Tim Harford
Economist, Financial Times columnist (“The Undercover Economist”) and presenter of the Cautionary Tales podcast.
A World Without Email by Cal Newport
Cal Newport, A World Without Email – this is marketed as a self-help book by a self-help guy, but it’s much more than that.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Anthro-Vision by Gillian Tett
Gillian Tett, Anthro-Vision – my colleague Gillian Tett makes the case for thinking like an anthropologist in business and in life. The description of how KitKats took Japan by storm is a particular delight.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Extra Life by Steven Johnson
Steven Johnson, Extra Life – Johnson explores the astonishing expansion in life expectancy over the last two hundred years, and asks how we measure it and who – and what – deserves the credit. Wide ranging and a pleasure to read.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Burkeman’s book is one of the hits of the summer and deservedly so.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Rationality by Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker, Rationality – the joy of this book (other than Pinker’s playful wit) is the sheer range.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Shape by Jordan Ellenberg
Jordan Ellenberg, Shape – A really fun, witty exploration of ideas in geometry and their surprisingly wide-ranging application.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
The Art of Fairness by David Bodanis
David Bodanis, The Art of Fairness – A delightful and moving exploration of nice guys, nasty guys, and what it takes to succeed without being a jerk.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
The Art of More by Michael Brooks
Michael Brooks, The Art of More – The history of how ideas in mathematics (such as algebra, geometry, statistics and accountancy) helped to shape the modern world. Given my own predelictions I was delighted with this book.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell, The Bomber Mafia – Gladwell’s podcast company Pushkin publishes my Cautionary Tales podcast, but is also experimenting with ‘enhanced audiobooks’. This is their first attempt and it’s a cracker.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
The Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything by Adam Rutherford and Hannah Fry
Adam Rutherford and Hannah Fry, The Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything – just delightful, wide-ranging stuff from the surely best science-communication double-act in the world. The perfect gift for the nerd in your life.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
The Man From the Future by Ananyo Bhattacharya
Ananyo Bhattacharya, The Man From the Future – A biography not only of the genius’s genius, John von Neumann, but also of von Neumann’s ideas and influence, which are nearly impossible to exaggerate. Serious and brilliantly-written.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef
Julia Galef, The Scout Mindset – A charming and original contribution to the genre on being open-minded and curious. Great stories and ideas, alongside a serious argument for the virtues of exploring rather than defending ideas.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Think Again by Adam Grant
Adam Grant, Think Again – Grant is always witty and humane, but assembles a terrific range of ideas and research to analyse and overcome the obstacles to rethinking our own views and (even harder) persuading others to rethink theirs.
on timharford.com · 22 Nov 2021
Everything Tim Harford recommends — not just books — on rcmnd →