Four Fun Books That Will Change How You Think About Data and AI
Professional poker players make better data scientists than data scientists.
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Let's talk about books, specifically the kind that make your brain do backflips. You know what's crazy? For the price of a decent lunch, you can access years of someone's accumulated knowledge. That's a bargain if I've ever seen one.
I tend to read books adjacent to what I work on - the ones that help me understand the fundamentals of our digital world. And boy, do I have some exciting finds to share with you! These books will transform how you think about data and AI, each in its own unique way. Whether you're a cover-to-cover reader or just want to skim for the good stuff, these are worth your time.
Ready to dive into stories of poker pros, political forecasting, and the hidden machinery of our digital world? Let's go!
"On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything" by Nate Silver
As someone who spent four years as a professional poker player, I fell in love with this book from word one. (Yeah, that's a story for another time!)
Nate Silver isn't just any author - he's a former professional poker player who turned his decision-making smarts into political forecasting gold when he founded FiveThirtyEight. In this book, he expands his view into Silicon Valley, crypto, and financial markets - what he calls "the River," the world of professional risk-takers.
But here's the kicker: we're all risk-takers in business. Nate argues that while people might have an innate feeling of everyday uncertainty (like that 50% chance of rain), business decisions are a whole different ball game. They need to be trained and practiced because, surprise, surprise, our world is stochastic as hell.
Fair warning: it's a long read, but it's also an entertaining way to realize you probably suck at making business decisions. (Thanks, Nate...)
"Nexus" by Yuval Harari
If you haven't read Yuval Harari yet, you're missing out. When both President Obama and Mark Zuckerberg recommend an author, you know something's up.
Nexus is dense and almost contrarian, but that's what makes it fascinating. The main punch? Humans are amazing at building massive networks of cooperation, but we're terrible at using the resulting power wisely. Classic us, right?
Harari makes a compelling case that information isn't really about truth anymore. Fake news, misinformation, and plain old mistakes can be just as powerful as "truth" in holding networks together. Mind-bending stuff.
Don't feel like you need to read the whole thing - but do yourself a favor and at least dive into his core ideas about AI, data, and modern networks.
"Material World" by Ed Conway
Here's a wild thought: that cod in your fish and chips? It probably crossed the ocean twice before hitting your plate. And 13 degrees Celsius is called "banana" in shipping because that's the magic temperature for transporting millions of bananas.
Conway pulls back the curtain on the invisible infrastructure that powers our digital world. From natural glass mountains in Libya to the ultra-pure silicon needed for semiconductors, this book reveals just how fragile and interconnected our technological society really is.
Trust me, after reading this, you'll never look at your smartphone the same way again.
"AI 2041" by Kai-Fu Lee
Want to understand AI without the Western tech-bro bias? Kai-Fu Lee's your guy. After working at Google, Apple, and (crucially) in China, he's got a perspective that most of us miss.
Instead of the usual AI hype or doom-mongering, Kai-Fu shows us how AI is already shaping lives - from mass surveillance in China to poverty-fighting apps in India. He tells these stories through the eyes of regular people, making complex tech trends feel real and relatable.
This is the book I recommend to anyone who asks, "How will AI actually affect my life?" Because let's face it, most of what he describes isn't even future tech - it's happening right now.
Final Thoughts
These books won't just add to your knowledge - they'll fundamentally shift how you think about our data-driven world. Whether you're in tech, business, or just curious about where we're heading, these perspectives are gold.