My book picks for 2020

Great readings for your holidays (and social distancing!)

There’s a truckload of brilliant books that deserve your attention, and I’m going to share with you some of my favorites for 2020.

In a year when reality is sometimes weirder than fiction, most of us spend more time than usual at home, and reading a good book is a stimulant we need more than ever to boost our creativity, feed our brains and open our minds.

If you read once in a blue moon but like digital innovation or gaming, put aside your apprehensiveness: you’ll enjoy the ride as well!

There is no such thing as Artificial Intelligence by Luc Julia

If you are interested in a tantalizing, yet grounded, explanation of what “AI” encompass from one of the world’s best renowned experts, you are in a for a lot of fun with There is no such thing as Artificial Intelligence. Coming from the co-creator of Siri and the SVP of Innovation at Samsung, you will obviously wonder why such provocative title has been chosen… and I won’t spoil it for you.

Will devious robots take over the Blue planet? Can we define AI as some kind of intelligence? This book takes you on a journey to better understand the roots, the nature and the true potential of what is commonly called AI; miles away from Hollywood’s Artificial Intelligence’s nonsense and false promises.

Overall, this book from Luc Julia is a refreshing and delightful reading, even for those who already have advanced topic expertise. I share the views of the author on innovation, the importance of multi-disciplinary research and the potential for a technology to the service of humanity.

21 Lessons for the 21^st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Calling this books “lessons” is a misnomer; it leads to more questions than answers and that’s for the best. Despite a few inaccuracies, it is an awesome book for whomever would like to reflect on the evolution of humankind with an open mind.

Check out the author’s official website for more details.

Console Wars by Blake J. Harris

For my last pick, I chose a book about video games – one of my long-standing passions. Console Wars provides an unparalleled level of insights into the birth of the gaming industry, and it is truly captivating.

What is better to read when the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S have just been released and you didn’t get your hands on these just yet due to their low availability? 🙂

It is worth noting that Console Wars, released in book form in 2014, has been adapted as a movie recently; I added it to my to watch list and you might want to do the same.

Thanks for hanging around here,

Antoine