Collection of useful readings


Below is a list of resources which I have found incredibly useful, insightful, or even formative to my knowledge and perspective on a given topic. The entries are sorted alphabetically by category. This list is a continual work in progress.

Academia
"You and Your Research" by Richard Hamming (1986; 18 pages)

A seminar highlighting factors which can help or hinder individuals in making great scientific contributions, from the perspective of great, "first-class" scientists who he has come to know.

Education
A Mathematician's Lament by Paul Lockhart (2002; 25 pages)

A passionate opinion piece criticizing K-12 mathematics education for treating mathematics as a tool, arguing to instead introduce it as a creative artform that emphasizes its elegance and logical appeal. This is a must-read for anyone passionate about teaching or influencing prospective students in STEM.

Privacy
Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World by Bruce Schneier (2015; 320 pages)

A deep dive into the social and technical changes which have contributed to the adoption of mass surveillance within everyday life, examining the very real ways in which it can hurt us. Throughout, Schneier focuses on the dichotomy of computer security + privacy vs. convenience (as a direct response to the often-conflated dichotomy of national security vs. privacy) and the challenges that this poses for experts and everyday folks alike. While I certainly don't agree with every claim in this book, it nevertheless offers an insightful perspective into the importance of digital privacy and the potential motivations of those with vested interests on either side, as well as the importance of societal efforts alongside technical ones supporting it.

Quantum Computing
Barbados Notes: The Complexity of Quantum States and Transformations: From Quantum Money to Black Holes by Scott Aaronson (2016; 111 pages)

A series of lectures given by Scott Aaronson and other guest lecturers, introducing researchers to quantum computing theory and its many connections to quantum complexity and many other quantum problems. The lecture notes start with a crash course in the fundamental concepts behind quantum mechanics and quantum computing (similar to QCVC below, but more mathematically rigorous), then very quickly build up to bleeding-edge concepts and open problems in quantum computing and quantum complexity (as of 2016). Disclaimer: I've only thoroughly read the notes for the first 5 (of 10) lectures.

Quantum Computing for the Very Curious (QCVC) by Andy Matuschak and Michael Nielsen (2019; ~100 pages)

A three-part series of essays providing perhaps the gentlest introduction to quantum computing that I know of that still provides decent intuitional and technical explanations. The authors start from the very basics of linear algebra and logical circuit design, then build both intuition and technical concepts from there. Further essays expand on this to introduce Grover's algorithm, quantum teleportation, and the underlying quantum mechanics as well.

Last Updated: September 8th, 2022