Books that earned my attention. With margin notes, because that's where the thinking actually happens.
p. 47
book · 01
No Logo
Naomi Klein
Companies slowly stopped thinking of themselves as makers of products and started thinking of themselves as owners of ideas.
— No Logo· Naomi Klein
The biggest insight wasn't about marketing. Polaroid wasn't selling cameras — it was selling memories. IBM wasn't selling computers — it was selling business solutions. Diesel wasn't selling jeans — it was selling a lifestyle. Most products compete on features. The memorable ones compete on identity.
margin note · People rarely adopt a product because of what it does. They adopt it because of what it lets them become.
recommend to → Product managers, founders, marketers, and anyone building something people need to care about.
book · 02
Shoe Dog
Phil Knight
Confidence was cash. You had to have some to get some.
— Shoe Dog· Phil Knight
Building products often feels exactly like that. You need experience to gain confidence, but you need confidence before you have experience. The story of Mount Joy and Mount Misery stayed with me — difficult periods don't last forever, but they often feel endless while you're inside them.
margin note · Most people quit on Mount Misery because they can't see Mount Joy yet.
recommend to → Myself three years ago. And any engineer who thinks building companies is mostly about code.
book · 03
Bad Blood
John Carreyrou
Beware of yes-men. Accept criticism. Choose mentors carefully.
— Bad Blood· John Carreyrou
The lesson wasn't that fraud exists. The lesson was how easily smart people can become surrounded by people who never challenge them. Disagreement is often healthier than agreement. A team where everyone says yes is usually already broken.
margin note · The moment nobody can tell you you're wrong is the moment you're most likely to be wrong.
recommend to → Founders and early engineering leaders.
book · 04
Bravehearts of Bharat
Vikram Sampath
Until the lions have their historians, the history of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter. — Chinua Achebe (quoted in the book)
— Bravehearts of Bharat· Vikram Sampath
A reminder that the stories we inherit are always told from a perspective. Who is allowed to tell their version matters as much as what happened. I keep this in mind when reading any history — technical or otherwise.
margin note · the default story is rarely the only story.
recommend to → Anyone who builds on top of other people's narratives — which is everyone who builds anything.
reading note
I keep three books open at once on purpose. They argue with each other in my head and the arguments are usually better than the books.
the shelf, right now
No Logo
Naomi Klein
reading
Shoe Dog
Phil Knight
finished
Bad Blood
John Carreyrou
finished
Bravehearts of Bharat
Vikram Sampath
reading
Why Nations Fail
Acemoglu & Robinson
slow
Factfulness
Hans Rosling
finished
VP Menon
Narayani Basu
reading
Tumhari Aukat Kya Hai
Piyush Mishra
rereading
He loved being alone, but not at the cost of nightmares.