Quake Books

The quake books—as Tyler Cowen put it—that shake you to your core. These are the books that I most often refer to as ones that significantly impacted who I am today.

The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday

This book was one of those right message at the right time coincidences. It focuses on not only accepting adversity, but that to welcome adversity, as it is the only means by which to grow. I gift this book often, and it is the first time I came out the other side of a book a different person.

Finite and Infinite Games, James P. Carse

This books was such a light bulb moment for me. I read it in graduate school, which I was clearly treating as a finite game. If you graduate, you win. After reading, it was clear that I was in training to be a researcher, which is an infinite game. I have since applied this simple mindset shift to many aspect of my personal and professional life, and it really gives perspective.

Great Books – Self Help / Philosophy

Ego is the Enemy, Ryan Holiday

The Effective Executive, Peter F. Drucker

Principles, Ray Dalio

Mastery, Robert Greene

Patton on Leadership

Mediations, Marcus Aurelius

Good to Great, Jim Collins

Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss

Great Books – Science / Tech

The Perfect Theory

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas Kuhn

Endurance, Scott Kelly

The Discoveries, Alan Lightman