Writing Desk
Archive picks while new writing is in progress.
- The Best Books I've Read in 2019April 26, 2020
- My 3 Words for 2020April 26, 2020
- The Writing ToolkitMay 22, 2019
- 2018 Annual ReviewMay 1, 2019
Culture. Books. Systems.
Read everything. Build what matters. Share what works.
I'm Juvoni Beckford, a senior software engineer in New York. I've read 450+ books, shipped code at Google, and helped build a 100-person Burning Man camp from scratch. This site is my working notebook on books, software, and community systems you can apply this week.
What I'm Working On
A live snapshot of what I'm writing, reading, and turning into longer guides.
Last updated April 26, 2020
3 Words
2026 focus words.
TransmuteHarvestHonor
Reading Queue
Books currently in rotation.
Topic Map
Themes I'm developing into longer guides.
ProductivityPersonal FinancePersonal DevelopmentWorkflows
Recent Books
Start with what I'm reading right now.
Tool Stack for March 2026
Tools behind my weekly writing, building, and reading workflow.
- 01
Claude Code
Anthropic's terminal-based agentic coding tool that reads, edits, and runs code autonomously
macOSWebdocs.anthropic.com - 02
Peak Strength
Athlete oriented training app that has well programed workouts across sport & strength goals
iOSpeakstrength.app - 03
Warp
Modern GPU-accelerated terminal with AI command suggestions, blocks, and collaborative features
macOSwarp.dev - 04
Obsidian
CLI tool for interacting with Obsidian vaults from the terminal, enabling markdown file management and knowledge base operations
CLIgithub.com - 05
Open Claw
Open-source agentic CLI tool for autonomous coding workflows and automation
CLIopenclaw.ai - 06
Lazy Git
Terminal UI for Git that makes staging, committing, branching, and rebasing fast and visual
CLIgithub.com
Core Pillars
The ideas I keep coming back to.
These four themes shape how I build software, choose books, and lead community.
Pillar 01
Servant Leadership
I lead from the front and care more about people than status. I realized I was a leader when others kept trusting me with responsibility. Helping people become their best selves is also how I become mine.
Pillar 02
Systems Thinking
I see patterns across people, institutions, and technology. I turn those patterns into clearer systems and better decisions. Building systems feels like a game to me, and I love compounding improvements over time.
Pillar 03
Generalized Specialist
I studied design, switched to business, and taught myself to code. Along the way, I've organized communities, run events, and advised startups. I do my best work at the intersection of disciplines.
Pillar 04
Continuous Learner
Curiosity keeps me moving. I run experiments, study what works, and apply the lesson to the next attempt. I want to keep learning about myself, other people, and the world for life.
Who I Learn From
Writers, thinkers, and builders whose ideas keep shaping my work.
Eckhart Tolle
Primary lens this month
“Helped me return to a more intuitive, embodied form of mindfulness.”Explore source
02
Naval Ravikant
Sharpened my thinking on wealth, happiness, and personal agency.
03
Charlie Munger
Shaped my multidisciplinary thinking and my use of mental models for better judgment.
Mini About
Discipline, curiosity, and the long game.
I grew up in the Bronx, raised by a single mother who taught me to value resourcefulness over resources. In high school I ran an underground candy business to pay tuition. In college I studied design and business, then taught myself to code. Each leap taught the same lesson: learn fast, build with what you have, iterate.
Today I build software, help lead a 2,000+ person personal development community in NYC, and read about 80 books a year. The about page covers the full story, including the turning points I almost missed.
