I had a couple hours of gap at Stanford after touring the photonics and quantum computing labs, and before an evening programme on campus. Habitually I walked into the bookshop and found Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit. Reading the first couple of chapters was the best way to spend that time. There is always something … Continue reading The Creative Habit
Author: dpz
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari’s brief history of humankind is brief enough that I could read it and listen to its audiobook in one weekend. It is long enough that my reading chair could do with shaking my weight off it. Leaving its accuracy aside, since I am not a historian myself (not yet, neither you nor … Continue reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Exascale Computing
Throughout the multiple phases of the Exascale Initiative, when people asked me what I was working on, I kept it simple and crisp: Exascale Computing. I learned to laser-focus on the meaningful challenges and develop simplicity elsewhere in life. Today I am very proud to share with you one sweet fruit of our endeavour: the … Continue reading Exascale Computing
A Farewell to Arms
In 1948, Hemingway added an introduction to this book, that had been originally published in 1929. In this introduction, we learn that Hemingway wrote its first draft very quickly and every day to the point of complete exhaustion such that he completed it in only six weeks. He then spent a great deal of effort … Continue reading A Farewell to Arms
Productivity
I read a few articles by Robert Pozen, and the seven-part series on personal productivity by Pozen and Justin Fox, all published by Harvard Business Review. A wealth of great advice is worthy of sharing here. Pozen wrote a book called Extreme Productivity that I have not read. It is better to put great advice … Continue reading Productivity
Inventing the Truth
Matthew Siegel recommended Inventing the Truth to us. More specifically, two chapters, "Introduction" by William Zinsser & "Life With Mother" by Russell Baker were part of last week’s assignment for his course on Writing Creative Nonfiction: Fearless and Authentic Narratives. I ordered a second-hand copy. It arrived in the post on Friday evening. Brown, beautifully … Continue reading Inventing the Truth
Women Leaders: Mastering Organisational Strategy
This weekend, I attended the Women Leaders: Mastering Organisational Strategy workshop given by Dikla Camel Hurwitz at Stanford Graduate School of Business. In short, my summary is: attend it if you have a chance, regardless of your gender. I personally think many discussions and practices we had would be very useful for male professionals as … Continue reading Women Leaders: Mastering Organisational Strategy
The Seven Levels of Communication
This book, the Seven Levels of Communication by Michael J. Maher, arrived in the post. Very excitedly, I opened the package. After a quick glance at its cover with the subtitle “Go from Relationships to Referrals”. My heart sank to the deep dark valley in King’s Canyon. “Relationships to Referrals” those words immediately projected to … Continue reading The Seven Levels of Communication
Effective Argument and Critical Thinking
I wish I had come across Oxford Guide to Effective Argument and Critical Thinking by Colin Swatridge when I started reading ferociously and writing to a lesser extent in the 1990s. Unfortunately, Swatridge only wrote and published it in 2014. I suppose that having not found and read it for the last five years is … Continue reading Effective Argument and Critical Thinking
Always Right
It has been nearly six years since Margaret Thatcher passed away. I was on my way to board an aeroplane from London to California. By the entrance door to the plane, there were dozens of newspapers on the shelf, with their front pages announcing her death. Looking at the iconic images of her, my heart … Continue reading Always Right