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Tag: #booksread2025

  • The Coming Wave – Mustafa Suleyman & Michael Bhaskar

    I have been keeping an eye on the excitement that has been circulating over the last few years. Observing many friends utilize the tools that have become more accessible, I began to pay closer attention to various concerns that I believed AI tool developers needed to consider thoughtfully. While searching for a book that would provide me with a solid perspective on the issues that were troubling me, my friend Kesava suggested that I read this book.

    This was a fantastic suggestion. In many respects, the various concerns that were troubling me were interconnected and categorized under distinct headings. Some of the topics addressed in the book include the challenge of containment, the significance of incentives, and the difficulties these technologies (the book discusses not only AI but also several other forces with similar traits) present to the concept of a nation-state.

    The book ends with some reflections that Suleyman offers regarding the methods of containment and the importance of being proactively engaged in it.

    I strongly suggest this book to all entrepreneurs or those looking to become entrepreneurs who aim to create in the AI landscape, where it is essential to take a proactive approach in designing AI systems. The book provides valuable guidance on potential steps that these AI teams might take as they develop technology to tackle the challenges they will ultimately face.

  • Shaolin – Bernhard Moestl

    “Shaolin – How to Win Without Fighting” by Bernhard Moestl is the first book I read in 2025. Translated from German by Anya Malhotra, it offers insightful reflections to help readers absorb Bernhard’s key lessons.
    I enjoy Kungfu movies and their philosophy. This book sparked this interest of mine, so I would have rated it highly anyways. However, this book will not disappoint anyone serious about self-improvement and negotiations.

    Bernhard has spent considerable time with the monks and has compiled several of their teachings into a concise book. The reflective exercises included in the chapters have been highly beneficial for me. He presents 13 principles he has learned from the Shaolin monks and articulates why and how these could be exceptionally valuable for anyone. The principles are as follows:

    • The Principle of the Present
    • The Principle of Mindfulness
    • The Principle of Resoluteness
    • The Principle of Detachment
    • The Principle of Calmness
    • The Principle of Slowness
    • The Principle of Imitation
    • The Principle of Opportunity
    • The Principle of Yielding
    • The Principle of Superiority
    • The Principle of Letting Go
    • The Principle of Self-knowledge
    • The Principle of Community

    He articulates these 13 principles effectively, encouraging the reader to understand and appreciate their various facets.

    My appreciation for this book may stem from my passion for strategy and my background as a student in the field. However, this book is also highly recommended for individuals looking to enhance their personal and professional lives. It should be noted that this work stands out in the genre of personal development literature.