List of my favorite books

(startups, personal development, philosophy, autobiographies. The best of everything I’ve read in my life).

Fiction:

• Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
  If you know nothing about this book you might naturally hesitate to read “Harry Potter fanfiction” and assume that it’s dumb/horrbile, but it’s not. Just suspend your disbelief and read the first 5–10 chapters. Trust me, it’s brilliant, hilarious, and life-changing.
• Atlas Shrugged
  Controversial, I know, a lot of people here hate it for some reason, but it was incredibly influential on me, inspired my passion for entrepreneurship and science and philosophy. Still is one of the best books I am aware of.

Nonfiction:

• Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham
  Also a collection of his essays that you can find on github. He is one of the most clever writers I am aware of, but I assume you know that, since you’re on HN.
• “On Intelligence” by Jeff Hawkins
  This book explains in simple terms a very awesome and elegant theory on how mind works. Incredibly fascinating, I’ve learned a lot from it and it explains a lot of things, and will change the way you think about thinking process.
• The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
  Engaging and entertaining explanation of evolution, absolutely fantastic book.
• The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.
  Despite the stigma, and people thinking that Machhiavellian = “evil”, I’ve found this book extremely clever and wise.
• Serious Creativity by Edward De Bono
  The best book on creativity and the process of generating ideas that I’m aware of.
• Abundance
  This is a very inspiring and optimistic book about the future of technology.
  Entrepreneurhsip:
• Start Small, Stay Small
  Guide to creating your first product/business for hackers. It lays out all the basics of entrepreneurship in a very concise and clear ways, my favorite introduction to startups.
• Rework
  Very wise and intelligent advice about startups, intelligent and witty, must read.
• Lean Startup
  Classic book on “lean startup methodology”, very useful.
• 4-Hour Workweek
  Despite the silly title I think it is a great book and is very much worth reading. Many people here dislike Tim Ferris, but whatever, I think this book is cool.
• Trust me, I’m lying.
  Book about how modern social media is being manipulated. Short and interesting. Makes you think differently about what you read on the internet.
• Zero to One by Peter Thiel
  Very intelligent and inspiring book about startups and new technologies. A lot of new and great ideas, I’ve enjoyed it a lot.

Autobiographies:

• Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman
• Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale
  I remember disliking the movie, but the book is brilliant and hilarious. Autobiography of one of the boldest, horniest, and most brilliant con artists.
• Ghost In The Wires by Kevin Mitnick
  On the same topic, autobiography of a great hacker. Extremely clever and awesome. I bet people here will love it.
• iWoz
  Autobiography of Steve Wozniak. Also wonderful and super positive and inspiring story.
• Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson

All these are fantastic and very intelligent autobiographies by the very awesome people.

Now I’m reading “Gödel, Escher, Bach” and “Rationality: From AI to Zombies.”

“Rationality” is great and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Can’t say much about GEB, I’ve only started reading it, but everyone is saying that it is so great and the best book ever, so I think it’s definitely worth checking out.