The Art of Doing Science and Engineering

Summary

Hamming's reflections on a lifetime of research and discovery. Focuses on how to think about problems, how to choose important problems, and how to do great work.

Why I Read This

Multiple mentors have cited this as the book that shaped how they approach problems. The idea of learning to think, not just learning facts, is something I want to cultivate.

Key Takeaways

• The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers
• Great scientists focus on important problems
• You can't always predict what will be important — keep an open mind