Love this list — I’d add a few that explore the human, philosophical, and imaginative sides of technological progress:
• Consider Phlebas — Iain M. Banks
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — Douglas Adams
• Stealing Fire — Jamie Wheal
• The Second Machine Age — Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee
• The Beginning of Infinity — David Deutsch
• The Mughal Empire — John F. Richards
• Life 3.0 — Max Tegmark
Together they trace the arc from cosmic imagination to cognitive expansion to economic transformation — and remind us that from the Mughal courts to the age of AI, progress flourishes when art, science, and human ambition move in unison.
i’d add “they’re eyes were watching God” Zora Neal Hurston - different worldview and seeing the world through a different lens. not at all a business book but if you are all business you have to also nurture your soul.
Golden references of underrated, yet powerful books. Thanks for the share. I would love to add the below-mentioned great reads from my library. If you haven't read any of the below, pls give it a check. 1) Road less travelled, M Scott Peck 2) mindset, Carol Dweck 3) Mans search for Meaning, Victor Frankl 4) The Art of thinking clearly, Rolf Dolbeli 5) How to win Friends and influence people, Dale Carnegie 6) The War of Art, Steven Pressfield 7) The Song of Significance, Seth Godin 8) The One thing, Gary Keller 9) As a Man thinketh, James Allen 10) Breath, James Nestor 11) Trillion Dollar Coach, Eric Schmidt 12) Beyond Measure, Margaret Heffernan 13) Designing your Life, Bill Burnett 14) How to Measure your Life, Clayton Christensen 15) The Art of Happiness, Dalailama.
The great writer Michael Crichton has said that he calculated half of the weight from his homes was books! Most great writers are mosdef great readers.
As an inveterate reader I used to tell those who came to my personal website, "Two books a week is all we ask!" However, after amassing a personal library with over 500 books in it, uh, every time one moves makes this a cumbersome reality. My cautionary note: Read two a week, but you don't have to own 'em all!! Have a nice library sure, but give them away to those who'll actually read them.
'Fabric of Success - The Golden Threads Running Through The Tapestry Of Every Great Business' captures lessons from inspirational characters, and even includes the remarkable story of Marc Andreessen (A16Z) and the lesser know story of the rise and fall of Netscape plus hundreds of other great anecdotes involving Microsoft, Tesla, Apple, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, the origins of Silicon Valley and so much more:
Nopbody mentions the Bible? Regardles of religious belief (or lack) it's clearly the most influential book ever produced.
“..we asked them to send along an under-recognized book or two that shaped their thinking..”
Amen 🙏 🙏🙏
Yes
it is so obvious that people do not need to mention that
If anyone likes to read, i would also recommend apart from these, 1. Steve Jobs, 2. Zero to One , 3. Made in Japan
It's a travesty that no one mentioned "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman"
Love this list — I’d add a few that explore the human, philosophical, and imaginative sides of technological progress:
• Consider Phlebas — Iain M. Banks
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — Douglas Adams
• Stealing Fire — Jamie Wheal
• The Second Machine Age — Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee
• The Beginning of Infinity — David Deutsch
• The Mughal Empire — John F. Richards
• Life 3.0 — Max Tegmark
Together they trace the arc from cosmic imagination to cognitive expansion to economic transformation — and remind us that from the Mughal courts to the age of AI, progress flourishes when art, science, and human ambition move in unison.
Looking for the one click add to cart. Thank you for not recommending the usuals.
this !! @substack
i’d add “they’re eyes were watching God” Zora Neal Hurston - different worldview and seeing the world through a different lens. not at all a business book but if you are all business you have to also nurture your soul.
Golden references of underrated, yet powerful books. Thanks for the share. I would love to add the below-mentioned great reads from my library. If you haven't read any of the below, pls give it a check. 1) Road less travelled, M Scott Peck 2) mindset, Carol Dweck 3) Mans search for Meaning, Victor Frankl 4) The Art of thinking clearly, Rolf Dolbeli 5) How to win Friends and influence people, Dale Carnegie 6) The War of Art, Steven Pressfield 7) The Song of Significance, Seth Godin 8) The One thing, Gary Keller 9) As a Man thinketh, James Allen 10) Breath, James Nestor 11) Trillion Dollar Coach, Eric Schmidt 12) Beyond Measure, Margaret Heffernan 13) Designing your Life, Bill Burnett 14) How to Measure your Life, Clayton Christensen 15) The Art of Happiness, Dalailama.
The great writer Michael Crichton has said that he calculated half of the weight from his homes was books! Most great writers are mosdef great readers.
As an inveterate reader I used to tell those who came to my personal website, "Two books a week is all we ask!" However, after amassing a personal library with over 500 books in it, uh, every time one moves makes this a cumbersome reality. My cautionary note: Read two a week, but you don't have to own 'em all!! Have a nice library sure, but give them away to those who'll actually read them.
Great post on LinkedIn & Substack A16Z!
Sorry - didn’t mean to post that last response yet. Here is the 2nd book I would like to recommend:
“Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace In His Presence” (Heirloom Edition)
By: Sarah Young
ISBN: 978-1-4041-1667-2
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I personally would like to add the following 2 books:
“7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
Amen for this article
Sooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Great references, wonderful collection for avid book readers. Thanks for sharing.
these are typical business
… business books that everybody reads. i feel not much controversial ideas here
Very nice, thank you.
'Fabric of Success - The Golden Threads Running Through The Tapestry Of Every Great Business' captures lessons from inspirational characters, and even includes the remarkable story of Marc Andreessen (A16Z) and the lesser know story of the rise and fall of Netscape plus hundreds of other great anecdotes involving Microsoft, Tesla, Apple, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, the origins of Silicon Valley and so much more:
https://www.amazon.com/Fabric-Success-Threads-Tapestry-Business/dp/B0D5W7B9W1
If you only read these 25 books you will be a woefully uneducated person. With all due respect this list is awful.