Episode · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2014-11-19
Books mentioned on Ep 45: Nick Ganju on The Majesty of Ping Pong, Poker, and How to Write Hit Songs
In this episode, I talk to my old friend Nick Ganju about ping pong, poker, hit songs, and tackling my most feared subject: math. He makes the complex seem simple, which is a rare gift.
Tim Ferriss recommended Getting Past No by William Ury, and discussed Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson and How to Measure Anything by Douglas W. Hubbard. Nick Ganju recommended How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg and Don't Make Me Think! by Steve Krug, and discussed Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Cryptonomicon
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson is a sweeping, multi-layered novel that weaves together themes of cryptography, World War II codebreaking, and the modern digital age of cryptocurrency.
Discussed“called uh cryptonomicon and yeah so we started talking about encryption and you got up and and walked me”
Where to get it
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How to Measure Anything
How to Measure Anything by Douglas W.
Discussed“one of the books you recommended to me was uh how to measure anything and um so some of it i found very interesting”
Where to get it
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How Not to Be Wrong
How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg is an engaging popular science book that explores the hidden mathematical structures underneath the messy surface of everyday life.
Recommended“ive recently read a great book which is called how not to be wrong the power of mathematical thinking and this book by a guy named jordan ellenberg um is is a uh is exactly what we're talking about it it's like it's written for an audience of people that have you know historically been intimidated by math”
Where to get it
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Don't Make Me Think!
Don't Make Me Think! by Steve Krug is a prominent guide on web usability and human-computer interaction that focuses on intuitive navigation and user-friendly digital design.
Recommended“so in uh for my software engineers i love a book called don't make me think which is a book about usability and making uh making uh software and user interfaces that that are friendly to people”
Where to get it
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Getting Past No
Getting Past No by William Ury is a practical guide to negotiation strategies designed to help individuals handle difficult counterparts and achieve favorable outcomes.
Recommended“getting past no i think it's a fantastic book better than getting to yes”
Where to get it
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Getting to Yes
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton is a foundational negotiation classic developed out of the Harvard Negotiation Project that teaches principled negotiation strategies focused on mutual gains rather than positional bargaining.
Discussed“actually yeah the first book that came to mind for me was getting to yes so i haven't yes okay but i love i love getting to yes”
Where to get it
