You are what you read.

Books have played a huge part in broadening my perspective and expanding my mind.

My recommendations are based on various factors: intriguing subjects, the Lindy effect, the current environment, and my curiosity.

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Last updated on 15 December 2024.

🏆 All Time Favourites

These books have shaped my approach to life and broadened my perspective. These are also some of my most gifted books.

Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger by Peter Bevelin

A treasure trove of mental models from various disciplines, this book encapsulates the best ideas I’ve absorbed over the past few years. Featuring timeless insights from the late intellectual master, Charlie Munger, whose wisdom continues to inspire.

How To Live by Derek Sivers

Derek Sivers offers 27 contradictory ideas on how to live—and that’s the beauty of it. I tried highlighting key parts but ended up marking 80% of the book!

Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty

Boyd Varty blends lion tracking with life coaching, offering deep lessons that resonate best when the timing is right. If it finds you at the right moment, it’s more than just a story.

Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari

I revisit this Indian epic annually, and this translation remains my favorite. It truly captures the essence: “What is here is found elsewhere; what is not here is nowhere.

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Thinking & Psychology

The human brain is endlessly fascinating, and my journey into psychology has deepened my understanding of it. My initial dive into reading was to become more “productive,” but I quickly realized—I’m not a machine.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – This is my most gifted book, including the graphic novel. It brilliantly explains human constructs, from money to religion, on a grand scale.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Amor Tversky – A groundbreaking exploration of human biases and mental models, this book has profoundly influenced psychology and economics. Essential for understanding how we think and develop your inventory of thinking tools.

Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish: Every day, life throws a thousand choices our way, shaping the story of who we become. But let’s be honest, how many of us have mastered the art of choosing well? This book helps you learn this art.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – One of my first non-fiction reads, it delves deep into the science of habit formation and breaking bad habits—explained in detail beyond “Atomic Habits.”

Atomic Habits by James Clear – A life-changer for those looking to build good systems and eliminate bad ones. It’s clear, actionable, and incredibly practical. You can read my notes here.

Getting Things Done by David Allen – David Allen’s productivity strategies, like batching and energy-based scheduling, are invaluable. I cover these in detail in my time management article.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – This classic on the psychology of wealth has stood the test of time—recommended by generations and still relevant today.

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss – Insights from top performers across health, wealth, and wisdom, categorized for easy application in your own life.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – Timeless advice on communication, backed by engaging stories. Intellectual master, Warren Buffett credits Carnegie’s course for his success in public speaking.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy – Harness the power of your subconscious to achieve your goals—Murphy shows you how with practical advice.

Deep Work by Cal Newport – Focused work is the key to productivity. Newport’s insights on distraction-free work are invaluable, and his newsletter is one of my favorites.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene – A must-read on power dynamics, recommended by everyone from Obama to Kanye.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell’s exploration of success and the role of luck is a perfect starting point for non-fiction readers, alongside “Blink” and “Tipping Point.”

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss – Master negotiation with techniques from a former FBI agent. My full article dives deeper into Voss’s strategies.

Super Thinking by Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann – It’s a big book of mental models.

Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Taleb – Taleb’s heavy, but essential, work on randomness and its impact—recommended by finance experts like Howard Marks.

Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths – Human decision-making seen from the lens of computer science.

The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon – A seminal work on social psychology and crowd behavior, influential to both Freud and 20th-century leaders.

Digital Zettelkasten by David Kadavy – Turn your digital tools into an “external brain” for better memory and creativity—explained in my article on the Knowledge Pipeline.

A Few Lessons from Sherlock Holmes by Peter Bevelin – A must-read for sharpening your thinking, blending insights from Sherlock Holmes with practical applications for life and business. Focused and diffuse thinking was my favorite lesson.

Thinking & Psychology

The human brain is endlessly fascinating, and my journey into psychology has deepened my understanding of it. My initial dive into reading was to become more “productive,” but I quickly realized—I’m not a machine.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – This is my most gifted book, including the graphic novel. It brilliantly explains human constructs, from money to religion, on a grand scale.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Amor Tversky – A groundbreaking exploration of human biases and mental models, this book has profoundly influenced psychology and economics. Essential for understanding how we think and develop your inventory of thinking tools.

Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish: Every day, life throws a thousand choices our way, shaping the story of who we become. But let’s be honest, how many of us have mastered the art of choosing well? This book helps you learn this art.

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss – Insights from top performers across health, wealth, and wisdom, categorized for easy application in your own life.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – One of my first non-fiction reads, it delves deep into the science of habit formation and breaking bad habits—explained in detail beyond “Atomic Habits.”

Atomic Habits by James Clear – A life-changer for those looking to build good systems and eliminate bad ones. It’s clear, actionable, and incredibly practical.

Getting Things Done by David Allen – David Allen’s productivity strategies, like batching and energy-based scheduling, are invaluable. I cover these in detail in my time management article.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – This classic on the psychology of wealth has stood the test of time—recommended by generations and still relevant today.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – Timeless advice on communication, backed by engaging stories. Intellectual master, Warren Buffett credits Carnegie’s course for his success in public speaking.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy – Harness the power of your subconscious to achieve your goals—Murphy shows you how with practical advice.

Deep Work by Cal Newport – Focused work is the key to productivity. Newport’s insights on distraction-free work are invaluable, and his newsletter is one of my favorites.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene – A must-read on power dynamics, recommended by everyone from Obama to Kanye.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell’s exploration of success and the role of luck is a perfect starting point for non-fiction readers, alongside “Blink” and “Tipping Point.”

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss – Master negotiation with techniques from a former FBI agent. My full article dives deeper into Voss’s strategies.

Super Thinking by Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann – It’s a big book of mental models.

Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Taleb – Taleb’s heavy, but essential, work on randomness and its impact—recommended by finance experts like Howard Marks.

Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths – Human decision-making seen from the lens of computer science.

The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon – A seminal work on social psychology and crowd behavior, influential to both Freud and 20th-century leaders.

Digital Zettelkasten by David Kadavy – Turn your digital tools into an “external brain” for better memory and creativity—explained in my article on the Knowledge Pipeline.

A Few Lessons from Sherlock Holmes by Peter Bevelin – A must-read for sharpening your thinking, blending insights from Sherlock Holmes with practical applications for life and business. Focused and diffuse thinking was my favorite lesson.

Books say different things to different people. They change as the person who reads them changes too.

Sara Nisha Adams, The Reading List