Books Recommended by Alan Kay
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Art in the Blood
A Sherlock Holmes Adventure
Bonnie MacBird
Source: "[My wife] completely nailed the Arthur Conan Doyle voice of the characters and narrative, while being able to carry a marvelous story into the much larger realm of the novel." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderMythology
Edith Hamilton
Source: "A few more books like this, and by the time I got to first grade I had been ruined for the 'single book - single truth' ideas of school and church." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderLISP 1.5 Programmer's Manual
John McCarthy
Source: "I have called this the 'Maxwell’s Equations' of computing, because it presents a very large part of what’s important about programming languages." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderComputation
Finite and Infinite Machines
Marvin Lee Minsky
Source: "It is actually a 'math book' — with lots of ideas, theorems, proofs, etc., — but presented in the friendliest way imaginable by a great mind." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderMolecular Biology of the Cell
Bruce Alberts
Source: "For many years it has been the best single volume narrative of 'life from scratch.'" - Alan Kay
2 recommendersAdvances in Programming and Non-Numerical Computation
L Fox
Source: "One of the books that Bob Barton had us read in his famous advanced systems design class in 1967." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderThe Principia
The Authoritative Translation and Guide: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
Isaac Newton
Source: "I have never forgotten the combined shock and thrill of making my way through this in my 20s." - Alan Kay
3 recommendersThe Mythical Man-Month
Essays on Software Engineering
Frederick P. Brooks Jr.
Source: "An early look and experience with timeless truths (and gotchas) from systems building with teams" - Alan Kay
5 recommendersThe Sciences of the Artificial
Herbert A Simon
Source: "A much stronger way to think about computing — and what 'Computer Science' might mean." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderThe Art of the Metaobject Protocol
Gregor Kiczales
Source: "A real gem for helping to think about design and implementations." - Alan Kay
1 recommenderA Programming Language
Kenneth E. Iverson
Source: "This has the same thought expanding properties of Lisp." - Alan Kay
1 recommender20000 Leagues Under the Sea
Voyages Extraordinaires, Book 7
Jules Verne
Source: "A formative book in so many ways." - Alan Kay
2 recommenders- 1 recommender
- 1 recommender
FAQ
Did Alan Kay recommend all these books?
While this list primarily comprises books enthusiastically recommended by Alan Kay, it also includes a variety of titles that Alan Kay has mentioned or suggested in various contexts. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive reading list that reflects Alan Kay's literary influences, interests, and recommendations, though not every book on the list may be an explicit endorsement.
How do you know Alan Kay mentioned these books?
Our team meticulously verifies each book mention attributed to Alan Kay. This involves extensive research, including reviewing interviews, articles, podcasts, social media posts, and other public statements where Alan Kay has discussed their reading preferences. The sources validating these mentions are linked next to each book for transparency and to provide our users with the context in which Alan Kay referred to the book.
Did Alan Kay actually create this list?
No, Alan Kay did not personally compile this list. Our editorial team curates these reading lists by consolidating all verified mentions and recommendations from Alan Kay. We ensure the authenticity of the list by providing sources for each recommendation. These lists are intended to reflect Alan Kay's reading tastes and influences as accurately as possible.
Are these books endorsed or sponsored by Alan Kay?
The books listed are not part of any endorsement or sponsorship agreement with Alan Kay. They are selected based on genuine mentions and recommendations made by Alan Kay in various public platforms. Our goal is to provide readers with an authentic insight into the reading preferences of influential individuals.
How often is the list updated?
We update these lists regularly to include new recommendations or mentions by Alan Kay. Our team keeps a close eye on Alan Kay's latest interviews, writings, and public statements to ensure the list remains current and comprehensive.
Can I suggest a book to add to the list?
While we primarily focus on books directly mentioned by Alan Kay, we welcome suggestions from our readers. If you know of a book that Alan Kay has talked about but is not featured on our list, feel free to contact us with the source of the mention, and our editorial team will review it for potential inclusion.
How can I find books recommended by other individuals?
Our website features a wide range of reading lists curated based on the recommendations of various successful individuals. You can easily browse these lists through our navigation menu or use our search feature to find lists associated with specific individuals.
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