We all have those techie friends that are hard to buy for. They know so much about the latest and greatest gadgets and trends, we end up buying them the wrong thing. Let’s face it, no one wants to see that weak, “Thanks.” at the family get-together. To help both the gift giver and getter, we’ve assembled a list of books written by Innovation Women speakers, designed to bring a sparkle to the eyes of all the tech wizards on your list.
Pendred Noyce gathers the stories of sixteen trailblazing women who broke new ground in the fields of science and medicine in her book, Magnificent Minds: 16 Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine. Science enthusiasts and history buffs will love reading about Ada Lovelace, Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie, and other scientific hotshots who saved lives, revolutionized their fields, and paved the way for the technology of today.
In How to Transform Your Ideas into Software Products: A Step-by-Step Guide for Validating Your Ideas and Bringing Them to Life!, Poornima Vijayashanker guides the would-be inventor through the process of vetting the idea to determine its viability, finding and talking to prospective customers, hiring talented people to bring your product to life, and finding money to build your business. Vijayashanker gives you the benefit of her expertise as a start-up founder in this step-by-step manual to making your ideas real.
Even techies could use a little intrigue. They’ll get it in Kate Baucherel’s, Bitcoin Hurricane SimCavalier Book One, a cryptocurrency conspiracy novel that pits Cameron Silvera, cyberterrorism expert, against cyberterrorists in 2040s London. This harrowing story will entice computer experts and thriller fans alike.
It’s About Time! by Mitzi Weinman Is a great book for anyone, tech fiend or not, who has too much to do and not enough time to do it. Written for the busy people on your list, the book zeroes in on the most important issues for productivity-minded, time-starved people. Control your schedule; don’t let it control you.
For the tech-obsessed person on your list who hopes to get ahead, Morra Aarons-Mele’s Hiding in the Bathroom: An Introvert’s Roadmap to Getting Out There (When You’d Rather Stay Home) is the networking book for those who would rather do almost anything other than network. Focusing less on being ‘on’ 24/7 and more on building strong relationships, Hiding in the Bathroom offers an alternative to the stereotypical gonzo approach to climbing the ladder.
Not all high tech takes place in a clean room; some happens on a factory floor. With manufacturing changing almost daily, industry is looking for a new type of worker. Sarah Boisvert’s The New Collar Workforce: An Insider’s Guide to Making Impactful Changes to Manufacturing and Training offers innovative ideas on finding, training, and retaining employees for fulfilling careers in the new digital factory of today and the increasingly technical one of tomorrow.
Need more ideas? Try these books, written by Innovation Women speakers, for the tech-savvy cyborg fan on your list.
Before You Code: Validate your idea, plan your product, and iterate your way to success by Heather O’Neill
The Digital Mystique: How the Culture of Connectivity Can Empower Your Life Online and Off by Sarah Granger
The Cynja Volume 1 by Heather Dahl
