RESOURCES/RECOMMENDED READING
Analytics
The Craft of
Research
This superb book presents a framework for dissecting arguments that can be applied in most situations.
This superb book presents a framework for dissecting arguments that can be applied in most situations.
Critical Thinking: An
Introduction to the Basic Skills (6th ed)
This clearly written and accessible book is a marvelous introduction to logical argument.
This clearly written and accessible book is a marvelous introduction to logical argument.
How to Lie with
Statistics
If this book doesn’t make you a skeptical observer of numbers and statistics, nothing will. First published in the 1950s, it’s still fresh and useful today.
If this book doesn’t make you a skeptical observer of numbers and statistics, nothing will. First published in the 1950s, it’s still fresh and useful today.
Now You See
it
This book teaches simple and practical ways to analyze quantitative data graphically that can be used by people with little statistical training to discover and make sense of trends, patterns, and exceptions
This book teaches simple and practical ways to analyze quantitative data graphically that can be used by people with little statistical training to discover and make sense of trends, patterns, and exceptions
Turning Numbers into
Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving
Turning Numbers into Knowledge (3rd edition) is an award winning beginner’s guide to the art of using numbers for practical problem solving, revealing tools, tricks, and heretofore unwritten rules that the best real-world problem solvers know by heart.
Turning Numbers into Knowledge (3rd edition) is an award winning beginner’s guide to the art of using numbers for practical problem solving, revealing tools, tricks, and heretofore unwritten rules that the best real-world problem solvers know by heart.
The Creative Process
If You Want to Write: A
Book About Art, Independence, and Spirit
There is no better guide to sparking your creative process.
There is no better guide to sparking your creative process.
Energy and Climate Science and Solutions
Cold Cash, Cool Climate:
Science-based Advice for Ecological Entrepreneurs
In the first few chapters of this book I summarize the case for urgent action on climate change in a compact form. My friends who have used it for their classes say its one of the best summaries out there.
In the first few chapters of this book I summarize the case for urgent action on climate change in a compact form. My friends who have used it for their classes say its one of the best summaries out there.
The Copenhagen
Diagnosis: Updating the World on the Latest Climate
Science
The best concise summary of recent scientific findings on climate. It’s well written and clear.
The best concise summary of recent scientific findings on climate. It’s well written and clear.
Increasing Returns and
Path Dependence in the Economy
Increasing returns to scale are usually not included in economic models, because they create path dependence and multiple equilibria. But learning effects are powerful and widespread, and analyses of reducing greenhouse gas emissions mustn't ignore them.
Increasing returns to scale are usually not included in economic models, because they create path dependence and multiple equilibria. But learning effects are powerful and widespread, and analyses of reducing greenhouse gas emissions mustn't ignore them.
The Mystery of Capital:
Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere
Else
I love this book because it explains the fallible human process by which property rights were assigned in developed countries, making it clear that how we define property rights is a choice. Different approaches to this issue can have big implications for sustainability of our energy system, a fact that is ignored in most economic modeling exercises related to climate mitigation.
I love this book because it explains the fallible human process by which property rights were assigned in developed countries, making it clear that how we define property rights is a choice. Different approaches to this issue can have big implications for sustainability of our energy system, a fact that is ignored in most economic modeling exercises related to climate mitigation.
Reinventing Fire: Bold
Business Solutions for a New Energy Era
Rocky Mountain Institute’s Amory Lovins is the most prominent modern champion of whole system design, and he and his team apply their knowledge to redesigning the US energy system in this pathbreaking book.
Rocky Mountain Institute’s Amory Lovins is the most prominent modern champion of whole system design, and he and his team apply their knowledge to redesigning the US energy system in this pathbreaking book.
Reinventing the Bazaar:
A Natural History of Markets
Like The Mystery of Capital, this book explains the human dimensions of markets, but has a broader focus. There are good, mediocre, and downright awful ways to structure markets, and how we design them has a huge impact on how rapidly our society can evolve.
Like The Mystery of Capital, this book explains the human dimensions of markets, but has a broader focus. There are good, mediocre, and downright awful ways to structure markets, and how we design them has a huge impact on how rapidly our society can evolve.
The Rough Guide to
Climate Change
This book is a fine and balanced introduction to the climate issue, and a great place to start if you’re new to the topic.
This book is a fine and balanced introduction to the climate issue, and a great place to start if you’re new to the topic.
Environmental Entrepreneurship
Business Model
Generation
Making your customers happy and keeping your business profitable requires the right business model. This fun and entertaining book will help you find it.
Making your customers happy and keeping your business profitable requires the right business model. This fun and entertaining book will help you find it.
Cold Cash, Cool Climate:
Science-based Advice for Ecological Entrepreneurs
In the first few chapters of this book I summarize the case for urgent action on climate change in a compact form. My friends who have used it for their classes say its one of the best summaries out there.
In the first few chapters of this book I summarize the case for urgent action on climate change in a compact form. My friends who have used it for their classes say its one of the best summaries out there.
Linked: How Everything
Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means for Business, Science,
and Everyday Life
Networked systems have surprising similarities. This book is one of my favorites because the author is a practicing scientist who really knows how to write. It is a deep, interesting, and powerful read, and the book’s lessons are critically important to anyone launching a business.
Networked systems have surprising similarities. This book is one of my favorites because the author is a practicing scientist who really knows how to write. It is a deep, interesting, and powerful read, and the book’s lessons are critically important to anyone launching a business.
Makers: The New
Industrial Revolution
Manufacturing is undergoing a real renaissance, with new technologies allowing innovators to produce manufactured goods of superior quality at small scale and low cost. This book documents this emerging trend.
Manufacturing is undergoing a real renaissance, with new technologies allowing innovators to produce manufactured goods of superior quality at small scale and low cost. This book documents this emerging trend.
Information Display
Information Dashboard
Design, 2nd edition
This revised and updated book exposes common problems in dashboard design and describes best practices in great detail.
This revised and updated book exposes common problems in dashboard design and describes best practices in great detail.
Presentation
Zen
The best book around that focuses specifically on designing powerful presentations. Highly recommended.
The best book around that focuses specifically on designing powerful presentations. Highly recommended.
Show Me the Numbers, 2nd
edition
This revised and updated book teaches how to display quantitative information in tables and graphs, starting with key principles and walking you through myriad business-oriented examples.
This revised and updated book teaches how to display quantitative information in tables and graphs, starting with key principles and walking you through myriad business-oriented examples.
The Visual Display of
Quantitative Information
Tufte says this book is about “pictures of numbers, how to depict data and enforce statistical accuracy.” It is an outstanding book from which to learn the subtleties of effective graph design. Show Me the Numbers is more business focused and practical, but I’d read VDQI first and then move to SMTN.
Tufte says this book is about “pictures of numbers, how to depict data and enforce statistical accuracy.” It is an outstanding book from which to learn the subtleties of effective graph design. Show Me the Numbers is more business focused and practical, but I’d read VDQI first and then move to SMTN.
Information Technology
The Physics of
Information Technology
This book is an essential reference for those trying to understand how information technology works. It’s not light reading, but is worth the price for serious students of this issue.
This book is an essential reference for those trying to understand how information technology works. It’s not light reading, but is worth the price for serious students of this issue.
Philosophy
Winning through
Intimidation
An entertaining look at one man’s transformation from loser to winner, in part through his clever use of models, organization, and critical thinking.
An entertaining look at one man’s transformation from loser to winner, in part through his clever use of models, organization, and critical thinking.
Scenario Analysis, Forecasting, And Story Telling
The Art of the Long
View
Lively and realistic scenarios are crucial tools for decision makers, and Schwartz describes how to create them in this classic book.
Lively and realistic scenarios are crucial tools for decision makers, and Schwartz describes how to create them in this classic book.
Increasing Returns and
Path Dependence in the Economy
Increasing returns to scale are usually not included in economic models, because they create path dependence and multiple equilibria. But learning effects are powerful and widespread, and analyses of reducing greenhouse gas emissions mustn't ignore them.
Increasing returns to scale are usually not included in economic models, because they create path dependence and multiple equilibria. But learning effects are powerful and widespread, and analyses of reducing greenhouse gas emissions mustn't ignore them.
Influence: The
Psychology of Persuasion
Cialdini’s book shows how “compliance professionals” use their knowledge of the human psyche to influence people’s decisions.
Cialdini’s book shows how “compliance professionals” use their knowledge of the human psyche to influence people’s decisions.
Language Intelligence:
Lessons on Persuasion from Jesus, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Lady
Gaga
A wonderful and practical book on how to use analogy, alliteration, and other figures of speech to become more persuasive.
A wonderful and practical book on how to use analogy, alliteration, and other figures of speech to become more persuasive.
Made to Stick: Why Some
Ideas Survive and Others Die
This eye-opening book describes the common features of messages that really “stick” in people’s heads. A good read.
This eye-opening book describes the common features of messages that really “stick” in people’s heads. A good read.
User Interface Design
The Design of Everyday
Things
This fascinating book explores how humans interact with technology, and gives guidance to designers on how to make their products a joy to use.
This fascinating book explores how humans interact with technology, and gives guidance to designers on how to make their products a joy to use.
Some of Koomey’s favorite books are featured here, avoiding trendy books in favor of the ones that have stood (or will stand) the test of time. Please email him with your favorites so he can consider them for inclusion on this list.