ias.eduArticleTechnology & Ethics
The Institute for Advanced Study's free biographical page on John von Neumann, who joined its School of Mathematics at 30 — covering his work on quantum theory, game theory, the stored-program computer architecture nearly every machine still uses, and his wartime work.
Why I recommend it: Good background for anyone meeting "von Neumann architecture" for the first time. It is written by the institution that employed him, so it reads as tribute — his role in nuclear weapons work and his later strategic writing get far less space than the mathematics.
#computing-history#mathematics#game-theory
ias.eduAdded Sep 23, 20260 opens 
Academy of AchievementOrganizationCareer & Professional Optimization
Free archive of long interviews with scientists, writers, athletes, business founders and public figures about how their careers actually unfolded.
From the site: The Academy of Achievement brings young leaders face-to-face with the extraordinary visionaries and pioneers who have helped shape our world.
Why I recommend it: Read these when you need evidence that careers are not straight lines. The interviews are long and unedited enough to be useful rather than inspirational filler.
#career-stories#interviews#mentorship
Academy of AchievementAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens 
wikitia.comWebsiteTechnology & Ethics
Open wiki of biographies and company profiles, edited by contributors.
Why I recommend it: Many entries here are written by or for their subject, so read them as self-description. Check claims elsewhere before repeating them.
#reference#encyclopedia#biography
wikitia.comAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens 
notablepeopleproject.orgWebsiteTechnology & Ethics
Open project documenting notable people and the data behind who gets recorded as notable.
Why I recommend it: Interesting for what it reveals about whose lives get written down. Coverage is patchy, so treat gaps as gaps in the record rather than in reality.
#reference#data#biography
notablepeopleproject.orgAdded Sep 17, 20260 opens 