Chris Padilla/Bookshelf
My words on other people's words. None of the links included are affiliate links. Sharing these is payment enough!
The He-Man Effect – by Brian "Box" Brown
Date: 2026-02-28 | PurchasePropaganda, marketing, and the commodification of childhood imagination. Will be interested to see the impact of what Box gets at towards the end of the book — the instantaneous, perpetual availability of an IP that takes place of the child's active creative play with that media away from the film, comic, book, etc. Must read for any enjoyer of pop culture to help stay sober in the tsunami of it all. Pairs well with Kawaii: Anime, Propaganda, and Soft Power Politics.
Syllabus – by Lynda Barry
Date: 2026-02-25 | PurchasePeeking into the college courses on imagination and the mysterious state we enter when brining about an image. Fewer things are better to read to help loosen you up!
Picture This: How Pictures Work – by Molly Bang
Date: 2026-02-23 | PurchaseTechnique is abstracted down to paper cutouts to illustrate the heart of visual storytelling and composition.
Heart Aroused – by David Whyte
Date: 2026-01-20 | PurchaseReflections on bringing our courage and creativity to the workplace.
Linchpin – by Seth Godin
Date: 2026-02-17 | PurchaseTimely reading. Meaningful work happens outside of the design brief, the spec, etc. Our callings are in the creativity and risk taking we bring to our jobs and projects. Affirms that impact is not limited to a title or "what we do", but in the how and why we do it.
Yes to Life – by Viktor Frankl
Date: 2026-02-15Shortly after liberation from nazi concentration camps, Frankl gave these series of lectures that were published as a separate book from the definitive Man's Search for Meaning. Recently published for the first time in english in 2020, this follows several cases made for each person's individual and dynamic meaning, as the subtitel states, 'in spite of' many otherwise supremely challenging circumstances. If you only read a bit of this short volume, read through the first chapter, laying the basis that purpose is ever changing and highly individual.
So Many Books – by Gabriel Zaid
Date: 2025-11-29Natasha Wimmer's translation of a book on books. Absolutely beautiful, and a great case for all sorts of other self-published creations that make it into the world.
Walt Disney: An American Original – by Bob Thomas
Date: 2025-11-10Really captures the spirit and drive of the man. Inspiring to read about how deeply involved Disney was in the creation of his early films.
Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking – by David Bayles and Ted Orland
Date: 2025-11-05Observations on the common pitfalls and roadblocks of art making across disciplines, and, of course, arguments for why it's still worth doing.
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Against Platforms: Surviving Digital Utopia – by Mike Pepi
Date: 2025-08-04 | Rating: 7/10There was a time where rules on the web were being written via improvisation. Arguably we are still there, though the effect has transformed from thrilling to sour. This book is a critical look at some of the decisions that now shape large scale applications and how they are not sufficient replacements for human, non-commercial organizations.
FORCE: Dynamic Life Drawing – by Mike Mattesi
Date: 2025-11-03 | PurchaseFigure drawing that puts rhythm and gesture front and center. This approach makes drawing the figure enjoyable and expressive. Fun to work through and a great companion to the Drawing Force online course.
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Shuna's Journey – by Hayao Miyazaki
Date: 2025-07-18 | PurchaseA beautiful jewel. Similar themes and set pieces to Nausicaä, but with a pacing that leaves a myst around the characters — the way that good fables do.
The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal – by Laine Nooney
Date: 2025-07-18 | PurchaseI appreciated the cultural context, since the 70s-80s are eras of personal computing I'm largely unfamiliar with. Though, that cultural context provided is not unbiased, novel, or nuanced. I'd have a hard time recommending it to other tech enthusiasts, as the account of events are largely joyless and shallow.
Homepage Web Craft – by Daniel Murray (Melon)
Date: 2025-06-01 | PurchaseWild maximalist zine on making websites! A beautiful mess.
Sam & Max: Surfin' the Highway – by Steve Purcell
Date: 2025-05-25The original comics that lead to the Lucas Arts and Telltale games. Absurdist humor at its finest. The dynamic between the boys is such a fine balance between chaos and cheese. Cheesy chaos, yes. The art is, of course, dynamic and detailed.
What It Is – by Lynda Barry
Date: 2025-05-24 | PurchaseThis book vibrates. There's a pitch I hear in my ear as I read it, perhaps it's actually a soft voice... Evocative mix of comics, collage, and personal essays on losing then finding creativity.
Designing Data-Intensive Applications – by Martin Kleppmann
Date: 2025-02-04 | PurchaseWildly thorough look at massive scale system design considerations.
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Like, Comment, Subscribe: How YouTube Conquered the World – by Mark Bergen
Date: 2024-07-06 | PurchaseA Journalist take on the rise of YouTube. Takes a global prospecting exposing some of the uglier sides of the platform's effects. Crazy to see names like John Green and PewDiePie in print.
A Life of Meaning – by James Hollis
Date: 2024-07-02 | Rating: 8/10 | PurchaseOne of Hollis' most recent works. Similar themes return: finding meaning in servicing "what is seeking expression through me?" Some thoughts on embracing our imperfection humanity in the chapter on the Seven Deadly Sins, similar to ideas in The Happiness Hypothesis. Wonderful to listen to the author reading the audiobook!
What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life – by James Hollis
Date: 2024-06-29 | Rating: 10/10 | PurchaseMy favorite of Hollis' works so far. An assortment of essays geared towards wrestling with the question of personal meaning. Book goes beyond the usual list of "Friends, family, love, honor, good work, etc." to look more closely at what our unique calling is. A wonderful follow up to "Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life". The first book asks questions, the second helps move the reader towards finding answers.
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Progressive Sight Reading Exercises: Piano Technique – by Hannah Smith
Date: 2024-04-29 | Rating: 8/10 | PurchaseMy recommended "Start Here" book for sight reading at the keyboard. I came to this book realizing I was hitting a wall with my playing, looking back and forth at the page and then the keyboard. This won't get you all of the way there, this book focuses on five finger patterns. Though, it's a great place to get going reading several short, bite sized lines.
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Super Sight-Reading Secrets – by Howard Richman
Date: 2024-02-25 | Rating: 9/10 | PurchaseA no nonsense book that does exactly what it says on the tin! The best exercises in the book deals with gradually building up a tactile relationship to the keyboard. Progress will seem very slow, but the payoff is so worth it! Having played piano for a number of years, I'm only starting to feel I really know the instrument after working through part of this book. A must have for every pianist!!
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Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up – by James Hollis
Date: 2024-02-13 | Rating: 9/10 | PurchasePicked this up hoping I could get ahead of the curve on my midlife crisis! Essential reading for anyone who's "Reached the end of their scripts for success." Came away with no answers, but better questions. Namely: "What is seeking expression through me?"
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Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art – by Scott McCloud
Date: 2024-01-20 | Rating: 9/10 | PurchaseA primer on art through the lense of how it applies to comics. I learned a great deal about appreciating comics, I learned even more about visual and story-telling mediums as a whole.
Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression – by W. A. Mathieu
Date: 2024-01-04 | Rating: 8/10 | PurchaseA true music theory book that focuses on resonance as the basis for understanding harmony. This is not so much a quick road to learning how to compose as much as it is theory in guided practice to understand where our harmonic language comes from. If you enjoyed Bernstein's introduction to tonal harmony, this is an entire textbook exploring that foundation.
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Free Play – by Stephen Nachmanovitch
Date: 2023-11-15 | Rating: 9/10 | PurchaseWonderful essays on creativity and true improvisation from professional violinist. Highly recommended for any musician, especially those that feel stuck from being classical focused.
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Form & Essence – by Matthew Hinsley
Date: 2023-06-01An antidote to the day-to-day focus on what's quantifiable. A wonderful blending of Stephen Covey and Julia Cameron — fitting for the subject of the book.
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The Fellowship of the Ring – by J.R.R. Tolkien
Date: 2023-06-01Warm characters, a fantastically grand adventure, and a world so fully realized. Rob Ingles reading and singing the audiobook version is the way to experience this.
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Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse "Trapped On Treasure Island" – by Floyd Gottfredson
Date: 2023-06-01Stunning adventure comics! The detail in the sets, the grand nature of the story — these strips culminate in a rich novel! Floyd Gottfredson was a major inspiration for Carl Barks.
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Hayao Miyazaki – by Jessica Niebel
Date: 2023-06-01Beautiful. Absolutely stunning selection of prints, stills, and write ups. An absolute must for any fan of these films. Gorgeous reference.
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Cartoon Animation – by Preston Blair
Date: 2023-06-01A terrific guide into animation, and not a bad intro to drawing, at that. A brief read, more of a road map rather than a step-by-step guide.
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Donald Duck: The Old Castle Secret – by Carl Barks
Date: 2023-06-01Hugely expressive, phenomenal storytelling, and plenty of genuine chuckles!
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Calvin & Hobbes – by Bill Watterson
Date: 2023-06-01For a modern newspaper strip, these were so dynamic! A fantastic representation of what it felt to be a child, fluidly twisting between a colorful imagination and the world as is.
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Cucumber Quest – by Gigi D.G.
Date: 2023-06-01The art is stunningly gorgeous, the color design and beautiful locales keep me from turning the page!
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Are You Listening? – by Tillie Walden
Date: 2023-06-01I adore Walden's colors. Like Calvin and Hobbes, there's a back and forth between traveling in a dream and on the open road in the real world.
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Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration – by IDW Publishing
Date: 2023-06-01I came for the McElroy feature, but stayed for the incredible art. Excellently paneled, posed, and colored.
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Dragon Ball – by Akira Toriyama
Date: 2023-06-01The original series was plain old silly! The best part is getting to take in Toriyama's inventive and detailed vehicle design.
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Fullmetal Alchemist – by Hiromu Arakawa
Date: 2023-06-01Really exciting artwork, Al and Ed look so stylish on every page!
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One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success – by Marci Alboher
Date: 2023-06-01A great collection of interviews and case studies from people whose work isn't easily bound to one job.
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Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles – by Beth Pickens
Date: 2023-06-01Creative people are those who need their practice so they can wholly show up in all other areas of their lives.
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How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big – by Scott Adams
Date: 2023-06-01General life advice mixed with Adams' life story, including his navigation through bouts of focal dystonia. Entertaining and insightful!
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The Gifts of Imperfection – by Brené Brown
Date: 2023-06-01Even after years of Brown's work being in the cultural conversation, this little volume still opens up new insight on authentic living on re-reading.
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The Alchemist – by Paulo Coelho
Date: 2023-06-01A beautiful journey that illustrates how much richer the world is when we pursue our own personal inspirations and callings, grand or simple.
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Painting As a Pastime – by Winston S. Churchill
Date: 2023-05-20 | Rating: 8/10 | PurchaseA love letter to color and light from an enthusiastic amateur.
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A Slip of the Keyboard: Collected Nonfiction – by Terry Pratchett
Date: 2023-01-10 | Rating: 7/10 | PurchaseWonderful collection. Great for true fans of his fiction work. The biography is a deeper dive, though these are great as quick glimpses behind the curtain, presented by the author himself.
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Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography – by Rob Wilkins
Date: 2022-10-23 | Rating: 9/10 | PurchaseBeautifully written biography of a favorite author, written by his assistant. A wonderful window into the man behind Discworld. A must read for any fan!
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The Pragmatic Programmer – by Andy Hunt and Dave Thomas
Date: 2022-06-01Timeless principles for developing software. Such a wide range of topics relating to the job are covered, it feels like a must read for anyone new to the field! How to prototype, how to maintain software, how to manage projects, communicating with non-technical collaborators. It's all here!
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Pragmatic Thinking and Learning – by Andy Hunt
Date: 2022-06-01Could have easily been titled: How to Learn Anything. A very thorough guide on utilizing the whole brain to gain mastery in a new thought-driven domain. Excellent read, plenty of great exercises for really connecting ideas.
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The Passionate Programmer – by Chad Fowler
Date: 2022-06-01Career advice for software engineering from a former full time sax player gone programmer. A great meta-framework for how to continue to learn and grow in the field.
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The Personal MBA – by Josh Kaufman
Date: 2022-06-01Part nuts-and-bolts of business, and part addressing the mindset and personal psychology in taking on such a full bodied endeavor. It's also a great springboard into his reading list of 100 other great books for deeper diving.
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Ask Iwata – by Satoru Iwata
Date: 2022-06-01Not a full blown biography, but pieces of interviews Iwata has given that are strung together to tell his story in broad strokes. A surprisingly insightful read on leadership, creativity, and management. And Iwata's story is simply legendary.
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Show Your Work – by Austin Kleon
Date: 2022-06-01"How would Brian Eno write a Content Marketing book", as the author puts it. He writes about reframing "marketing" as "community building", being part of a scene over screaming into the void.
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The Principle of 18 – by Eyal Danon
Date: 2022-06-01A life changer, honestly. The gist is that there are 5 phases of life spanning 18 years. Dreamer, Explorer, Builder, Mentor, and Giver. Each builds on the previous, and each has different major motivations.
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The Time Paradox – by Philip Zimbardo
Date: 2022-06-01Interesting lens on how the way we perceive time shapes us. Future focused folks are the sort that develop lists, set goals, and achieve them. Present focused people, alternatively, are "in the moment", enjoy richness and are generally more playful.
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Big Magic – by Elizabeth Gilbert
Date: 2022-06-01One of my favorite books on living creatively. The secret is bouncing between serious, regular dedication to what you care about doing, and also not taking it that seriously, making the work playful as you do it.
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Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method – by Mark Davis
Date: 2022-06-01The first Jazz book I've picked up that actually takes you from zero to improvising. Too many other books I've read assume some sort of prior knowledge or experience. A great starting place.
The Jazz Piano Book – by Mark Levine
Date: 2022-06-01A good reference for the intermediate and beyond jazz pianist. Not terribly beginner friendly, see other materials if just starting out.
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Christopher Parkening Guitar Method – by Christopher Parkening
Date: 2022-06-01The classical guitar method. Lovely for finger picking practice.
A Modern Method for guitar – by William Leavitt
Date: 2022-06-01College-level method book used by the Berklee School. Excellent resource for developing the ability to read sheet music and proprioception in each hand.
Hal Leonard Guitar Method – by Will Schmid and Greg Koch
Date: 2022-06-01Nothing beats a good ol' fashioned method book! This one focuses pretty heavily on lead guitar. Lots of spirituals and traditional tunes. Playing these tuneful lines early on helps melodic playing and getting familiar with the notes on the guitar.
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Remixing the Classroom – by Randall Everett Allsup
Date: 2022-06-01An argument for how classroom music favors teacher-lead instruction and skill development in favor of nurturing creativity and really fostering a life long interest in engaging with music.
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Laserwriter II – by Tamara Shopsin
Date: 2022-06-01Quirky characters, old computer hardware, and moments of surrealism.
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The Light Fantastic – by Terry Pratchett
Date: 2022-06-01Still wildly funny, but there's a more serious tone at the start that quickly reshapes even in the next book onward. If these books were illustrations, later books are fully colored in more of a cartoony style, and this one was done a darker, more energetic ink style.
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Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals – by Oliver Burkeman
Date: 2022-06-01 | PurchaseA countermelody to the productivity driven ethos of modern self help. Highly recommended!
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The Listening Book: Discovering Your Own Music – by W. A. Mathieu
Date: 2022-06-01 | PurchaseEveryone should read this! Even non musicians. The book takes the pure meditative quality of listening to and reveling in sound from the start and further combs towards practicing music. Absolutely beautiful. So many wonderful insights on our relation to sound and being a creative musician in the world.
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Gesture Drawing for Animation – by Walt Stanchfield
Date: 2022-06-01 | PurchaseInspiring essays on capturing the essence of the figure from a disney veteran. One of my personal favorites.
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Fun With A Pencil – by Andrew Loomis
Date: 2022-06-01 | PurchaseA classic drawing book in the commercial illustrator style. All of Loomis' materials are great. They are, perhaps, overly measured. The best benefit from these, I would say, is the material on constructing the figure.
Figure Drawing for All It's Worth – by Andrew Loomis
Date: 2022-06-01 | PurchaseMore inspiring reference.
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom – by Jonathan Haidt
Date: 2021-07-19 | Rating: 8/10 | PurchaseAn interesting review of research that supports the author's proposed equation for what truly makes us happy. Makes case that there may be no objective meaning to life, we find meaning in the context within our lives.
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Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World – by Jane McGonigal
Date: 2020-09-15 | Rating: 7/10 | PurchaseFun read on how games improve our lives, and how they can be a model for rethinking our systems and organizations IRL. The case studies date the book, though the principles and takeaways are evergreen.
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The Design of Everyday Things – by Don Norman
Date: 2019-11-15 | PurchaseDesign principles for anyone who makes tools for people. Translates beautifully to software.
Eloquent JavaScript – by Marijn Haverbeke
Date: 2019-06-01 | PurchaseA great introduction to one of the most widely used scripting languages out there! Well written with excellent examples to follow along with.
The Artist's Way – by Julia Cameron
Date: 2019-06-01 | PurchaseAn antidote to creative block. Highly recommend reading this and following the exercises as a 12 week program. The juices will begin to flow!
American Gods – by Neil Gaiman
Date: 2018-11-29 | Rating: 8/10 | Purchase"Meandering" in the author's words, in the best way.
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Anything You Want – by Derek Sivers
Date: 2018-02-19Business advice from an early dot com success story and all-around interesting thinker.
Steal Like An Artist – by Austin Kleon
Date: 2016-06-01 | PurchaseA little burst of inspiration. If you're looking for a permission slip to go after what you care about, here it is!