Books Recommended by Investors

A sweeping narrative history of Homo sapiens from the Cognitive Revolution to the present. Harari argues that what makes humans dominate the planet is not physical strength but collective myths: shared fictions like money, religion, and nations that allow millions of strangers to cooperate. The book moves fast through 70,000 years, making big, debatable claims about agriculture, empire, capitalism, and happiness. It is less a history textbook than a provocative essay in chronological form, and best read as an argument rather than a reference.

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, NonFiction, Holocaust lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

A contrarian manifesto on building startups that create new categories rather than competing in existing ones. Thiel draws from PayPal and his investments in Facebook to argue that the best businesses are monopolies that avoid competition entirely. The book revolves around one question—What important truth do you believe that very few people agree with?—and uses it to interrogate everything from sales culture to the energy crisis. It reads like a sharp dinner argument with someone often right in a way that is uncomfortable to admit.

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, Finance, Clear, Thinking, Behavioral lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Business, Leadership, Finance, NonFiction, Entrepreneur lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for business judgment, leadership, or practical strategy. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Business, Ceo, NonFiction, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for business judgment, leadership, or practical strategy. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

A practical system for behavior change built on the idea that tiny, incremental improvements compound into remarkable results. Clear avoids motivation-based advice and instead focuses on environment design, habit stacking, and identity-based change—making good habits frictionless while making bad ones inconvenient. The book is structured in short, actionable chapters, each ending with a cheat sheet, so you can skip around based on what you are trying to fix. It cares less about the psychology of why you procrastinate and more about the engineering of making procrastination harder.

On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.

A Roman emperor's private journal in which Marcus Aurelius wrestles with anger, mortality, duty, and the difficulty of staying calm while running an empire. The book is a collection of fragmentary reflections organized into twelve short books, each a conversation with himself about not being derailed by other people's frustrations or the fear of death. It reads like a Stoic devotional—repetitive by design, since Marcus was reminding himself of the same truths daily. There is no plot, no system. There is a man trying not to lose himself to the weight of the job.

The “brilliantly realized” (The New York Times Book Review) breakthrough novel from visionary author Neal Stephenson, a modern classic that predicted the metaverse and inspired generations of Silicon Valley innovators Hiro lives in a Los Angeles where franchises line the freeway as far as the eye can see. The only relief from the sea of logos is within the autonomous city-states, where law-abiding citizens don’t dare leave their mansions. Hiro delivers pizza to the mansions for a living, defending his pies from marauders when necessary with a matched set of samurai swords. His home is a shared 20 X 30 U-Stor-It. He spends most of his time goggled in to the Metaverse, where his avatar is legendary. But in the club known as The Black Sun, his fellow hackers are being felled by a weird new drug called Snow Crash that reduces them to nothing more than a jittering cloud of bad digital karma (and IRL, a vegetative state). Investigating the Infocalypse leads Hiro all the way back to the beginning of language itself, with roots in an ancient Sumerian priesthood. He’ll be joined by Y.T., a fearless teenaged skateboard courier. Together, they must race to stop a shadowy virtual villain hell-bent on world domination.

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Business, Social Sciences, NonFiction, Habit lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Pollan keeps you turning the pages . . . cleareyed and assured.” —New York Times A #1 New York Times Bestseller, New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of 2018, and New York Times Notable Book A brilliant and brave investigation into the medical and scientific revolution taking place around psychedelic drugs--and the spellbinding story of his own life-changing psychedelic experiences When Michael Pollan set out to research how LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not intend to write what is undoubtedly his most personal book. But upon discovering how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third. Thus began a singular adventure into various altered states of consciousness, along with a dive deep into both the latest brain science and the thriving underground community of psychedelic therapists. Pollan sifts the historical record to separate the truth about these mysterious drugs from the myths that have surrounded them since the 1960s, when a handful of psychedelic evangelists inadvertently catalyzed a powerful backlash against what was then a promising field of research. A unique and elegant blend of science, memoir, travel writing, history, and medicine, How to Change Your Mind is a triumph of participatory journalism. By turns dazzling and edifying, it is the gripping account of a journey to an exciting and unexpected new frontier in our understanding of the mind, the self, and our place in the world. The true subject of Pollan's "mental travelogue" is not just psychedelic drugs but also the eternal puzzle of human consciousness and how, in a world that offers us both suffering and joy, we can do our best to be fully present and find meaning in our lives.

“Available recommendation signals suggest this title has discovery traction, but there is not enough safe category context to make a stronger reader-fit claim.”

La historia de Buda novelada por Herman Hesse.Esta novela, ambientada en la India tradicional, relata la vida de Siddhartha, un hombre para quien el camino de la verdad pasa por la renuncia y la comprensión de la unidad que subyace en todo lo existente. En sus páginas, el autor ofrece todas las opciones espirituales del hombre.Hermann Hesse buceó en el alma de Oriente a fin de aportar sus aspectos positivos a nuestra sociedad. Siddhartha es la obra más representativa de este proceso y ha ejercido una gran influencia en la cultura occidental del siglo XX.

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, Health, Biohacking, NonFiction, Science lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around NonFiction, Physics, Science lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for big-picture nonfiction and accessible learning. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This instant classic explores how we can change our lives by changing our habits. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Wall Street Journal • Financial Times In The Power of Habit, award-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives. With a new Afterword by the author “Sharp, provocative, and useful.”—Jim Collins “Few [books] become essential manuals for business and living. The Power of Habit is an exception. Charles Duhigg not only explains how habits are formed but how to kick bad ones and hang on to the good.”—Financial Times “A flat-out great read.”—David Allen, bestselling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity “You’ll never look at yourself, your organization, or your world quite the same way.”—Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of Drive and A Whole New Mind “Entertaining . . . enjoyable . . . fascinating . . . a serious look at the science of habit formation and change.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, Spirituality, NonFiction, Fiction, Philosophy lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Business, ManagementLeadership, NonFiction, Entrepreneur lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for business judgment, leadership, or practical strategy. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

The foundational and wildly popular go-to resource for influence and persuasion—a renowned international bestseller, with over 5 million copies sold—now revised adding: new research, new insights, new examples, and online applications. In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini—New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion—explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. Using memorable stories and relatable examples, Cialdini makes this crucially important subject surprisingly easy. With Cialdini as a guide, you don’t have to be a scientist to learn how to use this science. You’ll learn Cialdini’s Universal Principles of Influence, including new research and new uses so you can become an even more skilled persuader—and just as importantly, you’ll learn how to defend yourself against unethical influence attempts. You may think you know these principles, but without understanding their intricacies, you may be ceding their power to someone else. Cialdini’s Principles of Persuasion: Reciprocation Commitment and Consistency Social Proof Liking Authority Scarcity Unity, the newest principle for this edition Understanding and applying the principles ethically is cost-free and deceptively easy. Backed by Dr. Cialdini’s 35 years of evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific research—including a three-year field study on what leads people to change—Influence is a comprehensive guide to using these principles to move others in your direction.

“Available recommendation signals suggest this title has discovery traction, but there is not enough safe category context to make a stronger reader-fit claim.”

Step into the future with Yuval Noah Harari’s groundbreaking book, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Discover how humanity’s next chapter may be defined by the pursuit of immortality, artificial intelligence, and ultimate happiness, as we attempt to transcend our biological limitations. Harari challenges everything we know about the future of humankind, revealing the possibility that we might soon become gods ourselves. As technology advances, what role will we play in shaping a world where biological survival is no longer the priority?But here’s the pressing question: What happens when we no longer fear death and have the power to create our own future? Will our mastery over life and mind lead us to salvation, or are we setting ourselves up for disaster? In this compelling exploration, Harari confronts humanity’s most profound dilemmas, such as the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and bio-enhancements. This book will make you rethink not only the future but also your place in it. Are you ready to understand the future of humankind? In Homo Deus, Harari offers a thought-provoking analysis that will leave you questioning everything you know.Don’t miss your chance to explore tomorrow’s possibilities. Purchase Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow today and unlock the secrets of our future!

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Comedy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Humor, Fantasy lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for imaginative storytelling, atmosphere, or character-driven reflection. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, Finance, NonFiction, Philosophy, Business lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around About, China, Fiction, First, Contact lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for imaginative storytelling, atmosphere, or character-driven reflection. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

Matt Ridley, acclaimed author of the classics Genome and Nature via Nurture, turns from investigating human nature to investigating human progress. In The Rational Optimist Ridley offers a counterblast to the prevailing pessimism of our age, and proves, however much we like to think to the contrary, that things are getting better.

Jocko Willink covered this book in "Jocko Podcast" Ep. 50

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, Finance, NonFiction, Philosophy, Business lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Leadership, NonFiction, Entrepreneurship, Business lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for business judgment, leadership, or practical strategy. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, Spirituality, NonFiction, Philosophy, Personal Development lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals suggest this title has discovery traction, but there is not enough safe category context to make a stronger reader-fit claim.”

THE GAME-CHANGING BOOK FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BEING MORTAL Today we find ourselves in possession of stupendous know-how, which we willingly place in the hands of the most highly skilled people. But avoidable failures are common, and the reason is simple: the volume and complexity of our knowledge has exceeded our ability to consistently deliver it - correctly, safely or efficiently. In this groundbreaking book, Atul Gawande makes a compelling argument for the checklist, which he believes to be the most promising method available in surmounting failure. Whether you're following a recipe, investing millions of dollars in a company or building a skyscraper, the checklist is an essential tool in virtually every area of our lives, and Gawande explains how breaking down complex, high pressure tasks into small steps can radically improve everything from airline safety to heart surgery survival rates. Fascinating and enlightening, The Checklist Manifesto shows how the simplest of ideas could transform how we operate in almost any field.

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, NonFiction, Philosophy, Business, Personal Development lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Leadership, Management, NonFiction, Business, Sports lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for business judgment, leadership, or practical strategy. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, NonFiction, Philosophy, Physics, Science lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Leadership, NonFiction, Business, Science lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for business judgment, leadership, or practical strategy. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

OVER TEN MILLION COPIES SOLD #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER What are the most valuable things that everyone should know? Acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan B Peterson has influenced the modern understanding of personality, and now he has become one of the world's most popular public thinkers, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarizing politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility and ancient wisdom has resonated around the world. In this book, he provides twelve profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life, from setting your house in order before criticising others to comparing yourself to who you were yesterday, not someone else today. Happiness is a pointless goal, he shows us. Instead we must search for meaning, not for its own sake, but as a defence against the suffering that is intrinsic to our existence. Drawing on vivid examples from the author's clinical practice and personal life, cutting-edge psychology and philosophy, and lessons from humanity's oldest myths and stories, 12 Rules for Life offers a deeply rewarding antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to our modern problems.

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, NonFiction, Entrepreneur, Business, Personal Development lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

[Red Notice] does for investing in Russia and the former Soviet Union what Liars Poker did for our understanding of Salomon Brothers, Wall Street, and the mortgagebacked securities business in the 1980s. Browders business saga meshes well with the story of corruption and murder in Vladimir Putins Russia, making Red Notice an early candidate for an...

A scientist and mathematician explores the mystery and complexity of human thought processes from an interdisciplinary point of view

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Sociology, Social Sciences, NonFiction, Philosophy, History lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for decision-making, behavior, or human motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

What would it be like to free yourself from limitations and soar beyond your boundaries What can you do each day to discover inner peace and serenity The Untethered Soul?now a #1 New York Times bestseller?offers simple yet profound answers to these questions.Whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you?ve devoted your life to the...

What happens when media and politics become forms of entertainment? As our world begins to look more and more like Orwell's 1984, Neil's Postman's essential guide to the modern media is more relevant than ever. "It's unlikely that Trump has ever read Amusing Ourselves to Death, but his ascent would not have surprised Postman.” -CNN Originally published in 1985, Neil Postman’s groundbreaking polemic about the corrosive effects of television on our politics and public discourse has been hailed as a twenty-first-century book published in the twentieth century. Now, with television joined by more sophisticated electronic media—from the Internet to cell phones to DVDs—it has taken on even greater significance. Amusing Ourselves to Death is a prophetic look at what happens when politics, journalism, education, and even religion become subject to the demands of entertainment. It is also a blueprint for regaining control of our media, so that they can serve our highest goals. “A brilliant, powerful, and important book. This is an indictment that Postman has laid down and, so far as I can see, an irrefutable one.” –Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World

“Available recommendation signals cluster around Social Sciences, ificial, Intelligence, NonFiction, Artificial lists, suggesting this book may fit readers looking for creative discipline, craft, or artistic motivation. Treat this as discovery context, not a quality guarantee.”

“Available recommendation signals suggest this title has discovery traction, but there is not enough safe category context to make a stronger reader-fit claim.”

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, generally referred to by its shortened title The Wealth of Nations, is the magnum opus of the Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith. First published in 1776, the book offers one of the world's first collected descriptions of what builds nations' wealth, and is today a fun...

Winner of the Pulitzer prize in 1974 and the culmination of a life's work, The Denial of Death is Ernest Becker's brilliant and impassioned answer to the "why" of human existence. In bold contrast to the predominant Freudian school of thought, Becker tackles the problem of the vital lie man's refusal to acknowledge his own mortality. In doing so...

Now in paperback, the #1 New York Times bestselling biography of how Steve Jobs became the most visionary CEO in history. With a new foreword by Marc Andreessen and new afterword by the authors, Becoming Steve Jobs is a narrative on Jobs' evolution as a manager and leader, as an astute CEO, as a father, and as a visionary with an unparalled sense o...