Books and Podcasts

A few of my favorite books by category:

History:

The Lessons of History - This is the book I've recommended and gifted the most.

Sapiens - “The further you look into the past, the further you can see into the future” Winston Churchill. This book is a journey through known history and the major transitions humans have experienced. History would have been my favorite subject in school if it had been presented by this author.

The History of Money - A fantastic introduction to the history of money, banking, and inflation.

The Rational Optimist - Ideas having sex lead to innovation and competition, which results in increasing human prosperity over time. Become a rational optimist.

Economics:

Economics in One Lesson - A good look at how economic policies we think are good in the short term result in negative consequences in the long term.

The Price of Tomorrow - Jeff is an incredible mind with a keen understanding of technology's impact on the world, how interconnected the global financial system is, the importance of timing in success, and the side effects of inflationary monetary policy.

Bitcoin:

Bank to the Future: Protect your Future before Governments Go Bust - This book has been a near perfect view of the future. It was written over 10 years ago and has been prescient.

The Bitcoin Standard - This book covers the history of money and explains why historically low time preference individuals win against high time preference individuals.

The Internet of Money Volume I - Andreas is a legend. In this book he explains the "why?" of Bitcoin and the implications of decentralized currency on the world.

Investing:

The Most Important Thing - A classic. One of the most important books on investing I've ever read. This should be mandatory education.

Angel: How to Invest in Technology Startups - Gave me a framework for angel investing.

The Richest Man in Babylon - An enjoyable parable on timeless principles of wealth creation.

The Art of Execution - Are you a rabbit? Assassin? Connoisseur? The difference, as in most things, is in execution.

Mental Models:

Mental Models Volume 1 - 3 - This is the book series I buy for my friends and family every holiday season. If I could only read and re-read 5 books for the rest of my life, these 3 books would be on that list.

Philosophy:

The Practicing Stoic - Stoicism is my favorite personal operating system. This book helps you turn knowledge into action.

Consolations of Philosophy - Reading this book is like having conversations with a few of the most insightful minds who have ever lived.

Autobiographies:

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - Sage advice from one of the greatest renaissance men of recent history.

Communication:

Never Split the Difference - Learning how to negotiate properly is one of those things that only changes everything.

Crucial Conversations - A book everyone should read due its limitless application. Few books share tools and sample conversations which improve the quality of your life by improving your ability to hear and be heard. This is one of them.

Thinking and Mindset:

Principles: Life and Work - The goal of life: pursue what you are interested in and do good work, with good people.

The Scout Mindset - Do you care more about defending your current worldview, or finding the truth?

The Magic of Thinking Big - This book teaches practical strategies and techniques for thinking *and acting* big.

Atomic Habits - Actionable strategies to achieve compound growth by making small changes on a consistent basis.

Thinkertoys - Creative exercises that help you approach problems differently.

Practicing Mindfulness: An introduction to meditation - Meditation is like doing push-ups for the mind. The greatest people I know all have a meditation practice.

Ultralearning - This book if full of actionable ideas and frameworks for autodidacts to increase information uptake.

First things First - A review of the Eisenhower Matrix and how and why to eliminate Zone 4 activities, understand self, and pursue a life of meaning.

The Big Leap - A short read on understanding what limiting beliefs are and the steps you can take to remove them from your reality.

Psychology:

Man’s Search for Meaning - This book changed my life.

Thinking Fast and Slow - One of my favorite books on decision making and the cognitive biases.

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds - Do you do what everyone else around you does, or do you stop and ask why? Times change, technology changes, but human behavior does not.

The Body Keeps the Score - A fascinating read on what trauma is, how it impacts the mind/body, and crucially how to resolve it.

Brain Rules - If you know how something works, you know how to take better care of it. This plain English book on neuroscience helps you understand the relationship between cognitive function and: sleep, exercise, diet, and stress.

The Laws of Human Nature - A book that helps you understand the unconscious behaviors and desires of yourself and everyone around you.

Futurism:

The Sovereign Individual - The book I would read first if I had this list.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century - The largest challenges of today are great inputs for developing the most important solutions of tomorrow.

Programming:

Discovering Statistics Using R - Accessible and hilarious. And yes, I'm referring to Discovering Statistics Using R.

Business:

Traction - A practical operating system for entreprenuers.

Zero to One - Essential reading for those building the future. Don't copy. Create.

Fun:

The Count of Monte Cristo - My favorite piece of fiction.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Note to self: make sure you really live before you die.

Stranger in a Strange Land - Humanity's folly from the perspective of a Martian. Excellent sci-fi.

Podcasts and Recorded Lectures:

Peter Kaufman on Multidisciplinary thinking:

Tweet threads:

Blake Burge @blakeaburge

20 of the smartest things that have ever been said: 🧵
— Blake Burge 💡 (@blakeaburge) January 29, 2022

Shane Parish @ShaneAParrish

One of the most beneficial skills you can learn in life is how to consistently put yourself in a good position.
— Shane Parrish (@ShaneAParrish) February 19, 2022

Alex & Books @AlexAndBooks_

What’s the best TED Talk you’ve ever seen?
— Alex & Books 📚 (@AlexAndBooks_) April 7, 2022