Episode · Lenny's Podcast · 2024-12-19

Lenny Rachitsky & Farhan Thawar: books mentioned on Lenny's Podcast

How Shopify builds a high-intensity culture | Farhan Thawar (VP and Head of Eng)

4 books · With Farhan Thawar · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Farhan Thawar is the head of engineering at Shopify, where he oversees more than 1,000 engineers and a platform that powers over 10% of all U.S. e-commerce. Before Shopify, he was VP of engineering at Pivotal Labs and Xtreme Labs, and co-founder of Helpful.com.

Farhan Thawar recommended Range by David J. Epstein, Manna by Marshall Brain, and Business Adventures by John Brooks, and discussed The undoing project by Michael Lewis.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   The undoing project

   Michael Lewis · at 52:37

   The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis explores the groundbreaking intellectual partnership between psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, whose research revolutionized behavioral economics and human decision-making theory.

   Discussed

   “do you ever read um the undoing project which is about AMS verki and Danny Conan the famous you know philosoph by Michael I think behavioral economics Michael Lewis exactly”

   Farhan Thawar How Shopify builds a high-intensity culture | Farhan Thawar (VP and He… 2024-12-19 Listen at 52:37

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon
2. 

   Range

   David J. Epstein · at 1:08:32

   Range by David J. Epstein is a non-fiction book that explores why generalists often triumph in a specialized world.

   Recommended

   “I always fought I read this great book uh range by David Epstein that book was maybe one of the hardest books for me to read in my life”

   Farhan Thawar How Shopify builds a high-intensity culture | Farhan Thawar (VP and He… 2024-12-19 Listen at 1:08:32

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon
3. Manna

   Manna

   Marshall Brain · at 1:30:20

   Manna by Marshall Brain is a speculative fiction novel that examines a future dominated by automated systems, artificial intelligence, and corporate management of human labor.

   Recommended

   “he recommended one to me that I think everyone should read right now called Mana Mna from Marshall brain it is a book about it's a book about Ai”

   Farhan Thawar How Shopify builds a high-intensity culture | Farhan Thawar (VP and He… 2024-12-19 Listen at 1:30:20

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon
4. 

   Business Adventures

   John Brooks · at 1:31:05

   Business Adventures by John Brooks is a collection of classic corporate narratives that examine major financial events, market crashes, and corporate cultures through deeply detailed journalism.

   Recommended

   “I think another book that I recommend to people and it's kind of a weird one to recommend but it's business Adventures from John Brooks”

   Farhan Thawar How Shopify builds a high-intensity culture | Farhan Thawar (VP and He… 2024-12-19 Listen at 1:31:05

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon