Featured Interview With Author Chadd SJ Ciccarelli
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m from Pittsburgh—a city that doesn’t give you much but teaches you how to hustle with what you’ve got. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon, where I studied philosophy and learned early how systems and people really operate. Then I made my way to Los Angeles.
That eventually led me to tech. I spent 12 years at Amazon, building global programs, launching new initiatives, and leading over a thousand interviews as a Bar Raiser. It wasn’t easy—but it sharpened everything. I learned how to execute, how to scale, and most importantly, how to get results under pressure.
Now, I’m based in Sydney which is home now.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always been surrounded by creative people—playing in bands, writing lyrics, living in that space where expression and intensity collide. So in a way, I was into words before I even realized it. Lyrics came first—raw, emotional, direct. That was the gateway.
But it was in high school when things really shifted. That’s when I got into writers like Camus and Dostoevsky—the kind of books that didn’t hand you answers, just forced you to wrestle with the questions. From there, I fell hard into philosophy. Not just the big questions, but the structure behind them—critical thinking, logic, and eventually, the history and philosophy of science.
When I got to Carnegie Mellon, I dove deep into thinkers like Thomas Kuhn and The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Books like that—along with The Art of War—showed me that great writing isn’t just about storytelling. It’s strategy. It’s systems thinking. And it’s applicable to everything—from leadership to startups to how we navigate change in tech.
That’s when I realized writing isn’t just expression. It’s a weapon—when used right.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Some of my favorite authors are the ones who cut deep and don’t waste words—people like Camus, Dostoevsky, Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson. I’ve always been drawn to writers who tell the truth with a little edge, who don’t polish reality but lay it bare. Philosophers like Thomas Kuhn and Clark Glymour also had a huge influence on how I think and write—deep logic, big ideas, applied to real-world systems.
As for genres, I move between two poles—great storytelling and raw, inspiring biographies. If it’s a story that pulls me in or a life that leaves me thinking, I’m in. I want to read things that challenge the way I see the world or make me want to push harder. Doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or nonfiction—if it’s got clarity, intensity, and something to say, it stays with me.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, It’s All Trash ‘til It’s Cash: Applying Amazon’s Blueprint for Builders, is a no-nonsense guide for anyone trying to turn ideas into results. It pulls back the curtain on how things really get done at Amazon—using frameworks like Working Backwards, the Bar Raiser hiring process, and leadership principles that drive execution at scale. Whether you’re building a startup, scaling a team, or just trying to cut through the noise, this book is built to be a tactical field manual—not theory, not fluff. Just what works.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
To discover a new awesome author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!
If you are an author and you want to find new readers come submit your book to our Awesome Book Promotion service.