My Top Five Books of 2022
A Selection of the Best Titles I Read in 2022
Although I pride myself on my voracious reading habit, 2022 was a disappointing year in this regard. Whereas I devoured 40 books in 2021 and 34 in 2020, I only managed to complete 15 this year. One contributing factor may have been my return to the office, which increased my commute time. However, there were a few standouts that left a lasting impact and I wholeheartedly recommend them to all. Please consider giving these five books a chance.
“This is How They Tell Me the World Ends” by Nicole Kornher-Stace is a behind the scenes account of the cyberweapons market and how it can trigger apocalyptic global warfare.
It was the first time I came across the concept of a zero day. A zero day bug is a software vulnerability that is unknown to the software developer or vendor and can be exploited by hackers. These bugs can allow hackers to gain unauthorized access to a system, steal sensitive information, or perform other malicious actions.
The books talks about some well known zero day exploits, the most infamous being the Stuxnet worm. This malware was discovered in 2010 and was believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel to target Iranian nuclear facilities. It exploited multiple zero day vulnerabilities in Windows and was able to spread from computer to computer through removable drives. The Stuxnet worm is believed to have caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program and was seen as a major escalation in the use of cyber weapons for political purposes.
This book explores the dangerous corners of the internet where a single click can have devastating consequences for countries and individuals.
“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr is a business book that discusses the use of “Objectives and Key Results” (OKR) as a framework for setting and achieving goals. The book is based on Doerr’s experience implementing the OKR system at Google and other companies.
One of the key takeaways from the book is that setting clear, measurable goals is crucial for success. As Doerr writes: “What gets measured gets improved.” This simple but powerful idea is at the heart of the OKR system and is something that anyone looking to achieve their goals should keep in mind.
An illuminating look into why setting clear, measurable goals are crucial for success
Shadow Divers” by Robert Kurson is a nonfiction book about the discovery of a sunken World War II German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey. The story follows two divers, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, as they spend years trying to identify the sunken vessel.
The book is a thrilling tale of adventure and discovery, and it also delves into the history of the U-boat and the war.
The sea doesn’t give up its secrets easily.
This line captures the sense of mystery and adventure that surrounds the discovery of the U-boat and the lengths to which Chatterton and Kohler went to uncover its secrets.
Connecting the Dots: Lessons for Leadership in a Startup World” by John Chambers is a memoir by the former CEO of Cisco Systems. Chambers shares his experiences and insights from a career spanning over four decades, and the book is filled with valuable lessons for anyone interested in the tech industry or leadership.
A key lesson from the book is the importance of taking risks and embracing change.
The most successful leaders are the ones who are willing to take risks and embrace change.
This message is especially relevant in the fast-paced world of startups, where the ability to adapt and innovate is key to success.
Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline is a science fiction novel that takes place in a virtual reality game called the OASIS. The book follows a young man named Wade Watts on his quest to find an Easter egg hidden within the game by its eccentric creator.
Along the way, he encounters a variety of challenges and meets other players who are also searching for the egg.
As someone who has grown up playing RPGs, this book immediately appealed to me. But it also clicked with my wife who hardly plays video games.
There has been a sequel written, but it’s a poor follow-up to the original.
I hope you enjoyed this quick rundown of my top five books from 2022. Let me know in the comments if you have read any of these or if you have any recommendations of your own!