Comments on: Grok This: Forget The Business Books, Go Sci-Fi To Stoke Your Imagination

By: Attracting Power 4.1 | DANOMI

Attracting Power 4.1 | DANOMI — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:50:28 +0000

[...] usual I started out in the Sci-Fi section. I can’t seem to shake this Sci-Fi obsession of mine (Thanks Mike). I went straight to the Heinlein section to grab another one of his creations. Then I strolled [...]

By: psyphi

psyphi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:55:37 +0000

“nSpace” by Dovin Melhee
completely out of the box sci fi novel

http://www.lulu.../nspace/7534554

By: This Week In Books: NEMESIS | DANOMI

This Week In Books: NEMESIS | DANOMI — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:30:47 +0000

[...] by one of the best in the game, Isaac Asimov. You already know I have to keep giving props to Michael Arrington of TechCrunch fame for putting me back up on this Sci-Fi kick. As a result of this eye opening [...]

By: This Week In Books | DANOMI

This Week In Books | DANOMI — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:25:40 +0000

[...] to Michael Arrington I’m a Robert Heinlein fan. Michael introduced me to the classic Stranger in a Strange Land [...]

By: How Much Stranger Is Truth Than Fiction? | DANOMI

How Much Stranger Is Truth Than Fiction? | DANOMI — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:55:59 +0000

[...] Arrington got it right. (Grok This: Forget The Business Books, Go Sci-Fi To Stoke Your Imagination) Imagination is what we need from today’s entrepreneurs. How else can they create the future we [...]

By: Taking It Easy « Trapdoor Books

Taking It Easy « Trapdoor Books — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:35:48 +0000

[...] I found a column (albeit a month old) by Michael Arrington on Techcrunch, one of my favorite daily sites, which makes [...]

By: Pete Jenkins

Pete Jenkins — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:52:05 +0000

Great article. I’ve always thought that reading sci-fi opens up the mind to more business opportunities. Plus I think you can spot some technology and cultural trends earlier.

By: Leon Jacobs

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:08:26 +0000

This seems to be the season of sci-fi must read lists. Neatorama has a great list …

http://www.neat...eks-would-love/

and so does Tim o’Reilly: http://tim.orei...es/borders.html

I find them interesting – for their overlap – but also, as a newbie to the genre, for providing hooks into a vast library of human imagination. So thanks all commenters also for their extra recommendations. These are very useful!

By: Tami Flores

Tami Flores — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:02:41 +0000

I have to add one to the list as well:

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

It’s the only book I have ever read that throws down it’s point in the first sentence: “There was a wall.”

By: Marko

Marko — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:27:08 +0000

Hey, that’s a 100% hit on the first three, so I guess the rest is an excellent reading suggestion. Thanks Mike. I get so little time in reading SF anymore…

Cheers, Marko

By: Stacia Villota

Stacia Villota — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:51:15 +0000

Apologies if these were mentioned above and I missed it… but I wanted to give a nod to the cyberpunk genre with William Gibson (Neuromancer) and Pat Cadigan (Mindplayers.

Then again, my own personal tastes run to Ray Bradbury — whose “what if” style seems to me to be the basis of all true exploration and evolution, including technology.

By: Jody Schmidt

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:53:35 +0000

Pretty good list, but, of course, I have my own additions! Who doesn’t?!

For some interesting variety, in addition to audio books, check out an old radio show from the 70s called Mindwebs, which was essentially a reading of a sy-fy (gotta get in line with the trends) tale by this cool dude, complete with background music and lots of emotion…audio book meets radio drama:

http://www.arch.../MindWebs-SciFi

Also, there are not enough sy-fy poems available these days. Thankfully, there is a bit out there. A whacked out example:

http://www.scri...edieval-England

There is probably more, but I don’t look for it and only occasionally stumble upon gems.

As for published sci-fi that was excluded but which is transformative:

Gulliver’s Travels, Berserker, Journey To The Center Of The Earth, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde.

Yeah, many are almost too classic, but, if they have not been experienced, then they could be life altering. Read if you prefer, or, if easier on the psyche after a day of toil, listen:

Gulliver’s Travels: http://www.arch...ver_ld_librivox

Cheers!

By: Stacia Villota

Stacia Villota — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:41:02 +0000

Apologies if these were mentioned in the comments and I’ve missed them… but I wanted to give a nod to the “cyberpunk” genre of scifi… most notably the authors William Gibson (Neuromancer) and Pat Cadigan (Mindplayers).

Me personally, I’ve *always* loved Ray Bradbury — the gentle father of “what if.” Technology wouldn’t be where it was today without that attitude.

By: עםםעךק

עםםעךק — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:49:38 +0000

I really enjoyed this post

By: Penny

Penny — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:35:28 +0000

The Truth Machine by James L. Halperin deals with the changes in the culture when a machine is developed (through lots of computer tech jazz) that can tell if a person is lying or not with 100% accuracy. The changes in the legal system as well as capital punishment are stunning. If I remember correctly, he also throws in some things about cryogenics. An interesting read.

By: Michael Arrington, In Praise of Science Fiction Novels « Books Are Good

Michael Arrington, In Praise of Science Fiction Novels « Books Are Good — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:21:50 +0000

[...] Read, To Read on April 6, 2009 at 10:21 am Michael Arrington, of TechCrunch fame, provides a wonderful piece about his favorite/most recommended science fiction books/series. I love that Mr. Arrignton recommends that people skip reading books on how to run successful [...]

By: David

David — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:18:57 +0000

While talking Iain Banks – don’t forget his blend of SF and business, funnily enough, entitled:

The Business.

One of my favourites – and also has some very nice tech in there as well.

Otherwise – Excession is just a masterpiece.

By: Roy

Roy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:06:16 +0000

This list has a strong resemblance to my bookshelf. Great minds, and all that jazz.

And the few I haven’t read, I soon shall. I really enjoyed this post, sir!

By: Vibhas K Dhingra

Vibhas K Dhingra — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:02:31 +0000

smallest of small changes to a superb post; instead of ‘entrepreneurs’, have ‘visionary founder’ or something. For it is the latter who have got overawed by all business gyan floating around, attempting to catch up to all it, so as to have ’success’ or funding or credibility. For other variety, ones with business degree, experience and or orientation, well they have always read, and continue to read business books. Sigh, even you concede to probably authoring one in future.
MarsCrunch would surely make for a worthy addition to modern sci-fi pantheon.

By: the pez

the pez — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:11:50 +0000

Am i the only one (in this crowd) that thinks anything by Neal Asher is simply superb? His inventiveness around alien biology and descriptions of AI are brilliant. He even throws in AI humour and it will make you laugh out loud.

http://www.amaz...amp;x=0&y=0

By: Engago team

Engago team — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:52:27 +0000

Selling to the VITO – still seems to have the right message.

By: holyfighter

holyfighter — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:09:09 +0000

Thou shalt not start the Holy Wars. Thou shall not fail to mention Star Wars.

By: Jha

Jha — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:33:54 +0000

I pity people who read business books and have never read SF. They do not know what they are missing. The collected short stories of Asimov and Clarke have been my bedside reading for years!

I totally agree with Dune & Foundation. However, you may want to add A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley….it is a super treatment of a future society. And very disturbing for that.

By: studentandceo.com » Blog Archive » Sci-Fi Pwns Business Books

studentandceo.com » Blog Archive » Sci-Fi Pwns Business Books — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:15:44 +0000

[...] Check out the full TechCrunch post. [...]

By: Karl Schmieder

Karl Schmieder — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:27:14 +0000

Great post. Great list. And great comments.

Agreed. Science/speculative when done right can be wildly imaginative and someone needs to do a “Everything I Learned about Business I Read in Science Fiction (And I’m not afraid to admit it).”

It’s interesting that no one mentioned any of the cyberpunk books – Gibson, Sterling, et al. – which are must-reads if you’re doing any type of technology or biotech development. Brunner’s Shockwave Rider and The Sheep Look Up are precursors to cyberpunk. (His Stand On Zanzibar takes the Burroughs’ cut-up technique, places it in an SF novel and invents NYC 2013

But yeah, great SF = great inspiration for business.