Here is a vain attempt to list all my readings during 2018 mostly to make myself feel better.
Kindle
The Manager’s Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
A very worthy read coming from the ‘trenches’. Certainly, I should check some of the chapters and notes I made in the book. Way can’t I document my journey like this was the first question my jealous self asked.
How Google Works by Eric Schmidt
After being confronted with some job related chaos, this book seemed like a good answer; it was not. A general retrospective about how to build a great company where you have the luxury of rejecting half of the great applicants, where you have uncontested success and a great revenue, is hardly gives me roadmap about how to improve things on my end. Just fueled my inner regret of not being smarter and work at Google.
How to win friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
For the record, I do have friends and I don’t need a lousy book to win over some people and thank you, I am very influential. This book somehow crossed my way far too many times and being not the great at interacting with people, I jumped in. the most sound advice, which I am reminding myself still, the most beautiful sound in any language for anybody is their name, so use it.
Napoleon: A life by Andrew Roberts
I cannot believe I have started and finished this book. A well deserved pat on my back. Unbelievable is the word about all that happens over his life, no wonder why Kubrick obsessed with the guy.
Girl With Curious Hair by David Foster Wallace
The feeling never gets old: wish I had a mind like David.
Critical Theory: A Very Short Introduction by Stephen Eric Bronner
Another try to break through the philosophy, this time with another short introduction. I have listened Philosophize this podcast extensively this summer and this critical theory stuff grabbed my attention. I cannot even sumarize the book or the theme now.. (sad face)
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Should have been a blog post or a medium post series. I see the admiration for him on many places but the book does not have enough content.
Bismarck: A life by Jonathan Steinberg
I have attacked this beast with the encouragement I got from Napolean but had to abandon it midway. Somehow, I did not got me going.
Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism by Chris Voss
An much needed educational book referral by Basak, make me feel like I am not smart enough on this topics and always in need of structural explanations.
The Man who Mistook His Wife For A Hat by Oliver Sacks
Another book that
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Definitely another winner of this year, I remember picking up my jaw from the floor half way through and thinking “we are not in the middle yet”. The fact that it is so relatable to me made it more impressive
The Ethics of Ambiguity by Simon de Beauvoir
I am not smart enough to understand this book.
Distrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-up Bubble by Dan Lyons
Yet another great story telling which hits too close to home again. Recommended to many colleague just have the conversations about this book and how everything looks similar.
Principles:Life and Work by Ray Dalio
Such a waste of time, I gave up half way through and look for blog posts resuming this one.
Radical Condor by Kim Scott
Didn’t know being honest was so difficult.
Hardcover
The shortest history of Germany by James Haves
Germany is still deeply divided and it is not because of the wall, it goes waay back. Unless that is fixed, expect more ‘chaos’
The Square and the Tower by Niall Ferguson
Failed to complete it, was lost on the narative..
The Pursuit of Power by Richard Evans
Very happy to read this, especially after the Napoleon piece. I am sad that I can’t seem to remember most of the details that fascinated me in the book but still recall how much I’ve liked it.
Building Evolutionary Architectures by Ford, Parsons and Kua
Nicely presented little book about architecture that definitely requires another look next year
Modern CTO by Joel Beasly
This book feels like a poor homework written with very little content but extended to meet the required word count.
Clean Architecture by Uncle bob
Another Clean book from uncle bob that read easily. Took bunch of notes on this one but can’t seem to recall the contents now that I skim the pages. Hope they are somewhere deep in my brain, waiting for the opportune moment. ,
Twitter and Tear Gas by Zeynep Tufekci
Such a nice and smart read about some topics that we discuss so lightly around the raki masalari. Wish everybody got curious about Gezi and read this, could have been shorted though (cannot left it alone without having one negative comment)
City of Glass: Graphic Novel by Paul Auster,David Mazuccehlli
Although this is not my favorite auster book, re-reading it did bring the book back, if more book were graphic novelized like this, I will not hesitate to buy them once I read the original.
Batman Dark Knight: Master Race by Frank Miller
Frank Miller shoudl involve in more shit like this. Thanks to Netflix and this book, 2018 was a very satisfactory on the bat side.
How Democracies Die Paperback by Steven Levitsky
This, with Zeynep’s book was my attempt to comprehend what is happening and how everything might play out. I like book like this one where simple concepts/thoughts that are some how scattered around my head got together with missing links, information and clarity.
2001: Eski Türkiye’nin Son Yılı by Mirgun Cabas
I am little mad at myself for not being more curious about these topics in my 20s. Then again, whoever is not mad their 20s.. This one made me say oha far too many times and gave me hope in a very distorted way. If this country is still around after all of this..
The Crow by O’baar
After rewatching the movie with my dearest wife, the long forgotten desire to possess the comic book had arised and now I am an adult, just ordered and read it on an evening. Much darker and longer. The movie still holds strong though
Gungezgini
A gift from Zerekli about fathers and sons and fathers.
Audible
This year, in an attempt to survive a 8 hour bus trip in Turkey, I have finally jumped into to audible wagon. I am not sure I am glad or regret it already. I am obviously having hard time saying no to many useles book that I imagine my coworkers are reading, so I have decided to listen to them on my commute.
The Subtle art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
I do see why this becomes popular but glad did not read it and only half-listened while driving my bike through TierGarten.
12 Rules for Life: Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson
Can only remember a few of the life advices but generally a pleasant companion he was.
Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker
After so many books, I still cannot decide if I like Steven Pinker or not. Thought a lot about Corey while listening to this and how the author tries to fill me with optimism about future and it felt, nice..
Measure What Matters by John Doerr
Companies must have objectives and you must measure those objective with key results. There, I have saved you 10 bucks.
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
An unexpected found, made me think about how to spin myself in the unpredictable adventure called finleap. Loved the title.