Alvitta Ottley didn't plan to become a computer scientist. She certainly didn't plan to become a professor. And she never planned to write books about uncertainty. Yet, uncertainty is the thread that ties them all together.

Through reflective nonfiction, she explores the moments that rarely make it into résumés or success stories: changing direction without a plan, feeling out of place, making difficult decisions, and discovering that the life you imagined may not be the life you ultimately build. Rather than offering formulas or easy answers, her books invite readers to think more deeply about the assumptions, advice, and stories that shape our choices.

By day, Alvitta is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Washingt ...more

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Alvitta Ottley’s books

Average rating: 4.75 · 12 ratings · 2 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Local Optimization: Lessons From An Unplanned Path 4.75 avg rating — 8 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Letters to a Young Researcher: A One-Hour Companion Through Doubt, Rejection, and Belonging 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Adaptive and Personalized Visualization 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Letters to a Young Resaercher 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Local Optimization 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Alvitta Ottley rated a book it was amazing Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Alvitta Ottley rated a book it was amazing Local Optimization: Lessons From An Unplanned Path by Alvitta Ottley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Alvitta Ottley rated a book it was amazing Letters to a Young Researcher: A One-Hour Companion Through Doubt, Rejection, and Belonging by Alvitta Ottley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Alvitta Ottley rated a book it was amazing Letters to a Young Researcher: A One-Hour Companion Through Doubt, Rejection, and Belonging by Alvitta Ottley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Alvitta Ottley liked Amy's review of Local Optimization: A One-Hour Memoir About Succeeding Without Planning: "Fast and quick read. Love how straightforward the writing is."
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Alvitta Ottley liked Michael Hall's review of Local Optimization: Lessons From An Unplanned Path: "Local Optimization is a short and thoughtful reflection on Alvitta Ottley’s path into academia. She presents the book as a personal reflection on the many decision points in her life, describing her approach as “local optimization.” Rather than begin" Read more of this review »
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