Unshakeable – food for the mind, the wallet and the millions

Tony Robbinis Unshakable book cover

He did it again. I do not think there is much in this book that he had not discussed (extensively) in Money Master the Game.

But, as opposed to Money, this book is more concise (which is not much of an achievement; I wrote about this earlier here; Unshakeable is a revelation of briefness compared to Money).

The book is very clear on where not to lose money: taxes, fund fees, and services that add no value. It is also evident where to invest in a diversified portfolio of low-cost index trackers, bonds, and real estate. Do not invest in gold or so.

And a very important thing to learn is to stay calm. Stock markets dive every so many years. When this happens, stay in your seat and do not move. Because as often as they fall, they rise again. Losses are made by people who get nervous. These are the opportunities for calm.

If there is one conclusion from this book in one sentence, it is: get conscious about your investments, otherwise the financial institutions will get away with your savings.
That’s the conclusion, so if you want to read more, go ahead. The book’s proceeds go to the noble cause of feeding the world (Tony feeds millions/billions when not on the phone with presidents and multibillionaires all the time), so if not good for your wallet, this investment is good for your mental well-being.
But expect lots of words for not so many ideas. These are good ideas, but conciseness and humility are not Tony’s forte.

The roots of modern computing explained in EWD51 – Multiprogramming and the X8

Dijkstra’s EWD 51 is a structured educational coverage of the workings of semaphores in communicating processes and with IO devices. It is the first part in a series of three articles called MULTIPROGAMMERING EN DE X8″ (Multiprogramming and the X8), EWD54 and 57 describe part 2 and 3.

if then else

The X8 is the Dutch research computer for which Dijkstra and hos team developed the operating system, and he was able to test his now famous concepts for multiprogramming. 
In a way it is the formal part of the talk that Dijkstra held and was transcribed in EWD 35.

EWD 51 extensively discusses the mechanisms of semaphores, the conditions, and (hardware) implications. That is the summary. To give more would be pointless, and you’d rather read the entire article. (The article is in Dutch – I could provide a quick translation if you are interested. Please let me know through a comment on this post, or send me an email)

The Dutch language used in this article is highly interesting. Dijkstra invents concepts for which no words existed before (seinpaal/semaphore as computing concept to start with) the abbreviations P (prolaag/pass – probeer te verlagen) and V (verhoog/increase), critieke secties / critical sections, ingreep-flip-flop / interrupt-flip-flops, luisterbit / listener bit, doof-horend bit.

The article could still  function as a modern introduction into the topic and still be applicable to today’s computers.

So far ahead, so clear, so up to date still.

Ignore Everybody by Hugh MacLeod

MacLeod describes how he built a creative business from scribbling on the back of business cards.

Separate topics on learnings from his creative experience. Very inspiring and practical.

Do it for yourself. Nobody cares.

If you have got the creative bug, deal with it. It is not going away.

Start blogging.

Great book. Great title. I wish I had thought of that.

Gapingvoid.com.

The #1 little BIG thing (Tom Peters)

Rereading Tom Peters’ Little BIG Things.

GREAT how he has chosen the first little BIG thing to be The Loo!

A shiny toilet tells everything.

(Also notice the Discipline that these pages breathe.)

(And yeah, go fix your voicemail message (#2 little BIG Thing).)

Why Coupland reminded me of Booch while reading the rollercoaster novel All Families Are Psychotics

All Families Are Psychotic is a journey through the chaotic events of a family get together.

I love these books from Douglas Coupland where the story brings you semi-random from one idiotic hilarious episode into the other. Btw why does Douglas Coupland remind me of Grady Booch? Both seem a bit scruffy outliers in their worlds – is how I would describe it in an instant answer without much further thought. It the same thing that attracts me in Haruki Murakami’s novels – the semi randomness of the events that lead the protagonists(s) through the story. The story is the way.

Grady Booch on the Future of Software Engineering
Booch

I believe my family is psychotic, but this Drummond family excels at it. What starts off as a family event around daughter Sarah’s jump into space – she’s an astronaut, develops into a wild road movie, with lots of collateral damage. So take Coupland’s title with a touch of salt, but it’s a great rollercoaster read.

Douglas Coupland
Coupland

While you are at it also read Coupland’s Player One which has a similar cadence.

I your more have time to shred also read Murakami trilogy 1q84.