library

What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.

– Carl Sagan, Cosmos, Part 11: The Persistence of Memory (1980)

Books have been essential to my intellectual development - from the mathematical foundations supporting my transition to AI research to works that challenge how I think about technology’s broader implications. This collection reflects both my current technical focus and the interdisciplinary perspectives that inform it. My mathematical texts represent the rigorous foundation I’m building, while the diverse works in computer science, philosophy, history, and fiction provide the context and creative inspiration that keep my technical work grounded in human concerns and possibilities. Each selection has influenced how I approach problems, understand systems, or consider the societal dimensions of emerging technologies.

• Foundations
• Current Studies
• Advanced
• Computer Science
• Interdisciplinary
• Influential Works

Mathematical Foundations

Building the rigorous mathematical foundation essential for advanced work in AI and algorithm development.

finished

Basic Mathematics

Serge Lang

Mathematical foundations that shifted my focus from calculation to structural understanding and proof.

reading

Geometry

Serge Lang and Gene Murrow

Elegant demonstrations of spatial reasoning that bridge abstract concepts with concrete visualization.

reading

How to Prove It

Daniel Velleman

The single most influential text in developing my ability to construct and analyze mathematical arguments.

reference

A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure and Applied Mathematics

George Shoobridge Carr

A fascinating historical compendium that reveals the beautiful interconnectedness of mathematical ideas.

Current Mathematical Studies

Texts supporting my ongoing self-study work as I build toward advanced AI research capabilities.

reading

Precalculus

Stewart, Redlin, and Watson

A rigorous foundation for the calculus sequence that emphasizes both computational fluency and conceptual understanding.

queued

Discrete Mathematics with Applications

Susanna S. Epp

Essential training in the mathematical structures underlying computer science and algorithmic thinking.

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Proofs

Jay Cummings

A practical guide to constructing mathematical arguments with clarity and precision.

Advanced Mathematics Trajectory

The mathematical journey ahead as I prepare for graduate-level work in AI and machine learning.

queued

Calculus: Early Transcendentals

Briggs, Cochran, Gillett, and Schulz

A comprehensive approach to calculus that balances computational techniques with theoretical insights.

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Calculus

Michael Spivak

The gold standard for theoretical calculus that develops the deep understanding necessary for advanced analysis.

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Linear Algebra

Friedberg, Insel, and Spence

A rigorous treatment of vector spaces that forms the mathematical backbone of machine learning systems.

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Elementary Analysis: The Theory of Calculus

Kenneth A. Ross

The bridge between computational calculus and the theoretical foundations of mathematical analysis.

Computer Science & Technology

Core technical knowledge spanning from algorithmic foundations to emerging AI systems and their implications.

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A First Course in Probability

Sheldon Ross

Essential probabilistic reasoning that underpins modern machine learning approaches.

finished

Business Data Networks and Security

Raymond R. Panko and Julia L. Panko

Practical insights into network architecture that inform my understanding of distributed systems.

reading

Co-Intelligence

Ethan Mollick

An exploration of how AI will augment human capabilities rather than replace them.

finished

Digital Forensics, Investigation, and Response

Chuck Easttom

Methodical approaches to system analysis that enhance my debugging and problem-solving capabilities.

queued

Foundations of Machine Learning

Mohri, Rostamizadeh, and Talwalkar

Theoretical frameworks that connect statistical learning to practical AI applications.

reference

Introduction to Algorithms

Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest, and Stein

The definitive reference on algorithms covering design, analysis, and computational complexity.

finished

Microservices Patterns

Chris Richardson

Practical approaches to designing and implementing resilient, scalable microservice architectures.

finished

Superintelligence

Nick Bostrom

A systematic analysis of AI risk that shaped my perspective on responsible technology development.

finished

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

Edward R. Tufte

Design principles that transformed how I approach the visual communication of complex information.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Works that enrich my technical perspective with insights from philosophy, history, and cognitive science.

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On Liberty

John Stuart Mill

Classical liberal principles that inform my thinking about society and the role of the individual.

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Progress and Poverty

Henry George

A pioneering analysis of technological progress and economic systems that remains surprisingly relevant to today's world.

finished

Guns, Germs, and Steel

Jared Diamond

A systems-thinking approach to history that demonstrates how technological capabilities shape societal outcomes.

finished

Team of Rivals

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Lessons in leadership and diverse perspective integration that apply directly to collaborative technical work.

finished

Prodigal Genius

John J. O'Neill

Tesla's capacity for visualization and mental modeling that inspires my approach to system design.

finished

Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson

Insights into bridging technical capability with human needs that influence my approach to designing systems.

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Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Insights into cognitive biases that inform how I design systems to complement human thinking.

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The Forgetting Machine

Rodrigo Quian Quiroga

Fascinating exploration of human memory that provides inspiration for computational approaches to information processing.

finished

Tempo

Venkatesh Rao

A thought-provoking analysis of decision-making and timing that influences how I approach complex technical problems.

Influential Works

Fiction and creative works that have inspired my imagination and shaped how I think about possibilities beyond conventional boundaries.

finished

The Last Unicorn

Peter S. Beagle

A masterpiece of lyrical storytelling that taught me how beauty and technical precision can coexist.

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The Lies of Locke Lamora

Scott Lynch

An intricate world governed by overlapping systems that demonstrated how complexity can be made accessible through narrative.

finished

Peter and the Shadow Thieves

Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

A brilliant exploration of adaptation and resourcefulness that continues to inspire my approach to problem-solving.

finished

The Hidden Girl and Other Stories

Ken Liu

Thought-provoking examinations of technology's human implications that inform my thinking about AI ethics.

finished

Inspiring Walt Disney

Wolf Burchard

A fascinating study of how artistic traditions influenced animation that reminds me of the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in technical innovation.