We're living in the Information Age. Information is like currency that can be earned, spent, and invested into projects and dreams and ambitions. If you're a business owner or executive, how you gain new information is a critical part of what you do. If you're seeking to move into another job-position or start a company, how you gain and leverage new information will be the difference that makes a difference between being successful or falling short of your goals. As we're entering an age or artificial intelligence, how you up-skill through information acquisition will determine whether you're on the right or wrong side of this change.
While there is now a plethora of information out there on the net, I continue to glean much from books. As such, here are 5 recommended books that will prepare you for the next 10 years. Some are oldies--by that I mean about 10 years old--and others are pretty current. They touch on a number of key issues in our world; and while they are highly relevant, they are not the only ones important to read.
1. Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed
This is a classic look at how civilizations rise and fall, and the patterns that almost seem universal. By reading this book, you can draw your own conclusions about where we are as a civilization, and where we should be going.
2. The Pentagon's Brain
This is a very erudite book about DARPA--Defense Advanced Research Agency. As the Pentagon's brain, this book shows the history of advanced technology in the United States, and its role in geopolitics. It also paints a picture of where technology is going, and what we can expect over the next 20 years. Artificial Intelligence and cyborgs are key areas of research right now, according to the book. It's claimed that DARPA's technology is 10-20 years ahead of that available to civilizations at a given time. This means that what DARPA is working on now can be expected in 10 to 20 years--but with the exponential rate of technological advancement, this could be much sooner.
3. The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
Ray Kurzweil's seminal work remains relevant a decade after its publication in 2005. Back then, Kurzweil's projections were claimed no less than outrageous--now they are almost conventional. This book is a very important read for those who want to know where we are heading as a civilization, and when read with the two book above, will be sure to draw out some very fascinating conclusions.
4. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
While the story of Elon Musk is certainly unfinished, this biography offers a glimpse into one of the most important entrepreneurs of the 21st Century. Steve Jobs was a brilliant man; but if his purpose was to "make a dent in the universe," Elon Musk is looking to blast a big hole in it. To get a glimpse of the future, you need to look through the lenses of visionaries and inventors--this book is a good place to start. How do Musk and Kurzweil (an amazing inventor in his own right) push and pull on each other?
5. Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All
This is a great book on creativity. You know, in this world that is so unpredictable, creativity is a critical 'skill' to have and hone; and this book is a fine place to begin. This book goes into why people often don't consider themselves creativity, and how to get over the humps to a new awareness of themselves. It lays forth the blocks of creativity and how to overcome them. As you're looking to up-skill or enter a new professional challenge, or embark on a new venture, this book will be a good companion indeed.
Reading is important. It's important to take time in your daily schedule to read. Early morning can be a good time to do it--when your mind is fresh and just awakening. Reading before bed is another great time. If you use TV as a sedative, turn it off and pick up one of these books. While you sleep, the ideas will churn around and you'll find yourself awaking the following morning to a kind of new awareness. From there you can plot your course(s) of action.
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