470: My Favorite Books

Deep Learning Illustrated is a comprehensive guide to deep learning, offering a unique visual and interactive approach. It explains deep learning techniques through straightforward analogies, vivid illustrations, and hands-on Python code in Jupyter notebooks. The book covers essential theory, including artificial neurons, training, optimization, convolutional nets, recurrent nets, generative adversarial networks (GANs), and deep reinforcement learning. It also focuses on practical applications such as machine vision, natural language processing, image generation, and game-playing algorithms, using libraries like Keras, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.

In 'Deep Learning: How the Mind Overrides Experience,' Stellan Ohlsson delves into the concept of non-monotonic learning, where the mind can override previous experiences to adapt and learn. The book is a significant contribution to cognitive psychology, highlighting the complexities of human learning and problem-solving processes.

This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth.