Solomon Perkins

Sharing my opinions on the things I find valuable.

Books I've Read

Elon Musk. Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
Elon Musk. Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance

Elon Musk. Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Author › Ashlee Vance

Year of Reading › 2020

Summary › A full insight into the life of Elon Musk, who is widely known as one of the greatest disruptive entreprenure of our time. The book provides a detail view of his life, spanning from his childhood days up to 2015. As the Wall Street Journal puts it, "[A] spirited and riveting biography". Being constantly referred to as Tony Stark (Iron Man), he has proven lived up to the name. Due to his grit and high tolerance of failure.

Personal Impact › Having spent a week to complete this book, I fully understand why I understood his mission. Disruption is happening on all levels, but he has managed to take on the hardest problems despite the pushbacks. All his companies are leading the way for a cleaner and better race and that I'm greatful for.

The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies

The Montessori Toddler

Author › Simone Davies

Year of Reading › 2020

Summary › A detailed insight into how we should be raising up kids to be better human beings. By empowering them on how they can become better citizens of this world.

Personal Impact › I grew up under the reward & punishment model. This approach to parenting will affects a childs confidence and freedom of thought beyond their childhood years. This book helped me renew (reshape) my parenting method and how I can help my son become a major contributor to society.

Ted Talks - The Official TED Guide for Public Speaking by Chris Andreson (Head of TED)
Ted Talks - The Official TED Guide for Public Speaking by Chris Andreson (Head of TED)

Ted Talks - The Official TED Guide for Public Speaking

Author › Chris Andreson (Head of TED)

Year of Reading › 2019

Summary › This book teaches at a pratical level how to plan and deliver a powerful idea through public speaking. Having an idea you're passionate about is one thing, but communicating it effectively is another. This book lays the foundation on how to execute a powerful presentation.

Personal Impact › The adivces and the format of the book are clear and easy to follow. I'm now able to understand why I'm so drawn to Ted Talk presentations.

Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI by Paul R. Daugherty & H. James Wilson
Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI by Paul R. Daugherty & H. James Wilson

Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI

Author › Paul R. Daugherty & H. James Wilson

Year of Reading › 2019

Summary › With the current FUDs around artificial intelligence and its disruption in relation to job market. This book has done a great job of contextualizing the fact that this technology gave us superpowers. It lays out the plan required by companies to achive this with the use of MELDS. Mindest is needed to channel uncharted territory. Experimentation should be done in a sandbox manner and then move outwards. Leadership is necessary in alleviating those fears. Skills are important as the workforce should be reskilled to handle the new terrain.

Personal Impact › Provides some direct examples as to how I can contribute to this change by improving my AI skills and think about ways of using it.

Gamify - How GamificationMotivates People To Do Extraordinary Things by Brian Burke - Bartner, Inc.
Gamify - How GamificationMotivates People To Do Extraordinary Things by Brian Burke - Bartner, Inc.

Gamify - How GamificationMotivates People To Do Extraordinary Things

Author › Brian Burke - Bartner, Inc.

Year of Reading › 2019

Summary › Gamification is a technique use to improve outcomes while incentiving users to achieve the intended outcome. This book focuses on how projects maybe able to achieve remarkable results by engaging their users with the use of various reward system. In providing a step by step process, this book showcases how projects may go about achieving this objective. It uses examples from Nike+, DirectTV among others to highlight benefits and success cases from both an employer/consumer perspective.

Personal Impact › Help me understand what is the science behind how to think about gamifiying any user experience and how to differentiate it from a simple reward model. A book that was written in 2014 has done a remarkable job predicting a technology and its viability in 2020. Evidentily, I've seen gamification in various projects and I do expect this model to continue. I agree with the ideas expressed in this book as I find myself looking at the leaderboard of various programs I'm involved in.

The Missing Piece by Paul J. Rosen
The Missing Piece by Paul J. Rosen

The Missing Piece

Author › Paul J. Rosen

Year of Reading › 2019

Summary › This is an introduction to Nutrition Response Testing. Which is an effective method used to effectively highlight the underlaying cause of various body ailments. This deviates from the current medial profession, whereby a broad brush approach is used to resolve ailments. This method instead focus on what the body requires inorder to resolve this issue.

Personal Impact › This short read was very informative. It highlights the way in which the various sectors of my body is related. It also highlights how my body function and what approach I can use to identify various issues by tapping into the body's natrual response mechanism.

Grab You Some Lemons: Make the Best Out of Life's Sour Moments by Damien Marcus Williams
Grab You Some Lemons: Make the Best Out of Life's Sour Moments by Damien Marcus Williams

Grab You Some Lemons: Make the Best Out of Life's Sour Moments

Author › Damien Marcus Williams

Year of Reading › 2018

Summary › A Grenadian/Jamaican author sharing his story of how he transformed his life by turning all his challenges into opportunities.

Personal Impact › This book encourages me to continue to server and help others as much as I can. Trusing the process and believe in your abilities and the Most High will find a way to bless you.

Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson
Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese

Author › Dr. Spencer Johnson

Year of Reading › 2018

Summary › Never get comfortable, keep looking for more opportunities even when you've achieved your initial goal. These are some of the lessons which can be found in this 30min read.

Personal Impact › Despite it being a short book, the story line compelled me to substitue my own experience while reading it. I ended up thinking if I'd get too comfortable and stop going after new cheese.

5 Step To Getting What You Want Out Of Life by Kemal Brown
5 Step To Getting What You Want Out Of Life by Kemal Brown

5 Step To Getting What You Want Out Of Life

Author › Kemal Brown

Year of Reading › 2017

Summary › A quick top 5 recommened action you should take in order to achieve what you hope for in life. In this book Kemal share his entrepreneural experience.

Personal Impact › I appreciate reading this book as it is from a Jamaican who has international reach. I thoroughly appreciate the advices given in this short sync.

The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann

The Go Giver

Author › Bob Burg and John David Mann

Year of Reading › 2017

Summary › A little story about a powerful Idea and how the five laws of stratospheric success ( The Law of ..Value, Compensation, Influence, Authencity and Receptivity) propelled him to great heights.

Personal Impact › This book made me shed a tear. This book has such a lasting impact on my life, up to this day I'm governed by the lessons it has taught me. I've tried and proven all five laws multiple times and for that I say it is a must read.

The Virgin Way by Richard Branson
The Virgin Way by Richard Branson

The Virgin Way

Author › Richard Branson

Year of Reading › 2017

Summary › A leadership book teaching how to achieve your goals through the eyes of Richard Branson. This powerful book provide a full account of all the challenges he went through during the process.

Personal Impact › The book encourages me to follow my passion irrespective of what others may think or say. It also prepares me for the challenges ahead and how to overcome them.

The Bible (New Testement) by The Most High?
The Bible (New Testement) by The Most High?

The Bible (New Testement)

Author › The Most High?

Year of Reading › 2016

Summary › The Christian holy book.

Personal Impact › Creates that inner peace which helps me go through the daily challenges. This holy book taught me how to care for others and how to workship the Most High. It must be authored by a higher being as it is the only book which governs our life irrespective of your generation, culture or ethnicity.

How To Make Money With Stocks by William J. O'Neil
How To Make Money With Stocks by William J. O'Neil

How To Make Money With Stocks

Author › William J. O'Neil

Year of Reading › 2016

Summary › A comprehensive guide on how to identify all the key indicators when trading on the stock market.

Personal Impact › Learn about the important data points integral when trading. The historial lessons gave good insights on how trade.

Nudge by Richard H. Thaler
Nudge by Richard H. Thaler

Nudge

Author › Richard H. Thaler

Year of Reading › 2015

Summary › As the name suggests, it encourages its audience to change their view about society by taking small steps. The simple action may not have large impact but with time they can form the foundation for success.

Personal Impact › When I'm unable to complete a task, I often think about the smallest action I can take which would get me closer to the goal.

Running Lean by Ash Maurya
Running Lean by Ash Maurya

Running Lean

Author › Ash Maurya

Year of Reading › 2015

Summary › Build, Measure, Learn are the key concepts when testing any business idea. It teaches entreprenures how to iterate & test the problem-solution fit in the most effecient manner.

Personal Impact › It taught me about the bigger picture of how to first find the customer and build the product around them. To this day all my personal projects are done using this level of iteration.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robery Kiyosaki
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robery Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Author › Robery Kiyosaki

Year of Reading › 2015

Summary › This is the most powerful book I've ever read around financial education and how to understand the unwrittern rules around your finance. It tells a story about a young man and his friend how had two fathers.

Personal Impact › I over-heard my past workers expressing their interest in this book. This book changed my life. I no longer think about $ as the 99% of the population do. My financial education started as a result of this book.

The Healing Wonders of Herbs by Herminia de Guzman-Ladion
The Healing Wonders of Herbs by Herminia de Guzman-Ladion

The Healing Wonders of Herbs

Author › Herminia de Guzman-Ladion

Year of Reading › 2014

Summary › Herbs have the same benefits today as they did in the past. This is a book sharing how we can cure simple ailments with use of water and other type of herbs.

Personal Impact › Before my grandmother passed away, she taught me about herbs and their different health benefits. I however took that knowledge for granted, so now I'm grateful to have recooperated a portion of it. My aim is to have this information available to the public (if possible).