Books Recommended by Benjamin Humphrey
6 books recommended by Benjamin Humphrey
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
by Ashlee Vance
It's not a business book that tries to offer advice. Instead, Vance tells the true story of a highly motivated individual, and immigrant, with a lot of passion for what he does. The book has lots of examples and anecdotes from current and former employees… Read the full quote
It's not a business book that tries to offer advice. Instead, Vance tells the true story of a highly motivated individual, and immigrant, with a lot of passion for what he does. The book has lots of examples and anecdotes from current and former employees demonstrating Musk's hands-on, no bullshit leadership style. It also spends time dwelling on his insane working habits and stress, and the impact that has on his relationships.
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
This book gives a fascinating insight into how Pixar works, and a lot of what they do to create amazing movies is highly relevant to designing and building great products. It's been a while since I read it, but it's full of useful and practical examples to boost creativity and problem solving in teams.
A Fire Upon The Deep (Zones of Thought)
by Vernor Vinge
This is an immense science fiction space opera which came out in 1992. It covers a lot of themes including AI, aliens, love, betrayal, genocide, and racism. I found the book spectacular in its scale and detail, and original in its ‘zones of thought’ concept,… Read the full quote
This is an immense science fiction space opera which came out in 1992. It covers a lot of themes including AI, aliens, love, betrayal, genocide, and racism. I found the book spectacular in its scale and detail, and original in its ‘zones of thought’ concept, where the galaxy is split into four zones, each with their own laws of physics. There's also the unusual ‘Tines’ race, where each animal is comprised of a group mind of 3 – 5 members.
The Grand Design
by Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow
This book covers the history of the science behind the universe. Hawking is a good writer, and he has a knack for explaining complex concepts in smart metaphors. I like the book (and his other work) because it really hammers home the cosmic scale and how little time we all have to make an impact and enjoy our life.
The Little Black Book of Design
by Adam Judge
A short, simple book with pertinent and funny quotes about design and engineering.
Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design
by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler
Essentially a reference book for product designers, the universal principles is a smartly curated and neatly presented guide to the key terms you'll come across as a designer, with examples and diagrams. A beautiful book.