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

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.

That’s it? Almost.

If you’re looking to bring home not just a tan, but new ideas, thought-provoking gems, and perspectives that recharge you better than a solar power bank - here’s your move: subscribe to SenseiTales.

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