Scott J. Pearson’s Book Review

It’s About You Too: Reducing the Overwhelm for Parents of LGBTQ+ Kids

By Scott J. Pearson | June 23, 2024June 23, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

As LGBTQ+ people recently have gained increased societal acceptance, more children become “out” and self-aware of themselves, often at a young age. This effect is a good thing because it prevents youth from feeling oppressed for who they are. The social support for those “coming out” is increasing, but support for parents of those children is presently lacking. Mostly, parents are admonished to be supportive, but they usually lack a safe space to sort out…

Indie Management-Business Software-Technology

Intellectual Property Law: A Practical Guide to Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks & Trade Secrets

By Scott J. Pearson | June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Intellectual property rights serve as a bedrock of a society that encourages innovation and economic advance. They protect inventors’ rights to protect their name and earn a financial profit from their work. Without copyrights, patents, and trademarks, businesses would fall prey to shady business tactics to discredit their efforts. Many of us are interested in understanding the legal frameworks around intellectual property, but lack the time and money to seek formal education in these topics.…

Science Software-Technology

Quantum Computing for Everyone

By Scott J. Pearson | June 19, 2024June 19, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Despite being around for decades, the words “quantum mechanics” still make eyes roll even in a room of educated people. Few really understand the phenomena. Among those more scientifically minded, some – thankfully fewer in number – still argue that quantum mechanics will give way someday to a more classical approach. The controversial part of quantum mechanics, which foiled even Albert Einstein, states that to measure the spin or velocity of an electron, one must…

Management-Business

Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

By Scott J. Pearson | June 17, 2024June 17, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

American business culture is built around heroes that “save the day.” Perhaps bigger heroes, however, are those unheralded ones who quietly prevent problems from happening in the first place. To do so does not just require seeing a problem and a solution; it requires identifying the root cause and a solution to that root cause. It demands going “upstream” to deal with the issues that cause downstream issues. Dan Heath contends that few organizations and…

Writing-Communication

Behind the Book: Eleven Authors on Their Path to Publication

By Scott J. Pearson | June 15, 2024June 15, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Publishing a book is a big deal. I’ve never done it, but I’ve read enough to appreciate each author’s contribution. Getting to that point is tough, getting through that point is tough, and after that point is tough. Then getting on to the next one is tough. Nonetheless, ways exist to expedite the process. Chris Mackenzie Jones has himself published this book to guide authors how to navigate successfully through this process. He uses the…

Healthcare Science

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep & Dreams

By Scott J. Pearson | June 10, 2024June 10, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Along with the brain, sleep remains as one of the frontiers of biomedical science. Over a century ago, Sigmund Freud attempted to explore the nature of dreams, but his first attempts seem generally off mark to modern science. Current work has much more evidence to inform it, but few have the time to learn about it. Fortunately, Matthew Walker, a research scientist (notably not a physician), presents a summary of contemporary scientific insights about sleep.…

Leadership Management-Business

Managing Creative People: Lessons in Leadership for the Ideas Economy

By Scott J. Pearson | June 9, 2024September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

As Gordon Torr shares, creativity is a driving force of modern economies and of civilization. While productivity remains important, only innovation can give a company or a society a let up on the other. Unfortunately, few people are highly creative – a trait that requires both talent and nurturing. Managing talent in a way that leads to productive results is its own challenge with its own nuance. Torr shares some thoughts that can advance good…

Leadership Management-Business

Managing Conflict with Your Boss

By Scott J. Pearson | June 7, 2024September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

This short, 30-page guide orients readers towards healthily managing conflict with someone in authority over you. Such conflicts can appear daunting, even overwhelming. The authors teach the basics of conflict management while balancing the precarious nature of being someone’s direct report. The teaching aims not to win the argument but to continue to go forward productively. Personally, I found it helpful that the book provided specific ways that conflict with a boss can arise. For…

Biography-Memoir Leadership Religion-Philosophy

Reading Through Rachel Held Evans’ Last Book Published in Her Lifetime

By Scott J. Pearson | June 3, 2024September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Setting: The 1925 Scopes Trial in East Tennessee Ninety-nine years ago in 1925, the famous Scopes trial occurred in Dayton, Tennessee, in the state’s eastern part, halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville. The state legislature had recently made it illegal to teach human evolution in public schools. The rediscovery of Gregor Mendel’s genetic mechanism for evolution had brought these concepts to the front of the American mind. At the ACLU’s encouragement, one teacher John Scopes deliberately…

Leadership Software-Technology

The Software Engineer’s Guidebook: Navigating Senior, Tech Lead & Staff Engineer Positions at Tech Companies & Startups

By Scott J. Pearson | June 1, 2024September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Writing software promises a career full of intellectual challenges, never-ending learning, and collaborative projects. Yet sometimes, the career path can seem arduous and hidden, especially for those not on the management track. How can engineers lead when they’re not managing a team? In this book, Gergely Orosz shows how engineers can establish a career, progress to senior level and tech lead, and then move onto principal or staff engineering roles. None of these roles involves…