What is GE Reading?

June 9th, 2009

So I’ve had this idea ever since we went up to the Global Research Center and Benjamin suggested I post it rather than just let it stew.

So … I’d really like to know what GE’s scientists and engineers are reading. Whether it’s blogs, newspaper articles or books, I just think it would make for an amazing list. You’d read that right? Anyway, would be great if we could make it happen.

And, in the spirit of sharing, here are a few of my favorite blogs as of late:
Frontal Cortex: Amazing neuroscience blog by Seed editor Jonah Lehrer
Snarkmarket: Just interesting stuff.
Cheap Talk: Economics blog mostly about game theory by two economics professors.
Jay Parkinson Blog: Since I’ve been getting into all this GE stuff Jay’s blog about health has become more and more interesting.
Sociological Images: A blog about how imagery shapes culture.

18 Responses to “What is GE Reading?”

  1. Dave says:

    recent read/watch list: Wired magazine, TED web lecture series

  2. Brooke says:

    Latest reads: “Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard, “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle, Harvard Business Review, Turbomachinery mag, “The Ten Faces of Innovation” by Tom Kelley

    Soon to be read: “Ecopsychology” by various, “Savage Summit” by Jennifer Jordan

  3. Nicole says:

    Reading now: “The World is Flat by” by Thomas L. Friedman

  4. Chris says:

    Devra Davis “The Secret History of the War on Cancer”
    Naomi Klein “The Shock Doctrine”
    E.L. Doctorow “The March”
    Thai Jones “A Radical Line”
    James Kunstler “The Long Emergency”
    Thomas Friedman “The World is Flat”

    Next – who knows another recent good one?

  5. Noah says:

    Wow, thanks everyone. This is awesome.

    @Chris: Thanks Chris, you’ve got a couple on there that I have on my list. How is The Secret History of the War on Cancer?

  6. Emily says:

    A Book that is on my re-read list:
    Egonomics:What makes ego our greatest asset (or most expensive liability)
    First line of the book: Ego is the invisible line item on every company’s profit and loss statement.

    Mags: Businessweek, Inc, Fast Company

  7. Oliver says:

    Favourite Regular Read: New Scientist – it’s how I keep up with latest innovations in science and technology.
    Favourite Science: In Search of Schrodinger’s Cat – John Gribbin – a great intro to Quantum Mechanics.
    Most used Book at Work: Mark’s Standard handbook for Mechanical Engineers
    Favourite Fiction: Heart of Darkness – Conrad – for insight into the human conndition.
    Favourite book I’ve tried to read (and failed): Synergetics – Buckminster Fuller – I can’t figure out if it’s science or garbage!

  8. Dan says:

    Recently read: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell & Why Moths Hate Thomas Edison by Hampton Sides

    Currently Reading: Vietnam: A History by Stanley Karnow & TY Beginner’s Latin by GDA Sharpley

    Next Read: Perhaps something via this blog, possibly Let My People Go Surfing as read by Brooke

  9. Noah says:

    So many good suggestions, thank you all.

    As far as books, right now I’m reading:
    Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neal Postman
    How Doctor’s Think by Jerome Groopman

    Both are excellent.

  10. Gregg says:

    books: just finished Jeff Immelt and the New GE Way: Innovation, Transformation and Winning in the 21st Century by David Magee (always interesting to read others impression of the company)

    Mags: Wired, Scientific American and Dwell

    Blogs: Green Wombat, Treehugger, GreenAirOnline, CleanEdge and TrueBlueLA

  11. Blogs I read:
    http://histalk2.com/
    http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/

    Books I’m currently reading:
    Making Things Happen – Scott Berkun
    Influencer – Kerry Patterson
    The Innovator’s Prescription – Clayton M. Christensen

  12. Michael says:

    Books currently reading:
    Hyperspace- Michio Kaku
    Static- Amy Goodman and David Goodman
    Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- Arthur Conan Doyle
    The Art of Happiness- Dalai Lama
    The theory of everything- Stehpen Hawkings
    3 others that the full title escapes me.

    Magazines for fun reading-
    Coral
    C. the Aquatic Journal
    Backpacker

  13. Tim says:

    Kluge – The Haphazard Evolution of the Human Brain

  14. Benjamin says:

    this is a great thread. you should check out this thread on metafilter, which is amazing
    http://ask.metafilter.com/71101/What-single-book-is-the-best-introduction-to-your-field-or-specialization-within-your-field-for-laypeople

    i am curious, everyone at GE, what book(s) are essential for your profession – either for inspiration (what got you into it) or for research?

    also, i am thinking we should put together an evolving GE Reading List and promote it somehow, maybe via here and amazon, possibly a mix of top “essential” books (also blogs?) and current reading.

  15. Burt says:

    Books I have recently finished:

    On Intelligence
    Wireless Crash Course
    Slaughterhouse-Five
    The Singularity is Near

    Books I am reading now

    Java for Dummies
    What would Google Do (a must read)
    Energy Scavenging for Wireless Sensor Networks

    Magazines:

    Make (a must read for geeks)

  16. [...] the weekend I finally finished the book How Doctors Think (which will be on our inaugural GE reading list since it was recommended by someone in healthcare). The book is excellent and I’d highly [...]

  17. [...] a few weeks ago we asked folks at GE what they were reading. They gave us lots of great books and we’ve now compiled them into a little Amazon reading [...]

  18. JJ says:

    Currently Reading:
    JUST CALL ME COACH: Hall of Fame Coach Dick Strahm’s Compelling Story of Success and Survival by JOHN GRINDROD [Great Football Book]
    David McCullough’s “1776″
    and Fast Company Magazine

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