Recommendations
A running list of things I like — a few readings worth your time, and places to eat and wander, from the Bay Area to Japan to the Mediterranean.
Readings
- How to Make WealthPaul Graham
- 1929Andrew Ross Sorkin
- DisneyWarJames B. Stewart
- We Are Legion (We Are Bob)Dennis E. Taylor
- Leviathan WakesJames S. A. Corey
- Project Hail MaryAndy Weir
- $100M OffersAlex Hormozi
- Snow CrashNeal Stephenson
- The Rise and Fall of American GrowthRobert J. Gordon
- ExhalationTed Chiang
- One Hundred Famous Views of EdoHiroshige
- RubiconTom Holland
- Imperial TwilightStephen R. Platt
- The Paper MenagerieKen Liu
- On WritingStephen King
- Energy and CivilizationVaclav Smil
- The Mythical Man-MonthFred Brooks
- The BoxMarc Levinson
- Good to GreatJim Collins
- StructuresJ. E. Gordon
- Liar's PokerMichael Lewis
- The Creature from Jekyll IslandG. Edward Griffin
- The Intelligent InvestorBenjamin Graham
- Zero to OnePeter Thiel
- Building MicroservicesSam Newman
- Oil 101Morgan Downey
- International LogisticsPierre David
- The C Programming LanguageKernighan & Ritchie
- Structure and Interpretation of Computer ProgramsAbelson & Sussman
- The Signal and the NoiseNate Silver
Places to Eat
Bay Area
- Victory Point CafeBerkeleyBoard game cafe with a big library
- Tokyo Fish MarketBerkeleyJapanese grocery with a great deli
- Cheese Board Collective PizzeriaBerkeleyOne veggie pizza a day, worth the line
- Hong Kong CafeSan FranciscoCha chaan teng comfort classics
- Chicha San ChenSan FranciscoMade-to-order Taiwanese tea
- Yogurt ParkBerkeleyCheap, enormous fro-yo near campus
- Northern China BBQSan FranciscoSkewers and hand-pulled noodles
- TaishokenSan FranciscoTokyo-style tsukemen dipping ramen
- Neighbor BakehouseDogpatch, SFBest morning buns in the city
- Garden CreameryMission, SFHawaiian-inspired ice cream and mochi
- Kokkari EstiatorioJackson Square, SFRustic Greek, great for celebrations
- Z & Y Peking DuckChinatown, SFPeking duck and Sichuan classics
- HarborviewEmbarcadero, SFDim sum with a bay view
- Palace GamesPresidio, SFElaborate escape rooms at the Palace of Fine Arts
- Gary DankoFisherman's Wharf, SFTasting-menu fine dining, book ahead
- R & G LoungeChinatown, SFSalt-and-pepper crab institution
- ExploratoriumEmbarcadero, SFHands-on science museum on the pier
- Musée MécaniqueFisherman's Wharf, SFAntique arcade games, free entry
- Palette Tea HouseGhirardelli Square, SFModern dim sum with a view
- The Garden CourtDowntown SFGrand historic hotel dining room
- DH Noodles and GrillBerkeleyDunhuang-style Lanzhou beef noodles
- EasterlyBerkeleyRefined Sichuan near campus
- Ox 9 Lanzhou Handpulled NoodlesBay AreaHand-pulled beef noodle soup
- Great ChinaBerkeleyBerkeley institution, get the duck
- KirakuBerkeleyCozy izakaya, small plates and sake
- GustoBay AreaCasual Mediterranean plates
- Sichuan StyleSan FranciscoNumbing, spicy Sichuan cooking
- Ganim's MarketBay AreaOld-school deli sandwiches
- Super Duper BurgersSan FranciscoLocal burgers with free pickles
- San Francisco SymphonyCivic Center, SFWorld-class orchestra at Davies Hall
- Ferry BuildingEmbarcadero, SFFood hall and waterfront farmers market
- GarajeSoMa, SFMexican grill near the ballpark
- KusakabeFinancial District, SFOmakase sushi tasting menu
- Golden Goat CoffeeSan FranciscoSmall-batch specialty coffee
- Caffè StradaBerkeleyStudent patio hangout by campus
- MY Coffee RoasteryBerkeleyWell-known local coffee roaster
- Ember RestaurantBay AreaWood-fired seasonal cooking
New York
- Thai DinerNolitaAll-day Thai-American diner
- Prince Street PizzaNolitaSpicy pepperoni square slices
- Mountain HouseEast VillageUpscale Sichuan small plates
- KimuraNew YorkIntimate sushi omakase
- RakuEast VillageHandmade udon noodles
Tokyo & Yokohama
- Cafe RouaultTokyoQuiet neighborhood coffee shop
- Shinjuku Gyoen National GardenShinjukuSprawling garden, lovely in cherry season
- Ginza KagariGinzaCreamy chicken-broth soba
- Koffee MameyaOmotesandoPrecise pour-over coffee counter
- Glitch Coffee and RoastersGinzaLight-roast specialty beans
- Meiji JinguShibuyaForested shrine in the middle of the city
- Tokyo National MuseumUenoJapan's largest art and history collection
- Menya IttouTokyoRich tsukemen, expect a wait
- SenchadoGinzaModern Japanese tea shop
- Qu'il Fait BonSolamachi, SkytreeBeautiful seasonal fruit tarts
- Sumida AquariumSumidaCompact aquarium under Skytree
- Kaiten Sushi ToritonSumidaHokkaido conveyor-belt sushi
- Tonkatsu MarugoTokyoClassic crispy pork cutlets
- Traveler's Factory StationTokyoTravel notebooks and stationery
- ShinsekaiTokyoPremium yakiniku grill
- Shin-Yokohama Ramen MuseumYokohamaRegional ramen shops in a retro hall
Karuizawa
- Karuizawa Prince Shopping PlazaKaruizawaBig outlet mall by the station
- La Fée BretonneKaruizawaFrench galettes and crêpes
- Onsen Gyoza EnmazakaKusatsuSteamed gyoza by the hot springs
Matsumoto & the Kiso Valley
- Matsumoto City MuseumMatsumotoLocal history by the castle
- YamashiroyaMatsumotoTraditional gifts and crafts
- 藤屋土産物店TsumagoSouvenir shop on the old post road
- 才田屋漆器店KisoHandmade Kiso lacquerware
- 甘味 日和堂KisoTraditional Japanese sweets
Izu & Atami
- Hama No YuIzuSeaside hot-spring hotel
- Izu Shaboten ZooIzuCactus garden and capybara onsen
- 杜の湯 きらの里IzuRyokan-style hot-spring inn
- Isoage MarutenAtamiFresh fried fish cakes
Aomori
- A-FactoryAomoriCider and souvenirs by the port
- Nebuta Museum Wa RasseAomoriGiant illuminated festival floats
Hokkaido
- Nemuro HanamaruSapporo StationPopular conveyor-belt sushi
- Noboribetsu Bear ParkNoboribetsuMountaintop brown bear park
Mallorca & Barcelona
- Catedral de Santa María de MallorcaPalmaGrand seaside Gothic cathedral
- Cas SiquierMallorcaSmall local shop
- Taverna El GlopBarcelonaCatalan grilled meats and tapas
Corsica & the Riviera
- Nonna's Handmade Pasta With GrandmaCorsicaHands-on pasta making with a local nonna
- La RipienaBonifacioWood-fired pizza in the old town
- Pinocchio StoreCorsicaWooden toys and handicrafts
- NapoRamaAjaccioNapoleon history museum
- Bibliothèque MunicipaleCorsicaMunicipal library
- OTEA Bubble TeaCorsicaBubble tea shop
- Jardins Saint-MartinMonacoClifftop seaside gardens