Books on Davis Cole

10% Happier

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:55:02 -0400

Impression

I listened to this on audiobook, and Dan’s reading was honestly compelling. His journalism degree and news anchor voice are on full display, complete with fun and obscure vocabulary choices.

I remember putting it on for my drive from Worcester back home and just soaking it in. I was locked in basically the full 2.5 hrs.

I come away more curious about meditation and the benefits focused practice can bring.

How to Take Smart Notes

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:16:48 -0400

I came across this book when first learning about zettlekasten, personal knowledge management, and Obsidian.

… the professor is not there for the student and the student not for the professor. Both are only there for the truth. And truth is always a public matter.

Inspired by Getting Things Done, another popular book about productivity in knowledge work.

It basically gives a quick biography of Niklas Luhmann, a 20th century German sociologist that developed the zettlekasten method. Ahrens gives his thoughts on how to instill “smart notes” as a habit, and how to apply them to the reader’s field of work.

The Personal MBA

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:15:35 -0400

This is basically an index of mental models that covers business:

marketing and sales
finance and accounting
product development

It’s intended to be something that you leave on your desk, pick up, and just browse for what you’re interested in. I read two or three sections of this before giving up, but I enjoyed Kaufman’s writing style and ability to describe his mental models.

Skunk Works

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 18:12:27 -0400

Perhaps my favorite book. I listened to this three or four times on my dad’s Audible account before picking up a paperback.

This book had everything a curious undergraduate engoineering student could ask for; cool planes, geopolitcal intrigue, toxic masculinity, the whole nine yards.

Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Projects division
Clarence “Kelly” Johnson + Ben Rich
U-2 spy plane
SR-71 Blackbird
F-117 Nighthawk
The CIA, Air Force, and Navy
The Golden Age of engineering

Loonshots

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 18:06:22 -0400

I believe I bought this book at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon while on a post-graduation west coast road trip with my guys.

At this point in my life, I didn’t have much sense for running a business. I was familiar with managing college group projects, which has some loose connection to working in the real world. I suppose would be the first “Personal MBA”-type book I’ve read.

I was unusually hooked by this book as well. I had a particular intererst in how to maintain the balance between fast-paced R&D shops and hulking corporate dinosaurs. This topic has been covered at length in Skunk Works.

The Martian

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:14:56 -0400

Man, I feel bad for not wanting to finish this book in one go. As an engineer you want to appreciate and support this kind of media, but man it can be quite dry.

Pure plot progression can work, but the journal entries feel nearly identical once you get a year into his journey or so.

Maybe I need to watch the movie to inspire me. Love me some Matt Damon.

Flash Boys

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:09:42 -0400

High frequnecy trading’s effect on traders, stock exchanges.

Building a straight fiber line from Chicago to New Jersey

Brad Katsuyama

Goldman Sachs

Investor’s Exchange (IEX)