3 book recommendations from Eliot Peper
Big news: My new novel is now available for preorder and comes out May 14!
Breach is a lush near-future thriller about a hacker who's drawn out of hiding and into an epic geopolitical showdown that hinges on what it means to make tech platforms democratic. Bristling with adventure, philosophy, and personal transformation, the story explores the social implications of a world run by algorithms. I poured my heart and soul into this book and I hope it sucks you in and sticks with you long after you reach the end.
Preorder Breach right here.
And now, books I love that you might too:
The Overstory by Richard Powers is a story about people who love trees, trees who might just love people, and humanity's complex, troubled, and occasionally transcendent relationship with nature. Powers reveals the inner world of his diverse cast of characters with candor and compassion, and his gorgeous prose is studded with gems of insight into this strange and beautiful journey we call life.
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis illustrates the myriad crucial ways in which the US Federal Government protects Americans from extraordinarily dangerous but little known risks. By chronicling the inspiring stories of hyper competent civil servants working on everything from nuclear waste to school lunches, Lewis throws the willful incompetence of the Trump administration into sharp relief. This is journalism at its best.
Art Matters by Neil Gaiman is an inspiring manifesto on creativity from of my very favorite writers (I've recommended his novels Coraline and The Ocean at the End of the Lane in previous missives). Gorgeously illustrated by Chris Ridell, this little book will replenish your creative energy, set off an avalanche of new ideas, and show you how imagination can change the world. Whenever writers ask for advice, I respond with a list of resources and this just went to the top of it.
Bonus recommendation: I interviewed Kim Stanley Robinson about the crisis of representation, the future of geopolitics, and the power of science fiction for the Chicago Review of Books.
In other news, I broke ground on the rough draft of a new novel. I wrote a column about how science empowers us by stripping away our delusions of power for NEO.LIFE. Brad Feld named Borderless his favorite book of the year in the Boulder Daily Camera. Oakland Magazine featured Bandwidth and Shane Parrish highlighted it in his ridiculously comprehensive annual list of reading recommendations. I went on the Crazy Wisdom podcast to talk about how to wrestle with uncertainty and the Robot Overlordz podcast interviewed me about writing Bandwidth. I published a blog post about how sometimes true maturity requires treating adults like children. The Verge gave both Bandwidth and Borderless shout-outs in its list of best science fiction books of 2018. Kevin Bankston, director of the Open Technology Institute, published a two hour joint interview with me, Malka Older, and Ada Palmer about how to extrapolate possible futures (I've previously recommended Older's and Palmer's books in this newsletter). Oh, and Peter Nowell, Phoebe Morris, and I are putting the final touches on a secret public art project that will launch next month.
Finally, if you live in the Bay Area, don't miss this special event: Eva Hagberg Fisher and I are hosting a joint launch party for my latest novel, Borderless, and her forthcoming memoire, How To Be Loved. We'll interview each other about our respective books and discuss the art of writing fiction and memoire. Come drink craft beer, eat Cheeseboard pizza, and ask us tough questions! Mark your calendars: 7PM on February 7th at Novel Brewing in Oakland.
If you enjoy this newsletter and want to support it, tell your friends. I love sharing amazing stories that explore the intersection of technology and culture. The goal of this newsletter is to recommend books, both fiction and nonfiction, that crackle and fizz with big ideas, keep us turning pages deep into the night, challenge our assumptions, help us find meaning in a changing world, and make us think, feel, and ask hard questions. In an age of digital abundance, quality is the new scarcity. The right book at the right time can change your life.
I also pull back the curtain on my creative process. When I'm not reading books, I'm writing them. If you're interested, you can find my books right here. They've been praised by the New York Times, Businessweek, Popular Science, Boing Boing, TechCrunch, io9, and Ars Technica. I'd love to hear what you think if you give them a read.
Cheers, Eliot
"An intriguing, fast-paced thriller that looks closely at the most pressing issues facing the nation: a growing wealth gap, corrupt governments and an ever-increasing surveillance apparatus that threatens the country's very character. Cumulus holds up a mirror to ourselves, and shows just how scary the world could be right around the corner."
-io9 on Cumulus
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