“There are answers worth billions of dollars in a $30 history book.” – Charlie Munger
Book recommendations on topics such as business, economics, personal finance, investing, history, philosophy, productivity, strategy, and even Bitcoin. These books are fundamental reading in their categories. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
TOP PICK
“Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger” – by Charles T. Munger and Peter Kaufman. A compendium of speeches, lectures, and essays by Charlie Munger, the legendary investor and vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. The book details Munger’s mental models, his approach to decision-making. Poor Charlie’s Almanack is a wealth of insights and practical advice on business, investing, and life.
BIOGRAPHIES
“Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.” – by Ron Chernow. Titan is the gold standard biography of Rockefeller – the founder of Standard Oil and one of the wealthiest people in history. The book covers his rise to power, his innovative and controversial business practices, and his incredible impact on American industry and philanthropy.
“Andrew Carnegie” – by David Nasaw. This biography covers the life of steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie, one of the most influential and wealthiest industrialists in history. The journey of a poor Scottish immigrant to the heights of power and his lasting impact on business, philanthropy, and world economic development.
“The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt” – by T.J. Stiles. The First Tycoon details the rise of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a pioneering 19th-century American industrialist and business icon. Vanderbilt built a vast transportation empire and was one of the original Robber Barons who shaped the modern business landscape.
“Napoleon – A Life” – by Andrew Roberts. One of the more popular Napoleon biographies, Roberts traces the rise and fall of Napoleon from his early days in Corsica to the heights of power as Emperor of France, and his eventual exile. Roberts extensively uses primary sources to craft a detailed biography that reads like a novel and highlight’s Napoleon’s military and political genius along with his complex personal life.
“The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life” – by Alice Schroeder. This is the definitive biography of Warren Buffett and Schroeder spent countless hours interviewing the investing legend. Through personal anecdotes and in-depth research, The Snowball chronicles the rise of Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. The book is jam-packed with Buffett’s insights, principles, and strategies that have shaped his incredible business success and his approach to life.
“Elon Musk” – by Walter Isaacson. The definitive biography of the legendary entrepreneur, published in 2023. Isaacson had unprecedented access to Musk while writing the book, and he explores Musk’s relentless ambition, complex personality, and his drive to revolutionize the world through his companies like SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and X (Twitter).
“Churchill: Walking with Destiny” – by Andrew Roberts. A detailed biography that examines the life of the legendary statesman, highlighting his leadership during World War II and his lasting impact on world history. Roberts delves deep into Churchill’s storied and fascinating political career, personal magnetism, and enduring legacy.
“Bruce Lee: A Life” – by Matthew Polly. A rich and detailed biography of Bruce Lee, from his childhood in Hong Kong to his rise as a global martial arts icon and movie superstar. The book dives into Lee’s personal struggles, his unique and timeless philosophy, and his lasting impact in martial arts and popular culture.
INVESTING AND PERSONAL FINANCE
“Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World’s Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life” – by William Green. One of the best books on investing, personal finance, and life of the last several years. Based on his extensive interviews, Green profiles investing legends such as Charlie Munger, Mohnish Pabrai, Nick Sleep, Sir John Templeton, Howard Marks, Tom Gayner, and more. This is a book you’ll definitely return to for multiple re-reads!
“The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor” – by Howard Marks. In his own words, Marks provides the investment wisdom learned from his legendary career through a series of insightful memos. He emphasizes the importance of risk management, patience, contrarian thinking, and more – delivering valuable insights for investors of all knowledge levels.
“The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness” – by Morgan Housel. The book dives into the relationship between people and money, and emphasizes that financial success has less to do with technical expertise and more to do with mindset and behavior. Housel delivers his insights through 19 practical and illustrative short stories.
“The Dao of Capital: Austrian Investing in a Distorted World” – by Mark Sptiznagel. Renowned investor Mark Spitznagel combines the tenets of Austrian economics with ancient Daoist philosophy to deliver a unique approach to capital management and investing. Using personal and historical examples and Daoist teachings, Spitznagel emphasizes patience and contrarian thinking with a roundabout, long-term approach.
“The Richest Man in Babylon” – by George S. Clason. This classic (written in 1926) provides timeless advice on personal finance and wealth building through the use of parables told through the eyes of a fictional character named Arkad, a humble scribe who used the book’s methods to become the richest man in Babylon. Arkad delivers the “Seven Cures for a Lean Purse.”
BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
“Basic Economics – A Common Sense Guide to the Economy” – by Thomas Sowell. A Sowell classic, the book provides a comprehensive and easily understood introduction to fundamental economic principles. Through clear, real-world examples, Sowell relates these economic principles to various business practices and government policy issues. This is a must read for enhanced economic literacy and informed citizenship.
“Principles of Economics” – by Saifedean Ammous. An advocate for the Austrian School of Economics, Ammous provides an in-depth look at basic economic principles with an emphasis on the role of individual choices on market dynamics. The book advocates for a free-market approach, decentralized decision-making, and sound money principles.
“Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest & Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics” – by Henry Hazlitt. This classic economics book was first written in 1946, but was later updated by Hazlitt and is still just as relevant today. The book distills economic principles into clear, concise, easily digestible lessons that highlight the long-term and ancillary consequences of economic decisions. Hazlitt highlights many fallacies and common misconceptions that continue to persist in policy-making today.
“Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better” – by Lyn Alden. This excellent book examines the historical evolution of the overall monetary system (from seashells, to gold, to paper money), highlighting both positives and negatives, including its impact on economic instability, inequality, and inefficiency. The book delivers insights into alternative systems and potential solutions, examining the potential role and benefits of currencies like Bitcoin now and in the future.
“The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley” – by Jimmy Soni. Chronicles the origins and rise of PayPal, detailing the challenges and victories of its creators, including notable figures later dubbed the “PayPal Mafia,” such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and David Sacks. Packed with behind-the-scenes details and insights, this book is a must read for entrepreneurs, tech leaders, and business and history buffs alike.
“Good Profit: How Creating Value for Others Built One of the World’s Most Successful Companies” – by Charles G. Koch. Koch Enterprises is one of the largest, most profitable private companies in the world. In his own words, founder Charles Koch delivers his principles and practices behind his success. He emphasizes ethics and continuous improvement for creating value for customers, employees, and society through his Market-Based Management (MBM) philosophy.
STRATEGY
“Strategy – A History” – by Sir Lawrence Freedman. A comprehensive exploration of the development and application of strategy across various fields, from military and politics to business and social movements. From the book: A brilliant overview of the most prominent strategic theories in history, from David’s use of deception against Goliath, to the modern use of game theory in economics, this masterful volume sums up a lifetime of reflection on strategy.
“The Prince” – by Niccolo Machiavelli. The classic 1513 work on political strategy and philosophy with timeless insights into the nature of power and governance. Written as a communication to a new ruler, Machiavelli advises on how to gain and maintain power utilizing practical and sometimes ruthless tactics – many of which are applicable today in not just politics, but business and other areas of life as well.
“Book of Five Rings: The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi’s Classic Book of Strategy” – by Miyamoto Musashi, Stephen F. Kaufman. Written by the legendary 17th century samurai, the Book of Five Rings is a classic treatise on marital arts strategy. Applicable to more than martial arts and a favorite of business and political leaders, the book offers timeless wisdom on general tactics, mindset, and philosophy. A must have in any collection.
PRODUCTIVITY and IMPROVEMENT
“Limitless Expanded Edition: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life” – by Jim Kwik. This is your guide to unlocking the full potential of the human brain, offering practical techniques on improving recall, memory, habits, reading pace, and overall cognitive performance. Jim’s techniques will help you overcome mental blocks to achieve a growth mindset and achieve success in life.
“The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success” – by Darren Hardy. The Compound Effect details how small, consistent, productive actions compound significantly over time, leading to out sized gains in personal and professional success. Hardy provides practical and actionable steps you can easily build into your routine to start making incremental, but impactful changes right away.
“Hidden Genius: The secret ways of thinking that power the world’s most successful people” – by Polina Marinova Pompliano. Through interviews with many well-known high performers, Pompliano details the mental frameworks and tools that some of the world’s most successful people utilize to excel in their fields. There are many practical tips contained within that you can put into practice right away.
“Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers” – by Tim Ferriss. A comprehensive compendium of insights and advice from many famous world-class performers across a wide-ranging number of fields. Through interviews with athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, and more, Ferriss shares actionable strategies, habits, and mindsets that readers can apply to optimize their own lives.
“Tribe Of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World” – by Tim Ferriss. Similar to his book, “Tools of the Titans,” Ferris picks up where he left off and continues to gather practical wisdom and insights from a large number of famous high achievers. The book delivers many additional actionable tips for you to apply to your life to navigate challenges and attain success in your endeavors.
“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” – by James Clear. Atomic Habits has sold over 15 million copies and for good reason. It provides a proven framework for everyday self-improvement through the development of proper habits and elimination of destructive habits. Applying Clear’s practical strategies has led millions to create lasting changes in their lives and achieve their goals.
“How to Win Friends & Influence People” – by Dale Carnegie. With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the best selling books of all time and provides timeless advice on communication and developing interpersonal relationships. Carnegie provides practical and easy to implement tips to: (1) handle people, (2) make people like you, (3) win people to your way of thinking, and (4) change people’s minds without giving offense.
HISTORY
“The Hour of Fate: Theodore Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, and the Battle to Transform American Capitalism” – by Susan Berfield. The book details the important rivalry between President Teddy Roosevelt and Banker/Industrialist J.P. Morgan at the start of the 20th century. Their conflict centered around regulation of big business and monopolistic practices, the role of government intervention in the marketplace, and would help shape the landscape for American business well into the future. Well-written and fast-paced, the book reads like a novel.
“Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and Race to Electrify the World” – by Jill Jones. A fast-paced recounting of the fierce and sometimes wild competition between Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and George Westinghouse in the race to electrify America. Jones provides captivating storytelling and rich historical context to capture the ambition and drama that fueled this transformative era.
“Dynasties: Fortunes and Misfortunes of the World’s Great Family Businesses” – by David S. Landes. The book explores the histories and legacies of many of the world’s most successful and prominent family-run businesses. Landes provides valuable insights and detailed narratives on the highs and lows, and unique dynamics of the businesses. Family’s include the Rockefellers, Guggenheims, Fords, Toyotas, Rothschilds, and Barons, to name a few of the thirteen families covered.
“Lighting Out for the Territory: How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain” – by Roy Morris, Jr. A captivating account of Mark Twain’s adventures in the American West during the Civil War. The book explores Twain’s formative experiences that helped influence his writing to become one of America’s greatest literary figures. Blending humor and critical authority, Morris separates fact from fiction in this fast-paced tale.
“Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System–and Themselves” – by Andrew Ross Sorkin. The book provides an in-depth, meticulously researched behind-the-scenes chronicle of the 2008 financial crisis. Sorkin focuses on the key business and government players whose actions and decisions shaped the fate of the global economy amidst great uncertainty.
“The Complete Works of Julius Caesar” – by Julius Caesar. Written by Caesar over 2,000 years ago, this is a firsthand account of his military campaigns and political career, covering his conquest of Gaul and also the Roman Civil War that brought down the Republic. These writings offer detailed insights and a look into the mind of one of the greatest figures in world history.
“The Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail” – by Ray Dalio. The book examines the historical patterns and cycles that have shaped the rise and fall of the world’s most prominent economies and empires over the last 500 years – focusing primarily on the Dutch, the British, and the current American empire. A fascinating read that is quite relevant in establishing themes and patterns to look for today and predict where we’ll be tomorrow.
BITCOIN
“The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking” – by Saifedean Ammous. The book explores the rich history of the technologies of money and examines what gave those technologies their monetary role, how they lost it, and what that teaches us about the desirable features of money, and how Bitcoin is designed to improve on these technologies. The book also explores how the type of money used impacts the direction of society as a whole and the role of governments. The Bitcoin Standard is required reading for those looking to explore this new and fascinating technology.
“The Bitcoin Handbook: Key Concepts in Economics, Technology & Psychology” – by Anil Patel. A collection of the most helpful frameworks, mental models, and heuristics for making sense of money in the digital age. Patel’s no-nonsense, to the point writing style is written for a non-technical audience and is packed with helpful illustrations. This is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the unique characteristics of Bitcoin.
“Layered Money: From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies” – by Nik Bhatia. The book explores the origins of how money has evolved to function in a “layered” manner. Bhatia traces the evolution of money such as gold from raw materials, to gold coins, and bank-issued gold certificates. He then applies that framework to the evolution of digital currencies like Bitcoin, showing how Bitcoin can evolve to become a foundational and trusted world currency.
“Bitcoin Is Venice: Essays on the Past and Future of Capitalism” – by Allen Farrington and Sacha Meyers. Through a number of essays, the authors present a compelling case for sound money and specifically Bitcoin as a transformative economic and cultural force. The book likens the impact to the Renaissance in Venice through its decentralized nature. They believe Bitcoin can foster innovation, financial stability, and a more equitable global economy.
“Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money” – by Nathaniel Popper. Digital Gold chronicles the rise of Bitcoin, tracing its development from a niche concept to a global financial phenomenon. The book explores the key figures (including their motives) and events that have shaped Bitcoin’s journey (especially early on), and highlights its potential to revolutionize the world’s financial system.
