Books Recommended by Angela Pham

I’m about 20 pages into the Elon Musk biography. I’ve been on a months-long binge to thoroughly understand the tech industry I work in now, from both the fanboy's and the skeptic’s eyes, to avoid becoming jaded, oblivious, or institutionalized.

The attendees in the altMBA program actually influenced me the most in my book purchases: [...] And Adam Thomas’ recommendation of Deep Work got me to pull the trigger on that title.

Founders at Work is the most valuable business book I’ve ever read, which compiled transcripts from dozens of tech entrepreneur interviews before the bubble burst.

The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick made me a fan of Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg years ago. I didn’t hesitate to take my current role at Facebook because I feel so strongly about their integrity and leadership, no matter the negative sentiments and media narratives the company has endured recently.

I’m in the middle of The Four, which takes an awestruck-but-critical look at the four largest tech companies.

Another form of non-fiction heartbreak. This is a timeless look at how most of America survives. You cannot be an empathetic business leader without this lens.

A story of culture clashes, resilience, and uniquely American blessings and hardships. The author inspires you to work hard and be kind through his simple descriptions of everyday life here. Also, serves as an unexpected guide to sales strategies.

I recently finished the oral history of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York. SNL’s cast and crew discuss their perception of Lorne Michaels, and it is rare to hear employees speak of their still-alive, legendary boss so truthfully.

An academic exploration of how coveted legal, financial, and consulting jobs are filled, which is frustratingly unfair and tipped in favor of the wealthy. But every chapter offers lessons that any job seeker can benefit from. I reworked my resume because of this book. I interview candidates more thoughtfully now, too.

The attendees in the altMBA program actually influenced me the most in my book purchases: Robin Flaherty persuaded me to buy Thank You For Arguing.

A non-fiction tragedy. Don’t read the reviews, which often spoil the twist in the middle of the book. This story teaches you to figure out what elements of your past to let go of, and which to hold on to. And how to understand the fragile rungs in climbing the socioeconomic class ladder.