10 (Non-Technical) Books for Tech Lovers to Read This Summer

A break from coding, not from thinking. This is the perfect reading list for those who bring a Kindle, not a laptop, to the beach: ten books that explore technology, systems, design, and the future — without feeling like a textbook. From Christensen and Don Norman to Hillman and Burkeman, with stops at ARM, algorithms, and cognitive metaphors, it’s a blend of tech culture and human curiosity.

Written by:

Gabriele Palumbo

Head of Marketing

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Tech under the beach umbrella? Yes, please.

If you're the kind of person who packs a Kindle instead of a rackets for the beach, we’ve got something for you.

No heavyweight engineering tomes, no patch notes or whitepapers to read with sand in your eyes - just stories that make you think, smile, and spark a good debate. Books that talk about the future, systems, design, and identity - told at the perfect pace for your sunbed.

Whether you're a CTO, designer, strategist, or just a curious human with a soft spot for innovation, this top 10 is your new go-to summer reading list - with a popsicle on the side.

**1. The Innovator’s Dilemma – Clayton M. Christensen**

The classic of all classics. Why do big companies fail by innovating too late? And what can they do to avoid it?

**2. Purple Cow – Seth Godin**

Short, sharp, and powerful. If you want to create something impossible to ignore, start here.

**3. Team Topologies – Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais**

How to organize tech teams in a modern, sustainable way. A must-read for anyone working in delivery, DevOps, or complex architecture.

**4. The Everything Blueprint – James Ashton**

The story of ARM and how microchips (and the people who design them) are behind just about everything in our daily lives.

**5. Thinking in Systems – Donella Meadows**

Learn to think in systems, not silos. Super helpful if you’re designing, strategizing, or leading innovation.

**6. The Soul’s Code – James Hillman**

A bit off-track? Maybe. But reflecting on identity and calling matters—even (especially?) in tech.

**7. The Design of Everyday Things – Don Norman**

You’ll never look at a door the same way again. Essential reading for anyone working in UX, UI, or interface design.

**8. Four Thousand Weeks – Oliver Burkeman**

Not your average productivity book. A sharp, witty reflection on our relationship with time.

**9. The Formula and the Oracle – Alessandro Vespignani**

How data helps predict crises, epidemics, and social trends. A nonfiction read that feels like a thriller.

**10. Surfaces and Essences – Douglas Hofstadter & Emmanuel Sander**

Patterns, analogies, metaphors: a fascinating dive into how human thought really works.

Bonus Track. AI 2041 – Kai-Fu Lee & Chen Qiufan

Ten sci-fi stories set in 2041, each paired with commentary from an AI expert. A compelling way to imagine (and structure) the future ahead.

Uomo Legge Libro tech in spiaggia

Now: pick your first book, switch your phone to airplane mode, and let your brain zoom out.

That’s it? Almost.

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