These are the books that shaped my thinking across physics, philosophy, investing, and the future of humanity.

Biographies

  • A Man for All Markets (Ed Thorpe) - made me rethink risk, randomness, and blackjack as an approach to life
  • Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman (Richard Feynman) - curiosity personified; part of my origin story into physics

Philosophy

  • The Beginning of Infinity (David Deutsch) - “good explanations” as a razor and fallibalism as a life philosophy
  • The Road to Reality (Roger Penrose) - humbled me with the scope and depth of its physics

Science and Technology

  • The Case for Mars (Robert Zubrin) - aspirational during my high school years; now seems attainable
  • The Millenial Project (Marhsall T. Savage) - an outlier for its audacious vision for the future of humanity

Science Fiction

  • Anathem (Neal Stephenson) - the ultimate deep work; what if monks tried to push the boundaries of science?
  • Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir) - wish I had this during my physics coursework
  • Seveneves - a detailed speculation for how humanity could survive a true black swan
  • Stories of Your Life and Others - expanded my mind beyond my usual hard sci fi
  • The Three Body Problem (Liu Cixin) - the trilogy had the largest stakes of any book I’ve read