Geek read. That may surprise some folks, but it
shouldn't come as a total shock. In between getting to the next level
of World of Warcraft and handling complaints on the help desk, there is
some down time. I'm giving my list of 10 books for summer geek
reading. I've divided it into three geek classics you can get from your
library, three business books you should read if you ever want to get a
promotion, three thought books to give you something to talk about on
the forums and one blatant self promotion.
Three Geek Classics available for free at your library. You can't really call yourself a geek unless you are conversant with:
1. The Foundation Series, by Isaac Asimov. OK, this
may be the start and end of your reading list for the year. It is not
one book (although you can start by one story, one book or one series).
I don' think you can really call yourself a Trekkie unless you've at
least read the Series. If you make it through all the prequels, sequels
and associated other writing, you can start to write your own grand
sweep series. If you read it all, you can get an honorary degree in
psychohistory.
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas
Adams. This selection may also take up the whole summer. You could get
into this by listening to the radio series upon which this trilogy in
five parts was based. Anyway, HHGG (as it is sometimes tagged) proves
that not all science fiction has to be dour aliens attacking Earth;
comedy is possible.
3. From the Earth to the Moon, by Jules Verne. We are
talking classics here. In this case we are talking one big cannon
blasting a three-man crew from Florida in a capsule about the size of
the Apollo module.
Three business books. One for free, two you have to shell out a few bucks.
1. Concept of the Corporation, by Peter Drucker. You
can get this from the library. This was published in 1946 and reflects
the time management guru Peter Drucker was given full access to General
Motors. How did GM go from being the king of the automobile industry
to struggling for survival? The story really starts here.
2. The New Language of Business, by Sandy Carter or The
New Language of Marketing 2.0 by the same author. Not the defining
books about how Twitter and social nets apply to the business world,
but a good introduction. You need to know how to answer the question of
how your company will participate in the social networking space.
3. Inspire! Why Customers Come Back, by James Champy.
You should read one of the business books from the popular business
culture this summer. There are lots of choices, but Champy has a track
record and this one is about as easy reading as it gets.
Three think books that are interesting to read.
1. A Distant Mirror, by Barbara Tuchman. You can get
this at the library. All about the 14th century in Europe. Read this
and realize how nice we have it.
2. Alan Turing, The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges. You can
get this one at the library. English mathematician breaks secret German
Enigma code in World War II, saves world. Good read.
3. The Travels of Marco Polo, Latham Edition. You can
order this in the library. I included this on a list of the 10 best
business books of all time.
I'll just say if you are grumpy about having to work the weekend, read this.
And now for one more. How about an easy reading yet
provocative high-tech mystery? It is all about what happens when the
bad guys get involved in a high-tech high flier. Maybe you should buy
about 10 copies and copies for all your friends also.
1. Red's Query, by Eric Lundquist.
