Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Short notes on thermodynamics and physical chemistry is my first book. These notes helped me prepare for my PhD defense in Chemistry, so I thought they would also be useful for other students out there that might be preparing for an exam.
I currently work in the intersection between materials science and engineering, and on my free time I also enjoy hiking, traveling, exercising, investing and reading Quora.
If you want to know more about me, you can follow my LinkedIn or Quora pages.
www.linkedin.com/in/tiagolpgalvao/
www.quora.com/profile/Tiago-Galvão
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest, but also first book is Short notes on thermodynamics and physical chemistry. During the last year I had this unsettling feeling of creating something by myself that could also be useful to others.
I actually do science for a living. There is this idea of the dreamer scientist, spending his hours stretching the boundaries of its field to create new knowledge or amazing products that help the world. However, there is also the reality of the high pressure of publishing many and high impact articles (pick one, if possible), patenting your technology (rarely, if ever, and for what?), and collaborating in exciting projects (to renovate the whole slave/golden slave/professor cycle currently existing in many universities). Because of this, on my free time I started to create this book from previous notes that I had, in order to help other and feel that this knowledge can help others.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In a way I write for a living. Most of my time doing science is spent writing emails, articles and projects. The proportion would be something like 80 % writing and 20 % doing research.
In order to do this, I just write. I sit and write. Even if it’s bad writing with bad ideas and bad content (and most often, it is), I just write. I don’t wait for inspiration. If it’s badly writing, I just fix it as I go along. When it turns to writing, for me, I’m like cashier on the computer.
But although I’m a scientist, ten years ago I wrote obituaries for a national magazine.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was most influenced from a particular form of humor. Specially, The Devil’s Dictionary (http://www.thedevilsdictionary.com/) from Ambrose Bierce, several satires and novels from Evelyn Waugh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Waugh). Moreover, I also enjoyed a lot two Brazilian authors, Pif-Paf from Millôr Fernandes and several chronicles from Nelson Rodrigues.
In the last few years, I’ve really absorbed the margin of safety concept into my life which I took from investing books, which I enjoyed a lot reading: The Intelligent Investor and Security Analysis from Benjamin Graham.
What are you working on now?
In my research, I’m learning machine learning through the book Data Smart (https://www.amazon.com/Data-Smart-Science-Transform-Information/dp/111866146X). For my next personal writing project, I hope there is one next, but if not, I will just continue to sparingly write on Quora.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Quora and LinkedIn, because I fell more comfortable with these networks and communities, so that’s what I use.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
When doing anything, it’s better be consistent, than spectacular once.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I learned from Jerry Seinfeld. He said that he treated his comedy writing job as a 9-5 job. When I was growing up, I used to write at late night hours. But now, I do it like Jerry, it’s a 9-5 job, like any other.
What are you reading now?
I’m finishing Poor Charlie’s Almanack, from Charlie Munger, the longtime partner of Warren Buffet at Berkshire.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t know. I will just continue to write.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Devil’s Dictionary from Ambrose Bierce, anything from Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, and Modern Times from Paul Johnson.
Author Websites and Profiles
TIAGO Galvão Website
TIAGO Galvão Amazon Profile
TIAGO Galvão’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile