My Year 2008 Books ...
Explore a curated list of the best books from 2008, featuring top titles across genres. Discover must-read novels, non-fiction, and hidden gems from this memorable year in literature.
Book
Fortune's Formula
by William Poundstone
In 1961, MIT mathematics professor Ed Thorp made a small Vegas fortune by "counting cards"; his 1962 bestseller, "Beat the Dealer," made the phrase a household word. With Claude Shannon, the father of information theory, Thorp next conquered the roulette tables. In this prosaic but fascinating cultural history, the author tells not only what they did but how they did it.
Book
The Age of Turbulence
by Alan Greenspan
The former Federal Reserve Board chairman reveals the financial close call that nearly resulted in an economic disaster after September 11, his efforts to safeguard American interests, and the personal and educational history that informed his choices.
Book
The Logic of Life
by Tim Harford
Analyzes the underlying economic logic behind seemingly irrational behavior, explaining how people are responding to future costs and benefits and how socially tragic outcomes have their roots in individually rational decisions.
Book
The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch
Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really achieving your childhood dreams," shortly after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His advice concerned seizing the moment while living, rather than dying.