Essentialism by Greg McKeown
The Big Idea: Do less but achieve more by focusing on the true essentials. Most of what typical people do is non-essential.Ignore what typical people do, because typical people tend…
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Big Idea: Mindfulness is "the awareness that arises by paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally." Meditation practice means showing up consistently, not about achieving a…
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis
The Big Idea: The federal workforce is full of unsung, passionate people who run important federal programs. The fifth risk = the risk you haven't considered. Presidents come and go,…
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
The Big Idea: Europeans conquered the world because they existed in a temperate climate and in a long East-West axis connected to the Fertile Crescent and Asia. This geographic starting…
Unstoppable by David Hauser
The Big Idea: Adopt a low-carb, high-fat diet. Early to bed, early to rise. Move more throughout the day. Lift weights. Practice yoga. Limit social media. Meditate regularly. Prioritize experiences,…
The Precipice by Toby Ord
The Big Idea: The chance of an existential catastrophe in the hundred years is 1 in 6. Man-made risks far outweigh natural risks. We need global cooperation, continued work, and…
The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb
The Big Idea: A Black Swan is an outlier event with low probability and extreme impact. We act as if Black Swans do not exist, but, even though they are…
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
The Big Idea: Success in poker and life comes from making good decisions while recognizing that luck is also a major factor. There are two things that determine how our…
Factfulness by Hans Rosling
The Big Idea: Humans are at risk for a number of cognitive biases that hamper our ability to think analytically and exhibit good judgement. Introduction It is the overdramatic worldview…
Gardening with Less Water by David Bainbridge
The Big Idea: Super-efficient irrigation techniques (ollas, clay pipes, terraces, check dams, swales) have been used for thousands of years. Drip irrigation has helped increase water-use efficiency in gardens and…