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Here we are again at the end of the year, and the confinement and sanitary measures have only increased my love of reading, which I must admit was already very strong!
Anyway, here’s my list of the reads I’ve enjoyed most in this year 2021.
Liberté 45 – By Pierre-Yves McSween
Of course, I’m old now! And it’s time to think about retirement! Unfortunately, this book is aimed at young people (20s), who will have to make a choice between having control over their lives or “rushing” to make up for lost time when they’re my age!
Things to remember:
– Save between 20% and 50% of your income early and massively!
– Mutual funds are the way to go. If you’re in a high-interest chequing account, you’re a real Commie!
– Have a plan/objective!
– Increase your value (Training, career and life choices)
– Have you invested the maximum in your RRSP if your income is over $50k/year? If not, put the maximum in your TFSA.
“Don’t make me think – Revisited” by author Steve Krug.
The title perfectly sums up the whole book: make the site simple so I don’t have to search for what I want as a platform user!
What I found particularly interesting was the notion of usability testing!
Because to improve a web application, you have to ask people to use it and observe their reactions. At what point do they get stuck? These are the moments that will lead to frustration and loss of customers.
“Logicomix” by Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos and Annie Di Donna.
The comic-book philosophy covers such topics as proofs, logic, algorithms, madness, war and more. Complex subjects! I’d love to see my kids read it. Maybe one day!
“The Personal MBA” by Josh Kaufman
I now understand better why the MBA is such a complex, time-consuming and difficult program to achieve. This book allows me to understand the concepts and quickly apply them to work and even daily life.
“Effective Threat intelligence” by James Dietle.
To understand the role played by information hunters. This is a basic book on information security specialists. To know the difference between good information and information that does not allow decisions to be made or actions to be taken.
“The Pheonix project” by authors Gene Kim, Kevin Behr and George Spafford.
But this book is just WOW, in its simplicity and the breadth of the subject successfully covered. The book’s avowed aim is to bring agile and DevOps methods to as many people as possible.
I highly recommend this book to all those who work in the wonderful world of IT, from development teams, to those who create or support infrastructures, to those who imagine them.
Thanks to Steve Lavoie for this reading suggestion from my list last year.
“The age of surveillance capitalism” by Shoshana Zuboff.
Published in 2019, this is quite a work of research and analysis (700 pages). This book is an eye-opener, giving a good understanding of the scale of the problem and the situation we’re currently living in. I highly recommend it! Ironic to tell you about it on Facebook! I think the beast deserves/needs to be controlled.
“Walden Two” by B.F. Skinner
First published in 1948. This science-fiction novel tells the story of a “utopian” community where people live happily together, their behavior modified/organized through codes of living and social pressure.
The book asks the question, if you had a technology that made people happy, but took away some of their freedom, would you use it?
“The subtle art of not giving a f*ck” by Mark Manson.
This 212-page book is divided into 9 chapters that I really enjoyed reading. The examples, stories and explanations are simple, straightforward and punchy.
Page 193 – The author recounts his dream, the visit of his friend who died in an accident…
“I’m really sorry you died, he laughed. Why do you care that I’m dead when you’re still so afraid to live?”
Stop worrying and Go!
“1984 by George Orwell”, reprinted by Xavier Coste.
My favorite book in comic book form – The adventure of Winston Smith working for the Ministry of Truth…
This version is easy to read, enjoyable and covers the essentials of the original book. A collector’s item, a gift from me to myself and a beautiful reminder of this morning!
” 2034 – A novel of the next world war” by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral USN (Retired) James Stavridis.
A book of fiction for a change, this book recounts the escalation of responses formulated by each country during a trip to the China Sea by an American ship in the year 2034.
Who will be the next world power to act as Earth’s policeman, now that the United States has lost its position?
“Raising Cain – Protecting the emotional life of boys” – By Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson.
This book describes methods to help young men gain greater emotional awareness, so they can better understand their own emotions and those of others.
This book is useful for anyone who has boys, likes boys or wants to learn more about men. At a time when society is redefining its codes, this book is essential.
“Le livre offensant” by Guy Nantel.
It’s a complex subject that can’t be summed up in a few lines. But if we censor a work because it offends someone… Who would be an artist? Would life be without color/flavor?
For example, in cases of cultural appropriation. Does an immigrant have the right to sing Gilles Vigneault’s “Gens du pays”?
I recommend this book, which is against extremes, left or right, but for tolerance of people, including those who don’t think like you.
For 2022 – What do you suggest?