Bookworm Friday: Five Book Recommendations from Patryk Nobis

In this series, we ask our William Hill colleagues to share their favourite book recommendations and tell us what specifically they learned from them. Today we present five recommendations from Patryk Nobis.

On a daily basis, Patryk works for the Data Department as Delivery Lead. He says: My mission at WH is to make our work even better. Outside of work, I travel, teach my dog (Han Solo) new tricks, cook and bake for my wife. And of course - read.

1. Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

"We are the most advanced and most destructive animals ever to have lived. What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?" Why are we who we are? Why do we work in a corporation? Why do we believe? The book answers many of these questions and makes you look at the world around you completely differently. Must read.

2. Eric Ries, The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses 

"Most new businesses fail. But most of those failures are preventable." The book is considered a bible among the startup community. For me, this is an excellent analysis of where large corporations make mistakes and how they can get out of them. Immersive reading about what companies should look like and what the corporate future may look like.

3. Jake Knapp, Sprint: How To Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days 

For me, this book will forever remain number one on how to approach problem-solving. Detailed descriptions, a lot of examples and most importantly, something that will stay with you for a long time and something you can use not only in the work environment. The book also makes you start looking for other methods, techniques useful in solving problems and testing new solutions and ideas.

4. Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential 

Ah Anthony, why did you do this to us? A brilliant cook, traveller, Anthony Bourdain needs no introduction. As a huge fan of travelling and cooking, Anthony will forever be my mentor. The book is only the beginning of a series of his programs and publications. Viewing the world through his eyes makes us discover things that have been unknown to us so far.

5. Patrick Rothfuss, The Kingkiller Chronicle Book Series 

Maybe I will break the rules here, but I would like to recommend the whole series, or actually only two books (because the third - closing the story, just like George R. R. Martin - has been writing for several years) As a fantasy fan, the first time I read these books, I felt like a teenager again, discovering a world full of adventures and fantastic world. The only drawback to this book is that the last volume is still unpublished. I hope the third part will not change the perception of the whole. But if you're a fantasy fan, it's a must.