Books

Top books from 2024

In 2024, I came across a few books that I thoroughly enjoyed. Among them, these four stood out as the most interesting and impactful.

The best way to truly learn something is to hear directly from those who have lived it. These authors, as lifelong practitioners, authentically convey the nuances of their experiences and expertise in their writing. Reading these books was an enlightening experience, offering both practical insights and deep inspiration.

Learned Excellence by Eric Potterat and Alan Eagle

Mental toughness is what separates the best from the average performers in every field. This book provides a practical framework for building mental resilience through real-world examples and actionable insights.

The authors, Eric and Alan, bring exceptional expertise in leadership roles that demand mental toughness under extreme stress. Eric served in the Navy for 20 years, during which he developed a mental toughness curriculum for the Navy SEALs’ BUD/S training (one of the toughest training programs in the world). Afterward, he went on to train elite sports teams, athletes, business leaders, and even NASA astronauts. Alan, on the other hand, worked at Google for 16 years, partnering with executives to craft and communicate Google’s narratives to key stakeholders—a role requiring clarity and resilience under high pressure.

The book emphasizes that high performers cultivate mental toughness by:

  1. Defining core values and beliefs: They understand the purpose behind their goals.
  2. Practicing a success-oriented mindset: They consciously adopt the mindset required for achieving their ambitions.

One of the key takeaways for me from this book was the idea that “To succeed in each of your roles in life, you must adopt different mindsets for those roles and deliberately transition between them as you shift between responsibilities.” This insight is powerfully explained, along with a structured process for practicing and mastering these mindsets under high-stress situations.

Overall, this book convincingly demonstrates that mental toughness isn’t an innate talent exclusive to high achievers. Instead, it’s a skill that anyone can develop through practice and discipline. A highly recommended read for anyone looking to strengthen their resilience and thrive under pressure.

Brave New Words by Salman Khan:

The year 2024 marked a turning point as AI became mainstream, transforming industries across the board—education included. In this insightful book, Salman Khan explores how generative AI (GenAI) will revolutionize the learning industry, profoundly impacting its two key stakeholders: students and teachers, or learners and educators.

Salman Khan passionately argues that high-quality education should be a birthright for every human being. He highlights the myriad ways AI can enhance learning, from creative writing and STEM education to mental health support. AI has the potential to empower students by providing timely, personalized assistance at their fingertips, regardless of their background or economic situation.

Having witnessed the incredible dedication of teachers in my children’s schools, I found the discussion on AI as a teaching assistant particularly inspiring. AI can help teachers scale their efforts, automating routine tasks and enabling them to focus on where their expertise is most impactful—engaging with students and fostering deeper learning.

This book is a must-read for members of school boards nationwide. It presents a compelling case for harnessing AI’s power to benefit both students and teachers, ensuring that education systems evolve to meet the demands of the future.

Secrets of Sand Hill Road by Scott Kupor

Over the past 4–5 years, the startup world has captivated my interest. I have immense admiration for founders, as they tackle problems at breakneck speed and create incredible value for their stakeholders. It’s like building an airplane while flying it! This curiosity led me to explore the engine that fuels startup funding—and I couldn’t have found a better book for the task.

This book provides an in-depth look at venture capital (VC), covering topics such as:

  • The different types of venture capitalists and limited partners (LPs).
  • The funding structures VCs use and their decision-making process for investing in startups.

Additionally, the book serves as a guide for founders, offering practical advice on raising funding and crafting compelling pitches. It even delves into the technicalities of term sheets, explaining how to design one tailored to your startup’s needs.

For anyone intrigued by the mechanics of the startup ecosystem or seeking to navigate the world of venture capital, this book is an invaluable resource.

The Heart and the Chip by Daniela Rus and Gregory Mone

One technology that I believe has the potential to transform our lives the most is robotics. While robotics has made significant progress, there is still a long way to go. Humans often dislike mundane, physically taxing, or hazardous tasks, and it’s not always feasible to employ enough people for these jobs. This is where machines can step in to execute these tasks efficiently.

Daniela Rus, a world-renowned roboticist and professor at MIT, provides valuable insights into robotics. Her book elegantly explains the fundamental attributes that robots need to perform their designed tasks. While some of these potential capabilities may sound like science fiction, Rus meticulously outlines how we can achieve them in future robots. The book delves into the process of building robots, equipping them with physical strength, reasoning capabilities, and advanced sensory systems.

The framework of “sense, think, and act” forms the core of robotic functionality. Robots must repeatedly execute these three tasks to deliver the services they’re designed for. However, achieving human-like intelligence and precision in these areas presents significant challenges. The book highlights these obstacles and explores innovative approaches scientists and engineers are employing to overcome them.

For me, the most impactful takeaway from this book was understanding the complexity and intricacy of the science behind robotics.

Prior year books