What I’m reading: Summer 2026 edition

2026-07-05 · Source: Laura Albert's Punk Rock Operations Research · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Data Science & Analytics, Operations & Process Management · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

This summer 2026 reading list offers six book recommendations spanning artificial intelligence, manufacturing, ethics, and decision-making. David Epstein's "Inside the Box" explores how constraints foster improvement, notably featuring UPS's ORION project, a 2016 Franz Edelman Award winner in operations research. Joshua Freeman's "Behemoth" chronicles the history of large factories from 18th-century Lombe's Mill to Foxconn City, detailing scientific management and labor's role. Adam Kucharski's "Proof" investigates epistemology through geometry, statistics, and medical research, examining evidence evaluation. Peter Singer's "Ethics in the Real World," an updated edition recommended at the 2025 INFORMS Annual Meeting, presents 90 essays on contemporary ethical dilemmas. "AI Snake Oil" by Narayanan and Kapoor provides an even-handed look at machine learning, prediction, and generative AI's capabilities and limitations. Finally, Benjamin Recht's "The Irrational Decision" delves into the history and impact of computational decision-making on modern life.

Key takeaway

For technical and professional readers aiming to broaden your perspective beyond your immediate domain, consider integrating diverse topics like ethics, manufacturing history, and the nuances of AI into your reading. This approach will enhance your critical thinking about technology's societal impact and computational decision-making. You should actively seek out resources that challenge your comfort zone and provide balanced views on complex subjects, fostering a more holistic understanding.

Key insights

Reading broadly across AI, manufacturing, ethics, and decision-making offers diverse perspectives and deepens understanding.

Principles

• Constraints can drive innovation.
• Operations research creates practical value.
• Understanding AI's limits is crucial.

In practice

• Explore historical context of technology.
• Engage with diverse ethical viewpoints.
• Evaluate AI claims critically.

Topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Operations Research
• Manufacturing History
• Engineering Ethics
• Computational Decision-Making
• Epistemology

Best for: AI Student, Research Scientist, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Laura Albert's Punk Rock Operations Research.