The Authentic Research Experience: All Book Reviews
- Bianca Blanch
- Mar 1, 2020
- 13 min read
Updated: Aug 20, 2020
All of my book reviews and summaries in one place! No spoilers, ever, guaranteed.
Enjoy books that are based on true stories, whether people have explored a specific research interest, or described their experience in pair or unpaid work.
Book suggestions are very welcome!! Email me at AuthenticResearchExperiences@gmail.com
Disclaimer: if you click on any of the links below and buy a product I may receive a commission.
To save yourself the scroll, the books summarised on this page are:
'The Secrets We Kept' by Lara Prescott
'Daisy Jones & The Six' by Taylor Jenkins Reid
'Brain Changer' by Felice Jacka
'The Body: A Guide for Occupants' by Bill Bryson
'Dare to Lead' by Brene Brown
'Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber' by Mike Isaac
'Shoe Dog' by Phil Knight
'That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix by the First CEO and Co-Founder Marc Randolph ' by Marc Randolph
'Why We Dream' by Alice Robb
'Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Thing That Sustain Us When the World Goes Dark' by Julia Baird
'The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons in Creative Leadership' by Robert Iger
'Uncanny Valley: A Memoir' by Anna Wiener
'Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies at a Silicon Valley Startup' by John Carreyrou
'Before I Forget: How I Survived A Diagnosis of Younger-Onset Dementia at 46' by Christine Bryden
'The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper' by Hallie Rubenhold
'The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon' by Brad Stone
'The Upstarts: How Uber, AirBnB and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World' by Brad Stone
'The Secrets We Kept' by Lara Prescott
I love that this book was inspired from the CIA releasing previously classified documents about their involvement in publishing Doctor Zhivago (https://amzn.to/2VTlfIC) in 1956, during the Cold War. I devoured this book. Although Boris Pasternak is the author of Doctor Zhivago, this story focuses on the role of women in publishing the novel. Specifically, his mistress who spent years in work labour camps because she would not give testimony against him for being Anti-Soviet; the women in the typing pool at the CIA; and two female spies who posed as CIA administration staff.
Prescott is the definition of a research rockstar - she became obsessed with this story, travelled the world to better understand it, and told the world what she found in an interesting and compelling way.
'Daisy Jones & The Six' by Taylor Jenkins Reid
When I borrowed this book from the library, I had never heard of Daisy Jones or The Six. Turns out, Daisy Jones is an amazing self-taught singer who exudes sexuality and coolness, and The Six are a band of six people making music they love. This book is the story of how Daisy joined The Six in the 1970s, wrote an album with them and why the band broke up soon after.
The style of this book is quite unique, and one I grew to love. All of the people relevant to this story were interviewed, Daisy Jones, each member of The Six, managers, promoters, partners of the band members etc. Instead of the author paraphrasing their words to tell their story, Reid arranges their quotes so they tell the story in their own words. It is actually quite funny and enlightening to see how two people experienced the same event and interpreted it's meaning differently. This is a book for music lovers who are keen to know the meaning behind the lyrics and songs. My own grievance is that I couldn't actually find their songs to listen to - they weren't on YouTube or Spotify. Hopefully, the popularity of this book revives interest in this album.
'Brain Changer' by Felice Jacka
Over the past year, I had some digestive issues that were a direct result of the food I was eating, it is official that I get sick if I eat too many vegetables! However, my symptoms were varied ranging from hayfever, respiratory issues, lethargy and of course stomach symptoms. I didn't know food could cause all of those symptoms.
Prof Felice Jacka is an Australian researcher who was one of the first researchers to examine the relationship between food and mood. Jacka primarily focuses on depression and food associations but in this book explains the importance of fueling our body so we can be the best version of ourselves. I really like the way she wrote this book for a non-academic audience, but has one chapter where if you are interested in the science you can read it, or skip it.
'The Body: A Guide for Occupants' by Bill Bryson
The human body is a fascinating thing. Although each of us occupy a body, they all work slightly differently and we don't really know the details of how it works. We know a lot of fundamentals so we can reliably treat infection, diabetes, broken bones, diagnose a range of illnesses and treat conditions with medication. We have definitely stood on the shoulders of giants for medical science to be where it is today.
In this book, Bryson has clearly read and spoken to a lot of experts about every aspect of the body. The book is organised by each chapter covering a new body part, e.g. how (and the cost) to build a human, the brain, the head, the skeleton, sleep etc. I now know a lot more about how the body fits together and appreciate all the souls who have committed their lives to investigating aspects of the body to improve the quality of medicine for future generations. It was also eye-opening to see the cutthroat world of research and medical discoveries, which I have not been privy to!
'Dare to Lead' by Brene Brown
At one start-up I worked at, there was a lot of talk about Brene Brown whom I had never heard of. So I decided to read one of her books and theories.
I love her research. She explains it so well in writing and in her television specials she frames her research in such an engaging manner it is so easy to just 'get it'.
This book is amazing, practical (and logical) advice on how to act in the workplace. I completed most of the exercises and have leant into vulnerability. I will continue to practice her teachings and re-read this book as I think you will pick up different lessons depending on where you are in your career.
'Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber' by Mike Isaac
This may have been the first start-up book that I read. I loved it! It set the bar, and I do not know if another start-up book will surpass it.
Travis Kalanick has hustled his entire life. He first started with Scour, followed by Red Swoosh and then Uber. Uber is infamous for its quick rise from a start up to a billion dollar company. Kalanick is the reason for Uber’s success, his commitment to winning and the hustle has made the company what it is. But with the highs are some ugly truths and dark corners of which this book shines some light.
This tale has everything: it is really well written, the Uber business practices are diabolically delicious reading fodder, and Uber gives the term 'data-driven insights' a new meaning. There are also so many players, but Isaac does an amazing job of introducing you to each of them so you do not get confused as to who's who.
If you do not know if start-up books are for you, try this one. If you hate it, I don't think this genre is for you.
'Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike' by Phil Knight
In 1962, Phil Knight has a Crazy Idea - to import Japanese shoes to the US. Knight decides to embark on a world trip and visit Japan as part of that trip to see if Tiger will allow him to sell their product in the US. From these humble beginnings Nike is born.
It was fascinating reading how Nike became the company it is today. It is a billion-dollar business that started out like a start up. Many times Nike looked like it may go under but some key decisions and luck allowed it to survive.
I have no doubt this story is biased as it is very pro-Nike, but I loved reading about the innovation and the crazy characters who made Nike what it is today. It is a well written book with lots of heart.
'That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix by the First CEO and Co-Founder Marc Randolph ' by Marc Randolph
Mark Randolph is the Founder of Netflix. Originally a company that posted DVDs to its customers today’s premium content streaming service that has revolutionised how society views movies, documentaries, tv shows basically anything that is a moving picture. Mark’s contribution was in the early days figuring out how to launch an idea into a company.
I enjoyed this book. Randolph has a likeable voice and start up stories are clearly fascinating to me. To see the early days of a wildly successful company is interesting, even a company as monumental as Netflix struggled at the beginning. This is the story of the hard work and perseverance it took to get Netflix to where it is today.
'Why We Dream' by Alice Robb
Alice Robb is a journalist with an interest in dreams, and why humans dream. The book opens tracing the importance dreams have had throughout human culture and transitions into how dreams became the focus of scientific study.
As a researcher, I found this book fascinating. My favourite part was when Robb describes how scientists developed a new methodology to study dreams. Then they had to figure out how to objectively validate their methodology through lucid dreaming.
This book captured my scientific as well as human curiosity. I highly recommend this book!
'Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark' by Julia Baird
Julia Baird has lived her life. She followed her dreams, pursued love, lived overseas, mothers two children and takes time to experience the awe and wonder in everyday life. She has also experienced loss, she has lost people close to her and has fought cancer multiple times. Throughout her life, a common theme has been to find the light, either literally, by swimming with luminescent creatures or metaphorically, by enduring and learning from the hard times.
I loved the parts in this book when she spoke about different scientists' love for their subject matter, whether it be butterflies, octopus’s, storms or other naturally occurring phenomenon. I also loved her description of the impact of urbanisation on our psyche and why we seek to reconnect with nature.
'The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons in Creative Leadership' by Robert Iger
Robert Iger has had an amazing career. I am a huge Disney fan so when I saw Iger had written a book, and it also included lessons on leadership, I needed to read it! Warning, the prologue is quite sad and confronting as he speaks about the mass shootings tragedies in Orlando and Las Vegas and a child being attacked by an alligator at Disneyland. Iger was profoundly vulnerable at the beginning of the book which set the tone for his leadership style - authentic with integrity.
Before Iger worked at Disney, he worked at ABC, which Disney later bought. It was inspiring reading about how his experiences at ABC, and work ethic, allowed him to succeed later on at Disney. Also how even a successful career has many ups and downs. If you want a career where you can live your personal values everyday, this book is your blueprint.
'Troll Hunting: Inside the World of Online Hate and Its Human Fallout' by Ginger Gorman
Ginger Gorman was trolled after writing a story about a loving gay couple raising their child. A few years later these men were imprisoned for molesting that child and running an international paedophile ring. Gorman was further hounded for being sympathetic LGBTQI+ views and due to her mixed race marriage and Jewish roots. This incident scared her and she started investigating trolling more seriously.
This is a good companion book to ‘So You Have Been Publically Shamed’ by Jon Ronson. It illuminates the trolls side of the story. This book was enlightening but dark, I needed to take a couple of weeks hiatus from it to get some space and then power through to finish. Worth reading, but be prepared.
'So You Have Been Publicly Shamed' by Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson sets out to analyse the phenomenon and effects of being publicly shamed on social media. His story is interesting as I’m not really a part of social media but I did see some of these stories through mainstream media. I never understand why people feel the need to get involved in something that does not affect or concern them. So in this book I was curious as to what motivates these people. However this was the one group who was not interviewed perhaps due to the anonymity the platforms provide. This book is still very interesting and a good read for a rainy day as it doesn't involve too much brain power.
'Uncanny Valley: A Memoir' by Anna Wiener
Anna Wiener works in publishing, it is her life. Yet, like her friends, she is struggling to pay her rent and keep up with the superficial publishing lifestyle. So Anna decides to take a risk and work at a literary start up. After a few months it is clear that this business is not for her. She has a job that is not a good fit for the company. Although it didn't work out at this start-up, she chooses to move to San Francisco, to try working at another start-up. This is her story.
I loved the beginning of this book. As a book lover, it was interesting to get a glimpse into the publishing world. I also heavily related to her experience of leaving her publishing roots to embark on the start-up adventure and getting used to not struggling financially. I was surprised when she moved from New York to San Francisco to try a different start up, as it didn’t seem like she was into the start up culture from her first experience.
This wasn't my favourite start-up book, and towards the end the book takes a very feminist slant, but the way she describes data was so delightful to me that I needed to include this book in my reviews.
'Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup ' by John Carreyrou
At 19, Elizabeth Holmes had a vision - a world in which a blood test involves a quick pin prick and gathering a few drops of blood from your fingertip. The results will be analysed and sent directly to your doctor. This is an amazing vision, but one she could not deliver on despite raising millions of dollars to develop this technology.
As a researcher, I was intrigued by this book. Elizabeth could not deliver on the vision she promised but kept on raising money, as if she could deliver the technology. It was difficult to tell if this was blind faith or more nefarious. The fact she never had to prove her technology to any of her investors demonstrates her power to control and manipulate people.
I had been excited to read this book for a year or so so I was excited when I finally cracked open the front cover. I had high expectations as there have been a flurry of high quality start up books written lately. I found this book slow to start, but it had a strong finish. Can’t wait for the criminal trials to begin to see what Elizabeth’s fate will be.
'Before I Forget: How I Survived A Diagnosis of Younger-Onset Dementia at 46' by Christine Bryden
Christine Bryden is a remarkable woman, and this book is the proof.
As a child, Christine's mother played logic games with her for fun, and she never excelled at school because she didn't really have to try to do well. Once she started to learn to study and revise her school work, the beauty of her brain revealed itself.
As an adult, this brain became one of the most efficient brains in the world. She naturally had a remarkable memory, coupled with a voracious curiosity to learn new information. Christine also had very tough times which she chose to keep secret, including developing anorexia nervosa at university and entering into a marriage with domestic violence. Then, she was diagnosed with dementia at 46.
Christine's story is one of triumph and overcoming adversity. This story inspires hope and gives you some tricks for how to exercise all of your brain, which Christine believes may be helping her slow the impact of her dementia on her life.
'The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper' by Hallie Rubenhold
Jack the Ripper is one of the most notorious killers in history, he remains anonymous even in death. The common story is that he killed prostitutes, ridding the streets of immoral women. But this was a convenient lie the police told the public to reinforce the moral ideals of the time. Rubenhold barely gives Jack the Ripper any pages, instead all of her words are dedicated to the women who were his victims. As Jack the Ripper's victims were generally homeless, or sleeping on the street, these women all had very sad lives that obviously end in tragedy. But Rubenhold honours them by telling each of their sad story’s.
The beauty of this book lies in Rubenhold's ability to take you back to Jack the Ripper's London. You would not be able to understand these women, or their story, without understanding the time which is Rubenhold's specialty as she is a social historian.
A great read that is not graphic considering these women are all murder victim's.
'The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon' by Brad Stone
Jeff Bezos is Amazon. He built this company and he has withstood all the criticism to turn it into the behemoth it is today. Bezos started selling what he knew, books, but never abandoned his vision of a store that sells everything to its customers at the lowest prices. He is truly one of the great innovators in the start up world. This book is the story of Amazon, it has changed the world but it is also a gruelling place to work.
This book was quite interesting. The beginning and end reads like a start up book but the middle is squarely a business book about how to Bezos made decisions to survive. Bezos demands excellence, cannot stand stupidity, and will do whatever it takes to deliver the best range and lowest prices. I’ve used AWS in start ups and it really has changed this landscape for many company’s. It was interesting to read the story behind these well known products.
'The Upstarts: How Uber, AirBnB and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World' by Brad Stone
Brian Chesky and Travis Kalanick changed everyone’s idea of what an entrepreneur looks like. They are the first CEOs of AirBnB and Uber, respectively and both have been incredibly successful in not only bringing their dream into reality, but changing the world. This book tells the story of how these two men fought to create their company's and then to see them thrive.
I really liked this book. Having read SuperPumped:The Battle for Uber I thought the Uber side is this book would be redundant, but it gave a different spin on the story. It filled in the details of the business landscape when each of these businesses were created, and the critical times both CEO faced from investors, competitors and regulators, which nearly broke their business.
I really enjoyed this book because it focused on the people behind the business, not just the business itself.
Photo by Valdemaras D. on Unsplash
Related Pages: 'Start-Up Book Reviews'
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