Naval Ravikant's Book Recommendations

"I’ve actually been reading my brother’s book, How to Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It. I thought it was very succinctly written. Obviously a plug for my bro."

""My brother wrote it, so I'm biased. But it's brilliantly written.""

"My brother wrote it, so I'm biased. But it's brilliantly written."

"My brother wrote it, so I'm biased. But it's brilliantly written."

""Best book I've read since Sapiens (far less mainstream, though).""

"Best book I've read since Sapiens (far less mainstream, though)."

"This is the best book I've read since Sapiens (far less mainstream, though)."

"Best book I've read since Sapiens (far less mainstream, though)."

"A history of the human species. The observations, frameworks, and mental models will have you looking at history and your fellow humans differently."

""An orthogonal and clinical examination of the human animal, from the beginning to now. Humans are story-telling alpha predators that killed the competition and domesticated the survivors. This is our story, and it's not all pretty.""

"Best book I've read in [2015]."

"Best book I've read in [2015]."

"A rationalist’s guide to the perils of the human mind. The “spiritual” book I keep returning to."

"I’m always reading something by Krishnamurti. Usually, it’s Total Freedom, which is the book that I just reread over and over again. Doesn’t necessarily make sense, but when you’re ready for it, there’s nothing else like it."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "if you want anyone to read a favorite book you've read, which would it be?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"My current favorite short story, sci-fi short story: probably “Understand” by Ted Chiang. It’s in a collection called Stories of Your Life and Others."

"I’m rereading Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang. It’s one of my favorite sci-fi novels."

""Drop everything and read [Understand]" (Included in Stories of Your Life and Others)"

"Drop everything and read [Understand]."

"Drop everything and read [Understand]."

"Getting into the more evolution, science kind of books, I really highly, highly recommend picking up Genome [...]."

""Everything by Matt Ridley is worth reading.""

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

""One of my favorite books of all time.""

"One of my favorite books of all time."

"One of my favorite books of all time."

"Getting into the more evolution, science kind of books, I really highly, highly recommend picking up [...] Origins of Virtue."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "one book recommendation on Game theory?"

""Influence was fundamental and had a lot to teach. Presuasion is good but closer to a single-themed book.""

"Good but closer to a single-themed book."

"I just finished reading Pre-Suasion, or I should say I just finished skimming Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini. I don’t think I needed to read the entire book to get the point, but it was still good to read what I did."

"Good but closer to a single-themed book."

"The most brilliant and enlightening book I've read in years. He has written four of my top 20 books."

"Matt Ridley's "The Rational Optimist" is the most brilliant and enlightening book I've read in years."

""The most brilliant and enlightening book I've read in years.""

"The most brilliant and enlightening book I've read in years."

"Getting into the more evolution, science kind of books, I really highly, highly recommend picking up [...] The Red Queen."

""Everything by Matt Ridley is worth reading.""

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Not the easiest read, but it made me smarter."

"My favorite recent discovery."

"My favorite recent discovery."

"This contemplates the marvel of thermodynamics from the best sci-fi short story writer of our age."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "any particular Game Theory books you recommend?"

"The Evolution of Everything by Matt Ridley, one of my favorite authors. I’ve read everything of his, and reread everything of his."

""Everything by Matt Ridley is worth reading.""

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"The only book used in both grade school and graduate school."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "physics book for grade school or graduate students?"

"I love this as a classic book on philosophy, a good introduction for someone starting out. I’ve given out more copies of this book than any other."

""Siddhartha is so good that it may as well be non-fiction.""

"So good that it may as well be non-fiction."

"So good that it may as well be non-fiction."

"This is a great book I really liked which summarizes some of the larger themes of history, very incisive. And unlike most history books, it's actually really small, and it covers a lot of ground."

"Great book. I really like how it summarizes some of the larger themes of history. Very incisive and, unlike most history books, is actually kind of small and it covers a lot of ground."

"Concise and well written, summarizes the long arc of history with poetic insights."

"A fantastic book."

"A fantastic book."

"Probably the best book is The Book of Life, which is excerpts from his various speeches and books stitched together."

"A very difficult read, but once you see it, you can't unsee it."

"A very difficult read, but once you see it, you can't unsee it."

"There's a good book Michael Pollan wrote recently called How to Change your Mind, and I think it is a brilliant book everybody should read."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "do you have any advice for dealing with the death of a parent?"

"Snow Crash is an amazing, amazing book. There’s nothing quite similar to Snow Crash. Snow Crash is in a league of its own."

"Best cyberpunk novel ever written. Slightly dated but very prescient."

"Best cyberpunk novel ever written. Slightly dated but very prescient."

"I always recommend [this book] as my top business book."

""I always recommend [this book] as my top business book.""

"I always recommend Poor Charlie's Almanack as my top business book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 3 Osho books?"

"This book reads like a modern-day poetic religious tome. It’s up there with the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao Te Ching, the Bible, and the Qur’an."

"It actually read like a modern-day poetic religious tome. Up there with the Bhagavad-gita, the Tao Te Ching, The Bible, The Qur’an. It was written in that style where it had that feel of religiosity and truth, but it was very approachable and beautiful and non-denominational and non-secretarian. I really liked that. I loved that book. He has a gift for poetically describing what children are..."

""The Prophet is a beautiful book""

"A beautiful book."

"Favorite childhood comic."

""Favorite childhood comic: Frank Miller’s 'The Dark Knight Returns.'""

"Favorite childhood comic."

"Great book."

""Great book.""

"Great book."

""Steve Case is doing the behind the scenes work to support entrepreneurship in America.""

"[The author] is doing the behind the scenes work to support entrepreneurship in America."

"[The author] is doing the behind the scenes work to support entrepreneurship in America."

"I also recently finished The Power of Habit, or close to finish as I get. That one was interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are. [...] I think learning how to break habits is a very important meta-skill that can serve you better in life than almost anything else. Although you can read tons of books..."

"That one was interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are. Humans are basically habit machines."

"Interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are."

"Interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"@sachinbapure I liked it. But these kinds of books aren’t quick reads, they’re inspiration to self reflect."

"Another masterpiece of sci-fi by Ted Chiang"

"Another masterpiece of SciFi by [this author]."

"Another masterpiece of SciFi by [this author]."

"I’ve read that one at least twice."

"Terrific."

"Terrific."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "what are you reading right now?"

"I’ve been reading Perfectly Reasonable Deviations, and I’ve also been rereading Genius."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish" podcast."

""Wisdom distilled to its purest form. The oldest books often have the best answers to the oldest questions.""

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Didn't finish it. Good book but not as seminal as Sapiens."

""Didn't finish it. Good book but not as seminal as Sapiens.""

"Didn't finish it. Good book but not as seminal as Sapiens."

"[The author]'s very dry but full of great ideas."

"[The author]'s very dry but full of great ideas."

"[The author]'s very dry but full of great ideas."

""Amazing book, but good luck finishing it""

"Amazing book, but good luck finishing it."

"Amazing book, but good luck finishing it."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

""Fine book but it didn’t need to be an entire book.""

"Fine book but it didn’t need to be an entire book. A blog post would have gotten the point across."

"Fine book but it didn’t need to be an entire book. A blog post would have gotten the point across."

"In the philosophy side, [...] I just finished Falling Into Grace by Adyashanti, which I thought was very good."

"Very good."

"Very good."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"That was a fun, light read."

"A fun, light read."

"A fun, light read."

""'The Macintosh Way' led me into tech!""

"[This book] led me into tech!"

"[This book] led me into tech!"

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "any particular Game Theory books you recommend?"

"Fantastic."

""Fantastic""

"Fantastic."

"For historical fiction, I like [this book]."

""For historical fiction, I like 'A Soldier of the Great War'""

"For historical fiction, I like A Soldier of the Great War."

""Great book. Required reading.""

"Great book. Required reading."

"Great book. Required reading."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "any good book about economy for a beginner?"

"Naval Ravikant's recommendation for good, humorous fiction."

"Naval Ravikant's recommendation for "good humourous fiction."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish" podcast."

""One of my top 3 books of all time.""

"One of my top 3 books of all time."

"One of my top 3 books of all time."

""Decades ago, it didn’t make sense. Years ago, it changed my life, but I felt late.""

"Decades ago, it didn’t make sense. Years ago, it changed my life, but I felt late."

"Decades ago, it didn’t make sense. Years ago, it changed my life, but I felt late."

""Influence was fundamental and had a lot to teach.""

"Fundamental and had a lot to teach."

"Fundamental and had a lot to teach."

"@JackDickersons @AdHocAccount_ Great book. I just can’t recommend Cialdini’s other work as strongly so I left him out."

""Love that book.""

"Love [this book]."

"Love A Pattern Language."

""Everything by Matt Ridley is worth reading.""

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

""Definitely worth a read if you like imaginative sci-fi.""

"The only sci-fi novel that I know of where the protagonist is a Buddha."

"The only sci-fi novel that I know of where the protagonist is a Buddha."

"@samrexford Lord of Light, Snow Crash, Borges and Ted Chiang short stories."

"An important book."

"An important book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "what are you reading right now?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "best book on concept of time?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Recommended."

"Recommended."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "what are you reading right now?"

"It’s more of an overview book because I couldn’t make it through his actual writings."

""It’s more of an overview book because I couldn’t make it through his actual writings.""

"It’s more of an overview book because I couldn’t make it through his actual writings."

"Just as good [as Think on These Things]."

"Just as good [as Think on These Things]."

"Formative books for me. Read and re-read them over the years."

"Formative books for me. Read and re-read them over the years."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 10 graphic novels?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 10 graphic novels?"

""Loved Lord of The Rings and other fiction when [I was] younger.""

"Loved [this series] and other fiction when younger."

"Loved [this series] and other fiction when younger."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"The future convergence of networks and governments, from one of the most brilliant thinkers alive."

""The future convergence of networks and governments, from one of the most brilliant thinkers alive.""

"The future convergence of networks and governments, from one of the most brilliant thinkers alive."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"I’ve been reading Perfectly Reasonable Deviations, and I’ve also been rereading Genius."

"Amazing."

"Amazing."

""Explains all these very complicated concepts, only using the 1000 most common words in the English language.""

"Explains all these very complicated concepts, [but] only using the 1000 most common words in the English language."

""Everything by Matt Ridley is worth reading.""

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Loved [this book]."

"Loved Waking Up."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 10 graphic novels?"

"That’s what I read [by Seneca]."

"That’s what I read [by Seneca]."

"Really fun, most egotistical author of all time."

"Really fun, most egotistical author of all time."

"[This book] is the OG."

"[This book] is the OG."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast."

"This is the best book I've read in the last year. Physics, poetry, philosophy, and history packaged in a very accessible form."

"Best book I've read in [2017]. Physics, poetry, philosophy and history packaged in a very accessible form."

"Genius, a cogent defense of anarchy."

"Genius, a cogent defense of anarchy."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish" podcast."

"I love Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine author. His short story collection Ficciones, or Labyrinths, is amazing."

""Buy the book""

"Buy [this book]."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Classic. I love [this book]."

"Classic. I love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"I’m rereading The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell. Sometimes I think it’s better to just to reread the greats than it is to read something that’s not as great."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast."

"@aashray18521 “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman.”"

"Learn about the inner mindset and external state of someone who was absolutely brilliant."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"It's the best explanation of existence in existence…"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "recommend autobiographies?"

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish" podcast."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "what are you reading right now?"

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast."

"On a lighter but still very educational note, check out [this book]."

"On a lighter but still very educational note, check out War Nerd."

"That’s a great book. Recommended to me by a friend. It’s available online. I would get that one. If you’re interested in Buddhism, meditation, insight, I thought that one brought everything together, while leaving the mysticism out of it. That should give you the indication."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "any book recommendation on happiness from a Buddhism perspective?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Bought the book, will try it."

"Bought the book, will try it."

"This is his collection of ancient wisdom."

""Good books are worth re-reading. Great books are worth re-buying.""

"I’m reading [...] The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms, by Nassim Taleb, who is famous for The Black Swan and Fooled by Randomness. I sort of like his collection of ancient wisdom, In the Bed of Procrustes."

"Naval Ravikant's answer to "first book which started your lifelong journey of reading?"

"The best book I've read in 2018, I highly recommend it. Lots of great ideas in there. Lots of good mental models and constructs."

""Good books are worth re-reading. Great books are worth re-buying.""

""Good books are worth re-reading. Great books are worth re-buying.""

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast."

""One of my all time favorite books. I quote it all the time.""

"One of my all time favorite books. I quote it all the time."

"As with most non-fiction, the meat was in the beginning."

""As with most non-fiction, the meat was in the beginning.""

""I loved reading it as a kid""

"I loved reading it as a kid."

"Learn about the inner mindset and external state of someone who was absolutely brilliant."

"Wow it's dark."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Great series."

"Great series."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"[The author] is to spirituality what Rick and Morty is to children’s cartoons."

"[The author] is to spirituality what Rick and Morty is to children’s cartoons."

""Good if you liked Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman""

"Good if you liked the first one."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish" podcast."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"A beautiful book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "what are you reading right now?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "you don't read the Indian epics?"

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"I’ve read it a long time ago. Time for a re-read."

"I’ve read it a long time ago. Time for a re-read."

"It was entertaining, but I sort of gave up after a bit."

"It was entertaining, but I sort of gave up after a bit."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Everything by [this author] is worth reading."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"Bit mystical but he’s not wrong."

"Bit mystical but he’s not wrong."

"If I'm going to read fiction, might as well start at the top."

"If I'm going to read fiction, might as well start at the top."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "favorite comic books?"

"Has a bit of the Siddhartha flavor."

"I wouldn’t just read [this book] breathless and wide-eyed and believe everything."

"Fantastic read."

"God’s Debris by Scott Adams, very interesting."

"As with most non-fiction, the meat was in the beginning."

"I quote The Last Question all of the time. I loved it as a kid."

"Original Rick and Morty comic books by the same writers. Just as funny, different content. Must read!"

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this book on "The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish" podcast."

"Naval Ravikant mentioned this series on Twitter."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this series."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 10 graphic novels?"

"Good books are worth re-reading. Great books are worth re-buying."

"I loved reading it as a kid."

""Good books are worth re-reading. Great books are worth re-buying.""

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 10 graphic novels?"

"Worth reading."

"@YagoMann SummerHill, and a philosophy called “Taking Children Seriously.”"

"@samrexford Lord of Light, Snow Crash, Borges and Ted Chiang short stories."

""Great series.""

"Physicist, bongo player, painter, adventurer, and most importantly, free thinker. You're never going to get ahead in life if you listen to everyone else. Feynman combines independent thinking with intellectual rigor in his every day life. It was an inspiration for me as a child."

""Classic. I love that book.""

"Good if you liked the first one."

"Without judgment, he just lays down how con men work."

"Original Rick and Morty comic books by the same writers. Just as funny, different content. Must read!"

"Good books are worth re-reading. Great books are worth re-buying."

"One of Naval Ravikant's answers to "top 10 graphic novels?"

"I love [this book]."

""Worth reading""

""There are original Rick and Morty comic books by the same writers. Just as funny, different content. Must read!""

""Jed McKenna is to spirituality what Rick and Morty is to children’s cartoons.""

""This book doesn't describe a way for a founder to scale a company. It describes the way for a founder to scale a company.""

"I love graphic novels. I’ve been rereading The Boys recently."

"Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book."

"The reason for this is just to open up your mind, that there's so much more out there than we could ever even dream of. Until you experience it yourself."

"My most listened-to audiobook. The most important audiobook I've ever heard."

"This is the best book on spirituality I've ever read by far."

"This masquerades as a business book, but it's really just Charlie Munger's (of Berkshire Hathaway) advice on overcoming oneself to live a successful and virtuous life."