No, I didn’t finish all four, but I read a few chapters from each as suggested by @phil in the SV Canon book club on Farcaster.
I overpromised myself that I’d finish the entire books within the week, which, unsurprisingly, I couldn’t. I ended up spending too much time on the first book, The Making of the Atomic Bomb, and I still don’t regret it. I loved reading about the Manhattan Project and the stories of the people involved in it. It solidified my belief that every major project is the result of the efforts of many people, even though the world often credits just one or two individuals.
The Innovators offered a different perspective. It showed how certain individuals can shine when the moment calls for it. The example of Ada Lovelace in the first chapter really stood out. Ada envisioned so many use cases for the Analytical Engine that even Charles Babbage hadn’t thought of. I also loved Alan Kay's story and his idea that "simple things should be simple, and complex things should be possible." I only managed to read three chapters, but I plan to finish the entire book once this course is over.
Next was Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman. This memoir by Richard Feynman, written in a very casual and humorous tone, was an easy read. I can’t say I loved it, but some of the stories about his showmanship and hunger for knowledge did resonate with me, reminding me of my own guilty pleasures.
Finally, I went into Slouching Towards Bethlehem without knowing much about it. This collection of essays, mostly centered around 1960s California and its counter-culture movement, was a surprise.
One recurring theme that kept coming to mind while reading these books was the idea of Great Man vs. Collective Effort (or Great Team).
