Here’s what I’ve been reading for the past three months:
- The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph — Tom Standage tells the history of the invention of the telegraph. The story covers the early use of the optical telegraph, the creation of the electric telegraph, and how the new technology reshaped society and industry. (notes)
- Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen — Mark Buchanan, through numerous examples, explains why complex dynamic systems become unbalanced and slip into chaos. Systems that sit on the edge of instability, ensure change while being impossible to predict. (notes)
- Buying Disney’s World — Aaron Goldberg tells the story of how Walt Disney World came to be: why Walt wanted a second park, how massive land purchases went almost unnoticed, how engineers tamed the swampland, and how they designed, funded, and built the park. It’s a testament to what makes Disney different from other companies. Notes to come.
- The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition — Earnest Shackleton’s harrowing attempt to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent on foot met disaster days before reaching their initial destination. Stranded, trapped on an ice pack, the ordeal lasted twenty months. It’s a story of leadership and survival. Notes to come.
- Invention and Innovation: A Brief History of Hype and Failure — A new read I just started that combines technology and history. Vaclav Smil looks at innovations throughout history that fell far short of the hopes and promises that surround each one or outright failed.
Need some winter reading ideas? Try these book lists:
- 2023 Cundill History Prize Shortlist – founded by Canadian value investor, Peter Cundill, the prize rewards the best history writing for the year.
- Oaktree’s 2023 Year-End Reading Recommendations
Related Reading:
Quarterly Reading – Fall ’23
Quarterly Reading – Summer ’23