Books

Book Review: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

I very highly recommend the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi.

This book has increased my respect for Islam. I am impressed by the discipline Muslims have. For example, every day they pray three times. And not just in private either - they are very open about it. It can even be a social thing. I wish rituals like this were more common in Christianity to encourage a more consistent prayer life.

Book Review of Shape Up: The Hipster's Waterfall

I have finally finished reading Shape Up: Stop Running in Circles and Ship Work that Matters by Ryan Singer after many months. Now that I’ve made it through the book, I would subtitle it “The Hipster’s Waterfall.”

To be fair, it is a thought-provoking book. It has some good ideas for new techniques in managing software projects. It is well written and clear, and I think Singer does a decent job of arguing for the processes and techniques he recommends. I just don’t agree with some of his more foundational points and therefore I do not agree with the general thesis of the book.

Book Review: Prey by Michael Crichton

I did not enjoy Prey as much as I thought I would. I think there are a couple of things that I struggled with while reading it.

The first thing I struggled with was actually a problem with the type of topics that Michael Crichton likes to take on. I think of his writing as near-term science fiction. It’s definitely science fiction, but it isn’t far-fetched science fiction that takes place centuries in the future. It’s the type of science fiction that I could imagine happening tomorrow. Usually, I appreciate that, since it explores ways that the world could be different today. However, it can also backfire.

Book Review: Skunk Works by Ben Rich

Skunk Works by Ben Rich is a memoir about Rich’s time working at the Lockheed Skunk Works. The Skunk Works is a small, secretive, advanced research and development organization within Lockheed. Rich relates his experiences from first being tapped by Kelly Johnson - the founder of Skunk Works - to design some systems on the U-2 spy plane to taking the reins when Johnson retired to his own eventual retirement.

The philosophy of the Skunk Works is what stood out to me in the book. Skunk Works isn’t just a secret department within Lockheed. The Skunk Works philosophy emphasizes small, flat, tightly integrated teams that have autonomy to make decisions about their projects. Kelly Johnson’s 14 rules and practices provides a map for the Skunk Works to operate. Engineers are required to visit the shop floor to interact with those machining the parts and assembling the aircrafts. Outside inspections are kept to a minimum. Unnecessary documentation must be eliminated, but important work must be comprehensively reported.