Books that left a lasting impression.
Ben Horowitz — The most honest book about the struggles of running a company. No platitudes, just real stories about difficult decisions every CEO faces.
Peter Thiel — Contrarian thinking about startups and monopolies. The questions this book raises are more valuable than the answers it provides.
Daniel Kahneman — A masterwork on cognitive biases and decision-making. Changed how I evaluate my own judgments and those of others.
Ray Dalio — Life and work principles from one of the world's most successful investors. A systematic approach to decision-making and building culture.
Scott Galloway — Blunt, often funny observations on success, relationships, and what actually matters. No sugarcoating.
Scott Belsky — The part of building something that nobody talks about: the long slog between starting and finishing. Practical and honest.
Hermann Hesse — A timeless novel about the search for meaning. Best read slowly, revisited often.
Morgan Housel — Why personal finance is more about behavior than spreadsheets. Clear thinking about wealth, greed, and contentment.
Matt Ridley — A compelling case for why human progress is real and likely to continue. Changed how I think about long-term trends.
Luo Guanzhong — A classic of Chinese literature. Strategy, loyalty, and leadership lessons wrapped in epic storytelling.
Danny Meyer — The philosophy behind Union Square Hospitality Group. Hospitality as a business strategy, applicable far beyond restaurants.
Touraj Parang — A practical guide to startup M&A from someone who's been on both sides of the table. Essential reading for founders considering an exit.
Chris Hulls — A framework for thinking about acquisitions from a founder's perspective. Short, tactical, and hard to find elsewhere.