Favorite Books

As a young entrepreneur, I only read business, leadership, and non-fiction books.

As I’ve matured, I mostly read fiction and re-read the greats.

The best leadership, strategy, and business books can be found in fiction, stories, and essays.

I once locked myself in a 25sqm apartment without wifi(!) for a year and a half to level up my thinking (my own training arc) so I could lock in and read books. I’m a bit intense and obsessive.

Here are some of my favorite books throughout the years

1. Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality (HPMOR.com) - the premise of the author, Yudosky, is that it’s easier to teach rationality & critical thinking through stories. The best example he gave is that the bible is one of the best mediums for people to learn morals because stories stick in our primitive minds much easier than “principles’. Imagine Harry as a budding experimental scientist armed with college level education & a rational mind as he enters the world of wizardry. This is the most fun read I’ve had as an adult. I’ve re-read this book three times now and it has deeply shaped my perspective on how to think rationally and has imbued me with a deep love of experimentation and science.
2. Incerto Series by Taleb (Black Swan & Antifragile) - I opened up intellectually because of Taleb, he gave words to my intuitive thinking and decision making. I would be nowhere in my life without his clear thinking.
3. All works by Robert Greene - my favorites are mastery & 33 strategies of war. I credit these 2 books for “early success” professionally.
4. Poor Charlie’s Almanack - constantly re-read the G.O.A.T. In particular, Charlie Munger has armed with the right mental models to approach learning and life as a human and as a business person.
5. Worm by Wildbow - Longest book i've ever read (I think it’s the longest book ever publish). This is probably one of the greatest pieces of rational fiction ever written where you see a c level super villain team with weak powers (bug control, guy who make things dark, guy who can make people slip, a girl who can intuit) take on God level superheroes and villains through aggressive offensive strategy, presence of mind, creativity, and of course, friendship.The constant escalation & evolution of conflict is unmatched by any other piece of content i've consumed.
6. Napoleon a life - resonate so much with the Corsican bastard. A mind & spirit stuck in the islands unleashed onto the global stage. I resonate more with Napoleon’s early life up to his first 10 years as Emperor and will do my best to avoid post 10 years as Emperor Napoleon.
7. Titan (John D Rockefeller) - resonate with Rockefeller’s early life & wish to employ his general strategies.
8. The Fish that ate the Whale - I am a fish eating a whale in many ways. I have an immigrant’s spirit in a digital age.
9. Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson - a huge inspiration for me to write fiction because the plot is resource driven.
10. Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson - i prefer the first trilogy than second era. I recommend this to adults all the time to get them hooked into fiction. I literally broke down on the first book.
11. Ender’s game & Ender’s shadow series - i prefer Shadow Series because I love the learning from former comrades and fellow generals fighting each other rather than an army fighting aliens.
12. The Lies of Locke Lamora - Ocean’s 11 but in a fantasy mercantile setting with humor.
13. Greenlights by Matthew M - best audible I’ve listened to in my life and i’ve listened to a lot.
14. All works by Ryan Holiday - my favorites are conspiracy & obstacle is the way
15. High output management - G.O.A.T for Product Managers
16. Seeking Wisdom from Darwin to Munger - G.O.A.Ts for Clear thinking
17. Kitchen Confidential by Bourdain - business & leadership book wrapped in restaurant biography
18. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - I attempt to read daily but I read mostly when I feel overwhelmed.
19. The name of the wind series - the two books that beautifully explores and captures the wandering and aimless nature of a hero’s journey while doing nothing and going nowhere.
20. Pokemon and the Origin of Species - another rational fiction book that explores an ultra hard mode version of the world of pokemon where children die from low level pokemon attacks
21. Siddharta - i can think, i can wait, i can fast