10 (Non-Technical) Books for Tech Lovers to Read This Summer
What does a tech lover read when it’s time to unplug from code and dashboards? This list is for those who want to disconnect without shutting off their minds. Ten non-technical books that explore systems, the future, design, and critical thinking—at just the right pace for summer. Perfect for CTOs, designers, strategists, or curious minds with a Kindle and a thirst for fresh perspectives.
Gabriele Palumbo
Head of MarketingTech 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.
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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