharton professor Philip E. Tetlock and co-author Dan Gardner, readers learn about the qualities and skills that make a super forecaster and how you can apply the knowledge to any situation. You will also learn about real-life super forecasters from all walks of life and how to break down even the most difficult questions to achieve the best results.