Welcome to my TED Talk.

I’ve always believed that books are some of the best tools for self-improvement—not just in the professional sense, but for growth as a whole person. This post is my collection of books I’ve read recently, spanning genres that I’m passionate about:

  • Leadership
  • Engineering/Technology
  • Personal Growth
  • Business

Here’s what I’ve read in 2024 so far and my honest thoughts on each.

Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters#

Takeaways:

  1. The idea of creating something entirely new and innovative—moving from “zero to one”—resonated deeply with me. It’s not about improving on existing ideas but building the future from scratch.
  2. Leadership is just as important as the product being built. Without a strong leader, even the most innovative ideas may fail.

Pros:

  • Great perspective on startups and innovation.
  • Forces you to think differently about competition and creating monopolies.

Cons:

  • Some parts felt a little overhyped or idealistic.

$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi#

Takeaways:

  1. Warm outreach stood out as one of the most actionable strategies—reaching out 1-on-1 to people I already know about a product or service.
  2. The simplicity of his framework, especially the “Core Four” and “Lead Getters” (see attached image), made it easy to digest and implement.

Image Description

Pros:

  • Straightforward and highly actionable.
  • Breaks down complex concepts into simple steps.

Cons:

  • Geared more toward entrepreneurs or small businesses rather than large-scale operations.

Traction by Gino Wickman#

Takeaways:

  1. The “People Process”—ensuring the right people are in the right seats—made me reflect a lot on my current org structure and hiring decisions.
  2. Understanding the data: What are you being measured against? Whether it’s customer success, stories delivered, or uptime, knowing your key metrics is critical.

Pros:

  • Provides clear frameworks for organizational success.
  • Practical tools for leaders at any stage.

Cons:

  • Somewhat repetitive in parts.

The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo#

Takeaways:

  1. Trust is the most important ingredient in developing a healthy manager-report relationship.
  2. Every manager feels like an imposter sometimes. Don’t let that stop you from learning and helping your team.

Pros:

  • Great for first-time managers—breaks down big concepts into digestible chunks.
  • Relatable and encouraging tone.

Cons:

  • Might feel basic if you’re already experienced in management.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz#

Takeaways:

  1. Be transparent about your company’s problems—it builds trust and allows more brains to work on the hardest issues.
  2. Constantly ask yourself: “What am I not doing?” Take care of people, the product, and the profits—in that order.

Pros:

  • Honest and raw advice about leadership.
  • Practical examples of dealing with tough situations.

Cons:

  • Can feel a bit heavy at times—definitely not light reading.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter#

Takeaways:

  1. Adding too much value and not expressing enough gratitude are pitfalls I’ve experienced. I used to feel like saying “thank you” would water down my feedback—this book helped me rethink that.
  2. Sometimes the best thing to say is either nothing or just “thank you.”

Pros:

  • Great for leaders looking to refine their interpersonal skills.
  • Provides actionable advice for self-improvement.

Cons:

  • Focused more on soft skills, which might not resonate with everyone.

Pre-Suasion by Robert B. Cialdini#

Takeaways:

  1. This book confirmed my approach to influencing others. I call it “planting seeds,” but now I have another word for it: “Pre-Suasion.”
  2. It’s great to see one of my mental frameworks explained in other words—it reinforced my methods.

Pros:

  • Fascinating insights into how to frame moments of influence.
  • Backed by strong research and examples.

Cons:

  • Some concepts felt a little too drawn out.

Winning by Tim S. Grover and Shari Wenk#

Takeaways:

  1. Winning is not pretty, and it takes a lot. I don’t recommend this approach for every aspect of life, but if you want to win at something—a role, a game, or a championship—it requires this level of commitment and more.
  2. Two quotes that stood out: “I’m not telling you to love it. I’m telling you to crave the result so intensely that the work is irrelevant.” and “Everything gets easier when you stop expecting it to be easy.”

Pros:

  • Highly motivational and intense.
  • Great for those chasing ambitious goals.

Cons:

  • Can come off as too aggressive for people who value balance.

Closing Thoughts#

This list is just the beginning. Each of these books taught me something unique, whether about leadership, self-improvement, or achieving big goals. If you’ve read any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’re looking for recommendations, these are a great place to start.

Books are one of my favorite ways to reflect and grow. I’ll create a new list for the new year —stay tuned for more honest reviews from my reading journey.