Hi ,
With Christmas almost upon us, it's time to switch off your computer, take a break and catch up on your reading.
Here are my top recommendations for the holidays:
How Much Money Do I Need to Retire? by Todd Tresidder
A book about retirement planning may not seem like your idea of fun for your Christmas break, but besides being one of the best books I've read on the topic, How Much Money Do I Need to Retire? is also one of the best books I've read on the dangers of applying pure data science principles to financial
modelling.
Tresidder starts by explaining many of the financial and statistical principles I first learned about in my actuarial training. Then, in the space of just 200 easy-to-follow pages, systematically explains how these principles can fall apart when applied to an individual.
If you are interested in planning for your retirement, I recommend this book for its unique, yet practical, perspective on financial planning - even if you live outside the US, where this book was first published.
But if you are a data scientist, I recommend this book even more strongly, as it is the only book I have ever read that discusses how data science can be applied to making long-range, extremely small sample predictions in a highly uncertain environment.
10X is Easier than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy
Most data scientists are familiar with the Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule: that 80% of your results are produced by 20% of your efforts. Sullivan
and Hardy's latest book outlines a strategy for using this principle to achieve more by doing less - a great place to start for your New Year's resolutions.
Although targetted primarily at high-level entrepreneurs, I believe it can still serve as an inspiration for anyone, regardless of where you are
in life. But beware, if you do decide to go all in with Sullivan and Hardy's strategy, it will involve completely remodelling your life as you know it.
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz (Fiction)
Nothing to do with data or AI, but a great holiday read, none the less.
Amateur sleuth Susan Ryeland is called back into action when the owners of an English hotel ask her to
investigate their daughter, Cecily's disappearance. Cecily disappeared shortly after reading Atticus Pund Takes the Case - a crime novel featuring a thinly veiled account of a murder that happened at the hotel, many years ago, on the day of Cecily's wedding. A book that Susan edited in her previous career as a publisher.
This is one of those rare mysteries where the author provides enough clues for the reader to solve the murder. It's also notable for its book-within-a-book format. Midway through the book, Susan pauses to re-read Atticus Pund Takes the Case and the reader is provided with the full text to read along with her.
