Books I Have Read
& Valued

Why I Read It

Part of my deep dive into cybersecurity nonfiction. Greenberg makes complex tech accessible without dumbing it down — one of the best in the genre.

Why I Read It

After Sandworm, I grabbed this one immediately. The cryptocurrency angle was unexpected and changed how I think about digital finance and crime.

My Takeaway

This book stays with you. The courage it takes not only to survive what she did, but then write about it openly — extraordinary. Deeply eye-opening about North Korea's reality.

My Notes (Sep 5, 2023)

Dividend Aristocrats · Dividends are payout bonuses from companies you invest in · Don't try to time the market · You pay tax on dividend stocks · Automate investing · Dollar cost average · P/E ratio.

— Personal journal notes

My Thoughts

The plot was a little slow but it picked up at the end. Overall, not a bad book. The technical realism is what sets it apart from typical thrillers.

— Personal journal note

Why It Stands Out

Jones brings Raymond Chandler's banter and Dashiell Hammett's violence to a modern Detroit setting. August Snow is one of the most richly drawn characters in contemporary crime fiction.

My Thoughts

Educated was a very good book — a very insightful view into her rough upbringing and how education cost her and changed her life.

— Personal journal note

Why This Book Matters

A rare book that is simultaneously an inspiring immigrant story, a clear history of AI, and a moral argument about the responsibility that comes with transformative technology.

Series Context

A slow burn that rewards patience. Brad Thor is at his best when the action sequences arrive — and they do, spectacularly, in the final third.

My Takeaway (May 11, 2024)

Very informative and thought-provoking as someone with a desire to be a leader. The difference between an intern and a general doctor in how they approach problems. Bob had many mentors, embraced change, and was willing to reinvent himself. These are principles necessary for true leadership.

— Personal journal notes

Format Note

Listened as an audiobook — a great way to absorb AI fundamentals while on the go. Well-structured for a non-technical audience.

Why This Stands Out

Makes the AI future emotionally real through storytelling before analyzing it. The pairing of fiction and rigorous analysis is genuinely effective.

Journal Note

Court Gentry — main character noted in reading journal. Greaney's research into tradecraft and international settings gives the series an authenticity few thriller writers match.

— Personal journal note

Key Terms from Notes

SCADA (industrial control systems) · Shotnet · DCPG — noted as key concepts to explore further. A genuinely unsettling read about digital infrastructure vulnerability.

— Personal journal notes

Core Premise (from journal)

"The Singularity is Nearer when we merge with AI" — captures exactly Kurzweil's central argument: the convergence of human and artificial intelligence is accelerating toward a transformative point of no return.

— Personal journal note

My Notes

The book is about how water transforms into beautiful crystals when exposed to positive messages or environments. Originally written in Japan and translated. The ultimate message is about love and gratitude.

— Personal journal note

My Notes

The lead character who got separated picked apart the bad guys one by one, found out who sent those guys, and rescued her friends.

— Personal journal note

Personal Context

Listened to this audiobook while painting my office one weekend — Patterson's short chapters kept the energy high the entire time and made the project fly by.

Cultural Moment

Fourth Wing struck a chord worldwide with millions of copies sold across age groups. Its mix of romance, dragon lore, and high stakes makes it a true crossover hit.

Why This Book Is Remarkable

Reads like an Ocean's Eleven caper. The fact it's entirely true makes it even more astonishing. A must-read for anyone interested in technology, privacy, and the ethics of law enforcement.

Series Note

A Jason Bourne novel noted in the journal. Lustbader continues Ludlum's spy legacy with globe-spanning action and trademark Bourne complexity.

— Personal journal note (May 31, 2025)

My Notes (Feb 17, 2025)

The book starts as John is nominated as Ambassador for Russia in 2016. He served under many presidents — mostly in the capacity of General Counsel. He was selected by President Trump right before COVID started.

— Personal journal notes, 7:45am

Why This Collaboration Is Unique

Rarely do a diplomat-statesman, a tech executive, and an academic computer scientist co-author a book. The result is a rigorous, multi-dimensional view of AI that no single author could have produced alone.

Why It's Special

This is a Cold War-style spy novel for the modern era — ripped from today's Russia-Ukraine headlines. Greaney pours everything into this one, and it shows on every page.

Series Note

Baldacci's Archer series stands apart from his modern thrillers — the historical 1940s-50s setting gives these books a distinctive noir atmosphere that fans of Raymond Chandler will appreciate.

Why This Book Endures

Ali redefined what it means to be an athlete by combining championship boxing with unapologetic activism, poetry, and deep conviction. This book captures both the fighter and the man behind the lightning-fast hands.

Core Insight

The best way to change the world — or a business, or a community — is to find the right people, refine the message to make it "sticky," and pay close attention to the context and environment around it.

Core Insight

Financial success isn't just about knowledge — it's about behavior. Long-term compounding, managing envy, and understanding that wealth is what you don't spend are underrated skills.

Core Message

Thomas's personal story gives his message weight that pure self-help theory often lacks. You cannot read this book and remain comfortable with excuses.

Format Note

Listened as an audiobook. Baldacci's King and Maxwell series is one of the most consistently entertaining in the genre — each book raises the stakes higher.

Personal Note

I must read this book again — a reminder of how rare and powerful true listening really is.

Personal Note

I've read this book many times. "Thought and Character" is my favorite chapter — the idea that character is built from your innermost thoughts, not your outward circumstances, bears revisiting constantly.

Personal Note

Great book — I need to read it again. Walter Massey's range of accomplishments is staggering, and the way he weaves personal life into professional narrative makes this far more than a business memoir.

Why This Book Is Essential

Mandela's ability to emerge from 27 years of imprisonment without bitterness — and lead his country toward reconciliation instead of retribution — is one of history's most remarkable acts of leadership.

Why It Matters

Paced like a thriller (The Economist). A book that will change how you think about your phone and your privacy. As Edward Snowden said: if they found a way to hack one iPhone, they found a way to hack all iPhones.

Author Context

This is where Andy Greenberg — author of Sandworm and Tracers in the Dark — began. Reading all three creates a complete portrait of his remarkable decade-long investigation into the internet's darkest corners.

Series Context

Another Russinovich thriller after Zero Day. His background as a Microsoft technical fellow gives these books a depth and realism that pure fiction writers cannot replicate.

Why It Stands Out

NPR said it best: "We are all a little bit Murderbot." A surprisingly moving story about identity, autonomy, and found family — wrapped in a sharp, funny, action-packed sci-fi novella.