Oxide and Friends Books in the Box V
Dive into a treasure trove of book recommendations, ranging from tech insights to cultural critiques. Highlights include discussions on Neal Stephenson's 'Snow Crash,' the nostalgia of retail software, and the importance of semiconductor firm histories. The hosts share listener picks such as 'Eccentric Orbits' and provide a humorous anti-recommendation for 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies.' With anecdotes and revelations about industry giants, this segment is a must-listen for curious readers seeking their next great read.
01:20:51
Road Trip To Campus
- Bryan drove 2,000 miles round-trip to Pullman, Washington for his 18-year-old's campus visit.
- He found the drive gorgeous and said long road trips warp his sense of time.
Read Before You Recommend
- If you're recommending books on the show, read them first or clearly label recommendations from listeners.
- Allow "currently reading" if you feel you've read enough to recommend it.
Scout Rare Books On Resale Markets
- If a rare book is unobtainable, monitor auctions and resale sites like eBay for copies.
- Decide whether the historical or collector value justifies high bids before purchasing.
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Intro
00:00 • 7min
Rules and Scope for Books in the Box
06:41 • 2min
Personal Reads from Previous Years
09:00 • 4min
Fumbling the Future and Retail Book Memories
12:44 • 5min
Slingshot and AMD's Comeback
17:55 • 2min
Need for Definitive Histories of Semiconductor Firms
19:52 • 4min
Open Circuits and Systems Performance
24:21 • 2min
Why We're Getting Poorer and Termination Shock
26:20 • 2min
Snow Crash, Pop Culture, and Virtual Worlds
28:46 • 8min
Listener Recommendations: Reinventing the Wheel & Eccentric Orbits
36:33 • 3min
Language Machines and AI Critique
39:26 • 3min
Read Write Own and Molly White's Review
42:26 • 2min
Careless People: Inside Facebook
44:14 • 3min
If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies (Anti‑Recommendation)
47:22 • 4min
Anecdotes and the 'Do Not Open' Fridge
51:46 • 3min
From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog
54:35 • 5min
The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
59:29 • 53sec
The NVIDIA Way and Company Histories
01:00:23 • 4min
Morris Chang Autobiographies and LLM Translation
01:04:00 • 1min
Listener Picks: Inventing the Renaissance & Charles Sumner
01:05:11 • 5min
Math Books: Measurement, Mockingbird, and Surreal Numbers
01:10:37 • 2min
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Fiction)
01:12:49 • 3min
As Time Goes By and The Box (Economic Histories)
01:15:54 • 1min
Founder vs Investor Event Announcement
01:17:10 • 3min
Teaser: Future Lock Debugging Episode
01:19:46 • 36sec
Outro
01:20:23 • 27sec
#58038
Fumbling the Future
Robert C. Alexander
Douglas K. Smith
#38718
The war of Don Emmanuel's nether parts
Louis de Bernieres
#32578
From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog
Martin Campbell-Kelly
#54297
The Mouse Driver Chronicles
John Lusk
Kyle Harrison
#56452
Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner
#71931
As Time Goes By
from the Industrial Revolution to the Information Revolution
Francisco Lausia
Chris Freeman
#55847
Measurement
Paul Lockhart
#47434
Open Circuits
Eric Schliepfer
Wendell Oskay
#1386
• Mentioned in 22 episodes
The Box
How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger
Marc Levinson
#35287
skunk works by Ben Rich
Ben Rich
#9101
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Inventing the Renaissance
Ada Palmer
#1600
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
The Nvidia Way
Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant
Tae Kim
The Nvidia Way is a riveting history of Nvidia’s unexpected ascent to the top of the tech sector.
It provides an authoritative, myth-busting account of Nvidia’s founding, its early missteps, and how the company overcame them.
The book emphasizes the benefits of Nvidia’s flat organizational structure, Jensen Huang’s obsession with solving the Innovator’s Dilemma, and how Nvidia anticipated and bet on the AI wave.
It offers enduring lessons for entrepreneurs and managers, showcasing Nvidia’s distinct culture and Jensen Huang’s management principles.
#15208
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Founder vs Investor
Elizabeth Zalman
Jerry Neumann
Founder vs Investor provides a no-holds-barred look into the minds and motivations of founders and investors, exposing the chaos and conflicts that arise from differing incentives and goals.
The book offers actionable counsel on navigating these relationships, drawing from the authors' extensive experience in the startup world.
#1170
• Mentioned in 25 episodes
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin
Spanning thirty years, 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin is a sweeping narrative that explores the lives of Sam and Sadie, two friends united by their love of video games.
From their childhood encounters to their adulthood as successful game developers, the book delves into themes of identity, creativity, disability, and the redemptive possibilities in play.
It is a coming-of-age story that examines the multifaceted nature of human relationships and the need to connect, love, and be loved.
The novel is praised for its mature and nuanced portrayal of characters and its ability to engage readers even without prior knowledge of the video game industry.
#405
• Mentioned in 53 episodes
Read Write Own
Building the Next Era of the Internet
Chris Dixon
In 'Read Write Own,' Chris Dixon argues that the dream of an open, decentralized internet can be saved through blockchain technology.
He describes the internet's evolution through three eras: the 'read' era, where early networks democratized information; the 'read-write' era, where corporate networks democratized publishing; and the current 'read-write-own' era, or web3, where blockchain networks grant power and economic benefits to user communities.
Dixon provides a clear and compelling vision for a better internet, distinguishing blockchain's potential from cryptocurrency speculation and offering a playbook for navigating and building the future of the internet.
#422
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies
Eliezer Yudkowsky
Nate Soares
This book delves into the potential risks of advanced artificial intelligence, arguing that the development of superintelligence could lead to catastrophic consequences for humanity.
The authors present a compelling case for the need for careful consideration and regulation of AI development.
They explore various scenarios and potential outcomes, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI capabilities.
The book is written in an accessible style, making complex ideas understandable to a broad audience.
It serves as a call to action, urging policymakers and researchers to prioritize AI safety and prevent potential existential threats.
#165
• Mentioned in 98 episodes
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel that explores themes of racial injustice, childhood innocence, and moral courage in the American South.
The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of a crime.
Lee's powerful storytelling captures the complexities of race relations in the Jim Crow South, highlighting the prejudice and injustice faced by Black people.
The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.
#46107
Eccentric Orbits
John Bloom
#14110
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Language Machines
Cultural AI and the End of Remainder Humanism
Leaf Weatherby
#439
• Mentioned in 49 episodes
Careless People
Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of the Great Gatsby
Sarah Churchwell
Sarah Churchwell's "Careless People" delves into the creation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, "The Great Gatsby.
" The book explores the historical context surrounding the novel's writing, examining the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped its themes and characters.
Churchwell sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding the Jazz Age and the novel itself, challenging conventional interpretations.
She reveals the intricate details of Fitzgerald's creative process and the evolution of his ideas.
The book offers a fresh perspective on "The Great Gatsby," enriching our understanding of its enduring relevance.
#66
• Mentioned in 169 episodes
The big short
Inside the Doomsday Machine
Michael Lewis
The Big Short tells the story of the 2007-08 financial crisis through the lens of several key players who predicted and profited from the collapse of the housing market.
The book focuses on characters such as Steve Eisman, Mike Burry, Greg Lippmann, and the founders of Cornwall Capital, who saw the impending disaster and made significant gains by shorting the market.
Lewis explains the complex financial instruments and the systemic failures that led to the crisis, making the narrative both accessible and engaging.
#24569
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Reinventing the wheel
Bronwen Percival
#3474
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Steve Jobs and the NeXT big thing
Randall Stross
#153
• Mentioned in 104 episodes
Chip War
The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology
Chris Miller
In 'Chip War', Chris Miller details how the semiconductor industry has become essential for modern life, influencing military, economic, and geopolitical power.
The book explores the historical development of microchips, from their origins in Silicon Valley to their current role in global politics, particularly in the competition between the United States and China.
Miller explains how the U.S.
dominance in chip design and manufacturing contributed to its victory in the Cold War and how China's efforts to catch up are shaping the current geopolitical landscape.
#1595
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Termination Shock
Neal Stephenson
In 'Termination Shock', Neal Stephenson depicts a near-future world ravaged by the greenhouse effect, with superstorms, rising sea levels, global flooding, heat waves, and deadly pandemics.
The story centers around T.R.
Schmidt, a Texas billionaire who implements a solar geoengineering scheme by seeding the atmosphere with sulfur dioxide to cool the planet.
However, this plan has uneven effects globally, benefiting some regions while threatening others.
The novel follows a diverse cast of characters, including the Queen of the Netherlands and a Canadian-Indian Sikh, as they grapple with the geopolitical and social consequences of this rogue climate fix.
The book raises critical questions about the potential solutions and dire risks associated with large-scale climate interventions.
#24323
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Systems Performance
Enterprise and the Cloud
Brendan Gregg
Systems Performance by Brendan Gregg provides a thorough understanding of system performance analysis and optimization techniques.
The book covers hardware, kernel, and application internals, methodologies for rapid performance analysis, and optimization strategies for CPU, memory, file systems, and networking.
It also addresses cloud computing challenges and includes tools like DTrace, SystemTap, and perf for performance analysis.
#18562
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Why We're Getting Poorer
Cahal Moran
#12268
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Shift Happens
Marcin Wichary
Marcin Wichary's "Shift Happens" is a visually stunning and deeply researched exploration of the history of keyboards.
The book features high-quality photography and detailed illustrations of various keyboard designs throughout history.
It delves into the technical aspects of keyboard design, as well as the cultural and social impact of this ubiquitous input device.
Wichary's passion for the subject is evident in his meticulous attention to detail and engaging writing style.
The book is a must-have for anyone interested in design, technology, or the history of computing.
#14128
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Slingshot
Hector Ruiz
Lauren Villagran
Hector Ruiz's "Slingshot" provides a compelling narrative of his journey as CEO of AMD, focusing on the company's strategic battles against Intel.
The book details AMD's legal fight against Intel's anti-competitive practices, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the intense rivalry and courtroom drama.
Ruiz shares his personal experiences and leadership decisions, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of leading a smaller company against a dominant industry player.
The book also explores the cultural differences between AMD and Intel, shedding light on the contrasting corporate philosophies and management styles.
It's a fascinating read for anyone interested in business strategy, corporate warfare, and the semiconductor industry.
#8187
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
High Noon
Elinor Glyn
High Noon is a sequel to Elinor Glyn's renowned novel, Three Weeks.
Although attributed to Glyn, it was actually written by an unknown author.
The book continues the story where Three Weeks left off, offering a continuation of the themes and characters that made the original novel so popular.
#168
• Mentioned in 97 episodes
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson
Published in 1992, 'Snow Crash' is a science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson that delves into a future where the United States has fragmented into corporate city-states and the internet has evolved into a virtual reality called the Metaverse.
The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a pizza delivery driver and part-time hacker, and Y.T.
, a teenage skateboard courier, as they navigate a complex world threatened by a mysterious computer virus and a powerful drug known as Snow Crash.
The novel explores themes of history, linguistics, anthropology, and computer science, and is noted for its prescient vision of the metaverse and its influence on Silicon Valley innovators.
#1755
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital
Carlota Perez
Carlota Perez's "Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital" examines the interplay between technological innovation and economic development.
The book argues that technological revolutions unfold in distinct phases, each characterized by specific economic and social dynamics.
Perez identifies key technological revolutions throughout history, analyzing their impact on investment, employment, and global power structures.
Her work emphasizes the role of financial capital in driving technological change and shaping economic cycles.
The book offers a comprehensive framework for understanding long-term economic trends and the challenges of managing technological transitions.
#10684
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
California Burning
Catherine Blunt
Revisiting an annual tradition--Books in the Box! Bryan, Adam, and the Oxide Friends share book recommendations (and--sometimes--anti-recommendations). Take a listen if you're looking for your next read.
In addition to Bryan Cantrill and Adam Leventhal, we were joined by some guests noted below:
Previously, on Oxide and Friends:
- OxF s05e06 - A Half‑Century of Silicon Valley with Randy Shoup
- OxF s05e26 - Technological Revolutions with Jerry Neumann
- OxF s04e03 - Fork in the Road for Terraform
- OxF s01e16 - The Books in the Box
- OxF s02e18 - Books in the Box Redux
- OxF s03e22 - Books in the Box III
- OxF s04e28 - Books in the Box IV
Other Notes:
- Princeton Review: Happiest Students
- UMass Dining Named Best Campus Food by The Princeton Review
- CHM Oral Histories
- Night Rider (and K.I.T.T.)
From Bryan and Adam (and others)
- The Mouse Driver Chronicles
- Fumbling the Future
- Slingshot
- Chip War
- Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital @bcantrill (economics book recommendation)
- Snow Crash (another Neal Stephenson book)
- The Big Short
- Reinventing The Wheel
- Eccentric Orbits (recommended by listener)
- Language Machines Cultural AI and the End of Remainder Humanism (recommended by listener)
- Molly White's **review ** of Read Write Own
- Careless People
- NOT A RECOMMENDATION If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies (If you are Molly White, please destroy this for us!)
- Surreal Numbers by Knuth (recommended by listeners)
From Oliver Herman
From Tom Lyon
From Dan McDonald
If we got something wrong or missed something, please file a PR! Our next show will likely be on Monday at 5p Pacific Time on our Discord server; stay tuned to our Mastodon feeds for details, or subscribe to this calendar. We'd love to have you join us, as we always love to hear from new speakers!