Things I like, use, and recommend.
Poor Charlie's Almanack
Charlie Munger. Mental models, multidisciplinary thinking, and the art of worldly wisdom. 75 highlights — the most underlined book in my library.
Atomic Habits
James Clear. Systems over goals. The compound interest of self-improvement. 141 highlights says it all.
How Will You Measure Your Life?
Clayton Christensen. Applies business strategy to life's biggest decisions — career, relationships, integrity. Hit different at 21.
Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order
Ray Dalio. Why nations rise and fall. Changed how I think about macro cycles and where we are in them.
Show Your Work!
Austin Kleon. The philosophy behind this site. Share the process, not just the product.
Shoe Dog
Phil Knight. The real founding story of Nike — messy, broke, and relentless. Best founder memoir I've read.
The Courage to Be Disliked
Adlerian psychology. Freedom comes from separating your tasks from others'. Reshaping how I think about ego.
The 38 Letters From J.D. Rockefeller to His Son
Timeless lessons on wealth, character, and discipline from father to son. Surprisingly personal.
The Great CEO Within
Matt Mochary. Tactical operating manual for startups — meetings, feedback, energy management. Reference book.
Status Anxiety
Alain de Botton. Why we care what others think, and what philosophy, art, and bohemia offer as antidotes.
Thinking in Systems
Donella Meadows. Changed how I see everything — from codebases to organizations to health.
The Lessons of History
Will & Ariel Durant. 100 pages distilling 5,000 years of civilization. Dense and re-readable.
Skunk Works
Ben Rich. How Lockheed's secret division built the SR-71 and F-117. Small teams, radical autonomy, impossible deadlines.
The Design of Everyday Things
Don Norman. Why doors confuse people and what that teaches about building anything humans touch.
Crime and Punishment
Dostoevsky. The psychology of guilt, rationalization, and redemption. Heavy but unforgettable.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Wealth, happiness, and leverage. Re-read yearly.
Why We Sleep
Matthew Walker. Made me take sleep seriously — it's now non-negotiable infrastructure.
Zero to One
Peter Thiel. Contrarian thinking about building things that matter. The question that sticks: what truth do you believe that nobody else agrees with?
The Feynman Lectures on Physics
Richard Feynman. Pure joy of understanding. The way he explains things makes you feel smarter, not smaller.
What Does It All Mean?
Thomas Nagel. Tiny philosophy primer — free will, consciousness, meaning. Perfect intro that doesn't patronize.