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Linda Liukas

Recommended Books

Linda Liukas is a Finnish children's book author, illustrator and an instructor for beginner programmers. In 2014, her Hello Ruby coding book for children raised $380,000 on Kickstarter becoming the platform's most highly funded children's book.
23 books on the list
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When We Cease to Understand the World book cover
When We Cease to Understand the World
Benjamín Labatut - 2022-08-01 (first published in 2019)
Goodreads Rating
This mind-bending work explores scientific discovery, ethics, and the blurred line between genius and madness. Follow the stories of Albert Einstein, Alexander Grothendieck, Erwin Schrödinger, and Werner Heisenberg as they navigate groundbreaking discoveries and the potential consequences of their work. Through a mix of fact and fiction, this book reveals the strange and exhilarating world of science.
Linda Liukas
2022-03-01T09:19:26.000Z
11/100. When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut. Pop physics books are my favorites and this book had so much going for it - I loved the narrative non-fiction style, the voice, the scope. The choice to move towards fiction felt off.      source
Lincoln in the Bardo book cover
Lincoln in the Bardo
A Novel
George Saunders - 2017-02-14
Goodreads Rating
In "Lincoln in the Bardo," the Civil War has begun, and President Lincoln's son, Willie, tragically dies at the age of eleven. Author George Saunders takes this historical event and transforms it into a vivid and unforgettable story of familial love and loss that transcends time and reality. Within the "bardo," a Tibetan transitional state, young Willie's soul is fiercely contested by ghosts, resulting in a thrilling exploration of humanity's ability to love in the face of mortality. This bold and daring novel is a testament to the power of fiction and a must-read for those seeking an imaginative and thought-provoking work of literature.
Linda Liukas
2022-03-01T09:16:48.000Z
10/100. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. I wish I had fallen into the world of this book more deeply, but maybe it was my attention, maybe something else. Loved the premise and idea and will keep reading Saunders for sure.      source
Wonderworks book cover
Wonderworks
The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature
Angus Fletcher - 2021-03-09
Goodreads Rating
Discover the technological innovations embedded in literature with Wonderworks. From ancient Mesopotamia to Elena Ferrante, writer Angus Fletcher examines the narrative and neuroscientific advancements of literature's greats, including Shakespeare and Austen. These literary breakthroughs alleviate grief, anxiety, and depression while sparking love, empathy, and positive change. Join this exploration of story science and gain new critical insights into the wonder of imaginative representation.
Linda Liukas
2022-03-01T09:15:14.000Z
9/100. Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature by Angus Fletcher. Blueprints and tools for literary inventions. Enjoyed the stories on fairytales a lot and the book gave lots of new ideas.      source
Who We're Reading When We're Reading Murakami book cover
Who We're Reading When We're Reading Murakami
David Karashima - 2020-09-01
Goodreads Rating
Explore the fascinating rise of Haruki Murakami, from a domestic niche writer to an international literary sensation in "Who We're Reading When We're Reading Murakami." David Karashima delves into the "Murakami Industry," examining the role of translators and editors in creating a global literary culture. This thought-provoking book features interviews with industry insiders, including the man himself, and raises important questions about the translation and editing process for global markets.
Linda Liukas
2021-12-29T09:30:29.000Z
93/100. Who We're Reading When We're Reading Murakami by David Karashima. A book on translating (Murakami). Reading a lot of translated works and having work with translators myselfwas so excited for this. A bit uneven + sadly stops already in 98, but gives color and background.      source
Matrix book cover
Matrix
A Novel
Lauren Groff - 2021-09-07
Goodreads Rating
Set against the backdrop of medieval England, Matrix tells the story of Marie de France, a 17-year-old girl sent to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey. In this new life, Marie finds purpose and love with her mercurial sisters, but as she works to protect and lead them, she must grapple with a world that can never fully accept her. In a mesmerizing portrait of passion and faith, Lauren Groff explores the power of female creativity in a corrupted world.
Linda Liukas
2021-12-29T09:28:37.000Z
92/100. Matrix by Lauren Groff. A story set in 1100 Europe, the life of Marie de France and her creativity. I enjoyed the talk Lauren Groff gave about the book almost more than the book itself:      source
Recommended by
Roxane Gay
How Do You Live? book cover
How Do You Live?
The uplifting Japanese classic that has enchanted millions
Genzaburo Yoshino - 2021-10-26 (first published in 1937)
Goodreads Rating
This beloved coming-of-age classic now published in English for the first time takes readers on a philosophical journey into life's biggest questions through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Copper in Tokyo. As he contemplates the infinite people around him, Copper looks to his wise uncle for answers, leading readers on a poignant and timeless reflection on what it means to be human. This book is a favorite of anime master Hayao Miyazaki and is the inspiration for a highly anticipated film from Studio Ghibli.
Linda Liukas
2021-12-29T09:25:52.000Z
91/100. How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino. Picked this up because a) Miyazaki's upcoming film b) Neil Gaiman forewords. The book has stood time amazingly well and the format with the letters is heartwarming.      source
Paris book cover
Paris
Julian Green - 2012-01-01 (first published in 1983)
Goodreads Rating
Take a leisurely walk through Paris with this bilingual book, written by a born and bred American who lived in Paris throughout his life. Julian Green shares enchanting stories about the hidden corners, lesser-known landmarks, and haunting imagery of Paris. His own photographs bring the journey to life. This book is an excellent pick for tourists and Parisians alike.
Linda Liukas
2021-12-19T06:22:56.000Z
89/100. Paris by Julian Green. A book where every other page is French, every other English. I liked dipping between the languages. The writing was beautiful.      source
Whereabouts book cover
Whereabouts
Jhumpa Lahiri - 2021-04-27 (first published in 2018)
Goodreads Rating
This introspective novel from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author explores a woman's search for meaning and connection in an unnamed city. Through her daily routines and chance encounters, she grapples with the desire to belong and the fear of commitment. This is a poignant and deeply felt work with richly textured landscapes and a daring shift in style and sensibility.
Linda Liukas
2021-12-19T06:20:11.000Z
88/100. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri. Surprised myself by liking this a lot - about everything and nothing, but intensely so. It wasn't a pandemic book, but the atmosphere captured something about this time.      source
The Thinking Hand book cover
The Thinking Hand
Existential and Embodied Wisdom in Architecture (Architectural Design Primer)) [By
Juhani Pallasmaa
Linda Liukas
2021-10-25T09:52:03.000Z
73/100. The Thinking Hand: Existential and Embodied Wisdom in Architecture by Juhani Pallasmaa. This was a *hard* book to find. Love how well read Pallasmaa is + helped me lot in both my playground work as well as positioning ideas around learning abstract ideas with our hands.      source
Beautiful World, Where Are You book cover
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Sally Rooney - 2023-01-01 (first published in 2021)
Goodreads Rating
Four young friends navigate the complexities of life, love, and friendship in Sally Rooney's latest bestseller. Alice is a novelist who invites Felix to join her on a trip to Rome, while Eileen copes with a breakup and finds herself flirting with a childhood friend. Desires, betrayals, and fears arise as they grapple with the uncertainties of adulthood. Will they hold onto hope and believe in a beautiful world despite the darkness?
Linda Liukas
2021-10-25T09:44:16.000Z
69/100. Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. I should have waited a bit longer with this one (I hate hype books), but needed nurturing fiction for the week.. The characters are getting older (as is my generation), and I love the dialogue. Hope Rooney keeps writing.      source
Bechi by Koko Hubara
The Empathy Diaries by Sherry Turkle
The Paris Hours by Alex George
Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener
Bowie's Bookshelf by John O'Connell
The New Childhood by Jordan Shapiro
The Design of Childhood by Alexandra Lange
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Awakenings by Oliver Sacks