Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates
Published:
This is a really well-written and inspiring book — I finished reading it within a week.
Book Club Posts
This is a book collection in a blog-like format. I will list the books I’ve read and a quick summary, etc.2025
2024
Mongrel by Hanako Footman
Published:
I am currently reading this, enjoying it so far.
Stay True: A Memoir by Hua Hsu
Published:
Again highly recommended, a beautifully written memoir detailing Ken’s growing up in the US as a TW immigrant and how he cope with/ live with the sudden death of his best friend.
Poor: Grit, courage, and the life-changing value of self-belief by Katriona O Sullivan
Published:
Highly recommended, a beautifully written memoir about a girl growing up in a chaotic household and how she ended up in her academic career.
The Dealmaker by Guy Hands
Published:
Currently reading, and it has been a very interesting read.
Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal
Published:
Finished a while ago. Overall an easy-reading book with many interesting stories/ case study about psychology etc.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
Published:
This book is soooo fking good (I think I read this in Yr1/2 just when I needed it the most), so it bonded with me quite strongly. It’s like a life lesson book but in a very unconventional manner (but very revealing) and I learn so fking much after reading this. Mark Manson also has a youtube channel and I watch it quite often as well it’s very insightful. He also has a new book called Everything is Fucked - it’s on my to-read list.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Published:
I think this was the first Fiction book I finished (excluding Harry Potter series) - I missed this book … Fiction is always a good escape from reality and into the mind and life of the character. The book is medium-level “dense” but I am sure you will find revelations/ your own take-away from the book etc in this book.
Freakonomics series by Steven Levitt
Published:
This series is so much fun. The author basically tell loads of stories (we always love story) about e.g. hidden economy of abortion and like how profitable is a gang (it is so much fun). I read this ages ago can’t remember much now but it was a very fun read.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Published:
I read most of the books by Malcolm Gladwell he is definitely one of my favourite authors. His book is just so well-written and a pleasure to read (Prob bc he worked as an journalist back then so the stories in the book are very captivating). This is a must-read for the 10,000 hour rules. I also love his work as he always give loads of real world case-study which is always very fun to read (I love story!).
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Published:
I think I read this in F5 and this is probably the most influential book to me in my life so far. Again I think the author is a Professor in Stanford so it’s actual real psychology backed by research and not just some motivational BS videos on youtube etc. It basically teaches me to be resilient and not to give up easily on things that I am not good at. Trust me you gonna need it coz there will be so many things you felt incompetent starting uni (how you deal with that feeling is what this book is about).
What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 by Tina Seelig
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I think I read this book in Yr1 - I don’t remember much now but I do remember it’s quite good. Each chapter is kinda a life lesson on its own. Low-key this book might help shaped some of my decisions during Uni - Definitely read this if you ever feel stuck/ lost in your early 20s or if you are starting uni (in that case you will suddenly have lots of decisions to make yourself, all of which will shape you as who you are in the next couple of years)
Getter Better by Michael Rosen
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This is more of a semi-autobiography book in which the author take us all the way back and tell us the story of his life in a book. He is not a big figures/ celebrity (not that I am aware of), but more like a ordinary citizen who has quite a dramatic life I’d say (including loss of a child; living with an chronic disease without knowing it for 10 + years etc). He has his own set of believes and values after living his life essentially and in this book I am getting a glimpse into it.
1Q84/2Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Published:
I don’t read fiction a lot (although I probably should have read more) but this is the book I am currently reading when I want a brief escape from reality. This book is written in a first-person perspective (which I really like), essentially I am in the mind of the characters when I am inside this book - It is intriguing to go inside the mind of the different characters in the book.
Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer
Published:
This book actually helps a lot. I was so just anxious in the ever since I started uni without me realising it (ie base anxiety level is high). I probably “keep” the anxiety unconsciously because I thought it will help push me forward with the academic side of thing. This book kinda taught me it isn’t really the case and it’s more beneficial to realise where does the anxiety come from and don’t let it to take control. I started reading this book at night when I was just too anxious a couple of days ago - I have now kinda regained a level of calmness which felt really good.