5 Books For The Year
Having read around 30 books this year due to lots of travel time across the UK and Europe. I thought i’d share the books that made a dent. Here are the ones that challenged the status quo and opened up new ways of thinking. These will inevitably influence the way our work progresses in our studio.
Reading from a diverse range of disciplines always reminds me how everything is connected, yet much of these ideas are hard to retain, only 20% if that. The poet and philosopher Emerson knew this. “I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
Enjoy…
Thinking, Fast and Slow
“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it.”
– Daniel Kahneman, Thinking Fast + Slow
I had seen this book on so many shelves - it felt like the universe was trying to tell me something. As you can see I caved in. "Thinking, Fast and Slow" is a book by a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist. The book explores the concept of cognitive bias and the ways in which our brains often rely on mental shortcuts, or heuristics, to make decisions. Sounds deep, but its put across beautifully. Author Kahneman also discusses the concept of "System 1" and "System 2" thinking, which refers to the brain's two main modes of thinking fast, intuitive, and emotional thinking (System 1), and slow, logical, and analytical thinking (System 2). This book helps you understand ‘you’ a little more and certainly plays to Socrates dictum of ‘know thy self’.
The Age of Spiritual Machines
“The laws of physics are not repealed by intelligence, but they effectively evaporate in its presence.”
– Ray Kurzweil
In the next 100 years, AI machines will comfortably surpass human intelligence. This is already happening and will seep into every single part of our life. AI beating us at chess is old news, but its potential to diagnose medical conditions, pick stocks and give us endless insights and data about life and our world is mind blowing. Perhaps above all AI will teach us what it means to be human. This small book has great impact. It shows us that the future is going to be both exhilarating and terrifying.
Zero to One
“What important truth do very few people agree with you on”
– Peter Thiel
Ok - this book is not specifically about architecture, but about entrepreneurship and how to create new things. Both involve creating something new that didn’t necessarily exist before. Both require creativity and innovation. In the book, Thiel argues that the key to creating value in the world is to "go from zero to one," or to create something new, rather than simply compete in existing markets. He discusses the importance of innovation and vision. Overall, "Zero to One" is an epic quick read for entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the power of innovation to make the world a better place.
Non-Referential Architecture
“Today people want to confront the complexities of life in a non-ideological way that does not embrace significance referentially.”
– Markus Breitschmid
Inspiring and necessary - This book ideated by Valerio Olgiati and Written by Markus Breitschmid is about ultimate freedom. To create a building that is its own object - its own world. This notion is deeply appealing as we leave behind the ‘modern project’ of modernism and postmodernism. Takeaways that left an impact for me were the seven principles of a non-referential architecture: Experience of Space, Oneness, Newness, Construction, Contradiction, Order, Sense-making. Its a small book that requires focus, while leaving a sense of provocation and purpose. Its a powerful idea: Buildings don't need to be symbols for something other than themselves.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
“Steve Jobs: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
– Walter Isaacson
My favourite book here and one that had been on my ‘to read’ list for years. In our studio we use Apple products every day. In most aspects of our life Apple comes along with us. My familiarity with one of the most successful companies in the world was defined by piecemeal cultural anecdotes and a little Apple lore. I knew next to nothing about the man behind it all - Steve Jobs, oh apart from watching him years ago in one of the best lectures I have ever seen. The graduation talk at Harvard. This book is a powerful insight into one of the most influential people of our time. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who is trying to build anything of value or simply wants raw insight into the effort that goes in to making beauty.
—
Book List
Thinking, Fast and Slow
The Age of Spiritual Machines
Zero to One
Non-Referential Architecture
Steve Jobs
—