Giuseppe Ciaburro is the author of Hands-On Simulation Modeling with Python, we got the chance to sit down with him and find out more about his experience of writing with Packt.
Q: What is/are your specialist tech area(s)?
Giuseppe: Machine Learning applications in real life problems.
Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey. What was your motivation for writing this book?
Giuseppe: I had already written popular books on the bases of some programming languages such as Python and R. Given the extreme usefulness of Machine Learning-based algorithms, I felt the need to write books explaining how to apply these algorithms to real problems.
Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?
Giuseppe: My research is focused on the application of Machine Learning based algorithms in the field of acoustics and noise control. I also applied Machine Learning based algorithms in the field of design and optimization of new materials. My research activity has been going on for about 15 years.
Q: Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?
Giuseppe: Writing a book is always a challenge. Trying to explain topics that are often difficult to understand in the simplest way possible – is not easy. Especially, when it is necessary to tackle problems that require basic mathematical knowledge. In these cases, I have tried to put myself in the reader’s side and have asked myself questions on these topics.
Q: What’s your take on the technologies discussed in the book? Where do you see these technologies heading in the future?
Giuseppe: The topics covered in the book are obviously topical. Developing simulation models of complex systems is the challenge of every researcher but not only. In all work sectors there is a need to develop simulation models, for example in finance, medicine, and the industrial sector. In the future, technologies based on artificial intelligence will be widely used in all disciplines and not just by large companies.
Q. Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?
Giuseppe: My book takes a practical approach to the problem. Real life cases are handled in a simple and immediate way. The mathematical concepts underlying the technology are dealt with in a simple way without unnecessary investigations that do not concern the purposes of the book. The reader simply has to learn how to use these algorithms to solve practical cases.
Q. What are the key takeaways you want readers to come away from the book with?
Giuseppe: The readers will learn how to use Python to develop simulation model and understand how to use the several Python packages. Then explore various numerical simulation algorithms and concepts, such as Markov Decision Process, Monte Carlo methods, and bootstrapping techniques.
Q. What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?
Giuseppe: To practice a lot, starting with simple exercises and then moving on to more complex problems. Several data repositories are available on the web that allow us to have data available to practice. Readers can use these sources to apply the topics covered in the book.
Q. Do you have a blog that readers can follow?
Giuseppe: Readers can follow my website: www.ciaburro.it
Q. Can you share any blogs, websites and forums to help readers gain a holistic view of the tech they are learning?
Giuseppe: I think Packt hub(https://hub.packtpub.com/) is a great hub for discussions on those technologies.
Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?
Giuseppe: My experience with the Packt has been amazing. I wrote 10 books with this publisher having the maximum collaboration in each project. I have always worked with competent and motivated people who have done everything to make my job easier. I would definitely recommend a young author to write a book with the Packt.
Q. Do you belong to any tech community groups?
Giuseppe: I have a profile on linkedin (linkedin.com/in/giuseppe-ciaburro-phd-a48795b9) and on ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giuseppe_Ciaburro).
Q. What are your favorite tech journals? How do you keep yourself up to date on tech?
Giuseppe: MIT technology review is a good place to find out.
Q. How did you organize, plan, and prioritize your work and write the book?
Giuseppe: The organization was simplified by the help of the Packt technicians through outline and scheduling. For my part, I had to reconcile the time to devote to writing the book with that to devote to my university activity and above all with my family. The fact that my family does not complain and that they are still with me shows that I have succeeded.
Q. What is that one writing tip that you found most crucial and would like to share with aspiring authors?
Giuseppe: Writing a book is not an easy thing. In order for our writing to succeed in reaching as many people as possible, it is necessary to take a great bath of humility and generosity. We must take the reader’s side and ask ourselves several times if what we are writing is understandable to everyone. Only in this way is it possible to achieve the goal of scientific dissemination.
You can find Giuseppe’s book on Amazon by following the link below cover image:
