My Year 2008 Books ...
Discover the best books of 2008 with this curated reading list, featuring standout titles like *The Last Lecture* by Randy Pausch, *The Logic of Life*, and Alan Greenspan's *The Age of Turbulence*. Explore insightful reads on economics, business, and personal memoirs from the year's top authors.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.