Quantum Computing Since Democritus

IMO, one should understand that software is the current era engineering focus. Just like electrical engineering in mid-20th century, aeronautical engineering in the early 1900s and steam engineering (remember, the origin of the term "engineering" is "engine") for some centuries before that. Before that there were optics and mechanics. Considering that software isn't just a branch, but a current "engineer's engineering", the more complex, flexible, powerful area, a good software engineer should strive to maintain and expand his knowledge in other areas as well. Physics(actually, natural sciences) and math, and also other traditional branches of engineering can provide a lot of useful material. Search there too. "Quantum Computing Since Democritus" is a good specific example, I think.

Great thread. 2019 was the first time in about 7-8 years I made reading for pleasure a tertiary priority ((school+career)work/sleep/exercise+socializing+(NEW!)reading) and I got through about 20 books of varying length and difficulty, so here are the next 20 in my queue: - Infinite Jest (already started, will likely finish in early Jan. I love it so far.) - Quantum Computing Since Democritus (started in November as my nonfiction read, but took a break; I think I want to finish IJ first. Scott is an excellent writer and I was really enjoying this) - Building Microservices - The Code Book - How Cars Work (I want to turn the projection of a car in my brain from a black box to a gray box this year, and I don't mean by purchasing a Cybertruck) - To Kill a Mockingbird…

There's so much more to CS theory than big O notation and you're in for a treat if you check out any of the below - happy to share more if people are interested. 1. https://www.amazon.com/Computational-Complexity-Approach-San... (https://www.amazon.com/Computational-Complexity-Approach-Sanjeev-Arora/dp/0521424267/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=complexity+theory&qid=1566146955&s=gateway&sr=8-3) 2. https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-since-Democritus-Aa... (https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-since-Democritus-Aaronson/dp/0521199565/ref=sr_1_1?crid=H43HH53HNDKQ&keywords=quantum+computing+since+democritus&qid=1566146985&s=gateway&sprefix=quantum+computing+since+dem%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1) 3. https://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden... (https://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=godel+escher+bach&qid=1566147014&s=gateway&sr=8-1) 4. https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Theory-Computation-Micha... (https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Theory-Computation-Michael-Sipser/dp/113318779X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sipser&qid=1566147058&s=gateway&sr=8-1)

I second this, although I am not finished with it, I can say it is a very interesting read. Thanks for the link to the author's site which has lecture notes, I didn't know this existed. The lecture notes are easy going an have a good sense of humor, such as the following: "It's a shame that, after proving his Completeness Theorem, Gödel never really did anything else of note. [Pause for comic effect] " Cheers.

This would be my recommendation as well. It is closer to a textbook, than say a popular science book, but is still a very fun, engaging, and at times pretty funny read. Similarly to books like GEB, it really exposed me to a whole range of fascinating ideas and topics that I am now interested in.

Quantum Computing Since Democritus by Scott Aaronson. A brilliant MIT professor's reflections on the intersection between computer science, physics and philosophy. Here are the lecture notes and book: http://www.scottaaronson.com/democritus/ I also very much recommend the author's blog: http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/

Here are the ones I'd be willing to recommend, in reverse chronological order of when I read them. I read 59 total. Listen to books on tape while working out has maybe doubled my reading rate. Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy - Great book on how the Mongol Empire came to be, who Genghis was, and it put the whole thing in perspective for me in a useful way. The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch - What it says on the tin. Actually a good overview how some important technologies interrelate. Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction - How to be wrong less often. Based on the Good Judgement Project results. The Three-Body Problem - Decent enough science fiction but extra interesting because it's science fiction from a different culture. Ignition!: An informal history of liquid rocket propellants - A history of things that go boom. Engaging writing and I learned things about chemistry. The Traitor Baru Cormorant - I'm nominating this for a Hugo. It tells you it's going to stab you in the gut but when it does you don't see it coming. Plus high quality scheming and speculation on economics, society, and empire.…

It's a great book (I'm more than halfway into it) but definitely not for laymen. I followed one quantum computing class as well as having had many QM classes and I find myself having to read a lot of background information to understand Aaronson. He writes well, but I lacked the proper computability knowledge to really enjoy the book in one go.

- Managing the Professional Service Firm by David Maister - Quantum Computing since Democritus by Scott Aaronson - Cryptography Engineering by Bruce Schneier et al - Time Management for System Administrators by Thomas Limoncelli - Expert C Programming by Peter van der Linden

I'm just going to answer with the books that rearranged my understanding of the world the most. In no particular order. "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. "Quantum Computing since Democritus" by Scott Aaronson. "The Strategy of Conflict" by Thomas Schelling. "Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "The World until Yesterday" by Jared Diamond. "The Retreat To Commitment" by W. W. Bartley. "The Myth of the Rational Voter" by Bryan Caplan. Despite the name it made me appreciate democracy a lot more. "Wars, Guns, and Votes" by Paul Collier.

Quantum Computing since Democritus http://www.scottaaronson.com/democritus/