Book Review: “The Almanac of Naval Ravikant” by Eric Jorgensen

Mark Stent
3 min readDec 30, 2023

--

Possibly the best book I have read to date!

Having come across this gem in at least four different book list recommendations over the past week, my curiosity led me to seek this book out. Although it’s available for free online, the overwhelmingly positive reviews convinced me to purchase a hard copy for myself. I’m glad I did.

About the Author, Naval Ravikant:

Naval Ravikant is a renowned entrepreneur, philosopher, and investor, celebrated for his profound insights into business, wealth, and personal growth. As a co-founder of AngelList and a respected figure in the Silicon Valley tech scene, Naval has carved out a unique space for himself as a thinker and a mentor. His thoughts, often shared on social media and podcasts, have garnered a massive following due to their depth and practical applicability. “The Almanac of Naval Ravikant” by Eric Jorgensen is a compilation of these insights, presenting a cohesive picture of Naval’s philosophy.

The Book

“The Almanac of Naval Ravikant,” as curated by Eric Jorgensen, is possibly the best book I have ever read. It’s a treasure trove of wisdom, neatly compiled from Naval’s various talks, tweets, and essays. Jorgensen has done a commendable job of distilling Naval’s thoughts into an accessible and engaging format, making this book an essential read for anyone interested in wealth creation, personal development, and the art of living well.

What makes this book stand out is the range and depth of the quotes and advice it offers. Naval’s approach to wealth, happiness, and personal effectiveness is both practical and philosophical. Some of the most impactful quotes that resonated with me, personally, include:

- “Making money is not a thing you do, it’s a skill you learn.”
- “If you secretly despise wealth, it will elude you.”
- “Learn to sell, learn to build. If you can do both, you are unstoppable.”
- “Study microeconomics, game theory, psychology, persuasion ethics, mathematics, computers.”
- “Set and enforce a personal hourly rate. If fixing a problem will save less than your hourly rate, ignore it.”

Naval’s philosophy extends beyond mere wealth accumulation. He delves into the realms of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and the human psyche, offering advice like:

  • “The number one thing clouding us from being able to see reality is we have preconceived notions of the way it should be.”
    - “Happiness is being satisfied with what you have. Success comes from dissatisfaction. Choose.”
    - “Time is all you have. Don’t waste your time.”

“The Almanac of Naval Ravikant” is more than just a book; it’s a manual for living a thoughtful, productive, and fulfilling life. Its timeless wisdom is relevant to entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone seeking to carve a meaningful path through the complexities of the modern world.

At the end of the book, he includes a comprehensive list of his favorite books and blogs, which have significantly influenced his thinking and played a pivotal role in shaping his life and worldview.

This is a book I’ll be returning to often. I suspect it will offer me more insights each time I pick it up and through each stage of my life.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for guidance in navigating the challenges of life and living with wisdom, integrity, and most of all, happiness…

--

--

Mark Stent

Data scientist by day, music producer by night. When I'm not nerding out over math and AI, you can find me lifting weights or solving Rubik's cubes.