In between all the other books I read and write, I love reading great fiction.
I’ve recently really been enjoying all the books that have been coming out influenced by the tech world. The first of these that I was turned on to was William Hertling’s Avogadro Corp: The Singularity Is Closer Than It Appears (Singularity Series Book 1)
Recently I was also approached to read a complimentary copy of Lynda Chevril’s Project Odyssey
I can’t say that I continued reading William’s books, the second in the series really turned me off. I am looking forward to reading Eliot’s second book in the Uncommon Stock series and if Lynda puts out another book, I’ll give it a try based on my enjoyment of Project Odyssey. Another author who isn’t all tech but who I enjoyed as much ore more than the three I mentioned here is the series by Ramez Naam that starts with Nexus
I spend a lot of time writing down all the insights I get from business books like this one about Wal-Mart or this one about the Holiday Inn and the hotel industry, but I definitely think it is important to read fictional stories like the ones I’ve mentioned because it provides a deeper insight into how other people’s imaginations are inspired by the things in our world and having that insight is something that you can build on to understand the world better.
Josh, I’m honored to be mentioned alongside authors like Ramez and William. I’m a huge fan of their books.
As a career startup guy, I’m thrilled that more stories are starting to emerge from the world of tech. There’s always been mountains of great (and terrible) nonfiction, but reading a CEO’s lessons-learned is different from experiencing their soaring successes and crushing failures alongside them. That’s where the magic of fiction comes into play. The reason I love reading and writing fiction is that it gives you a little window into someone else’s head, someone else’s life. It should probably be illegal :).
Anyone involved in startups knows the truth of the human drama behind any new company. Elation, betrayal, dedication, depression, etc. It’s a great canvas for any storyteller. That makes my life interesting as a writer and, as a reader, it thrills me that more folks are getting involved. You could throw Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, Dave Egger’s The Circle, and David Schaffer’s Whiskey Tango Foxtrot into the mix as well.
The funny part is that I often learn lessons from fiction that are as or more important than those I learn from nonfiction. I learned more about resourcefulness from Andy Weir’s The Martian than any business book and more about imagination from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist than any self-help book.
It makes my day to hear you’re enjoying the Uncommon Stock journey and I can’t wait to get your take on the next chapter in the trilogy which comes out next week!
Love it, thanks for the additional recommendations as well – I haven’t read any of them!
Great books all, you’ll enjoy them for sure!
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