Reading & Listening List

Here’s a curated list of essential technology and business books & podcasts designed to sharpen your skills, inspire innovation, and drive success. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, these reads offer valuable insights into the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of both fields.

Books

Read Write Own

by Chris Dixon

A visionary guide on building the decentralized internet of the future, exploring blockchain and the shift from web2 to web3.

Kill It with Fire: Manage Aging Computer Systems (and Future Proof Modern Ones)

by Marianne Bellotti

A practical guide for IT professionals on managing and modernizing legacy systems, while preparing for future technological advancements.

Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing)

by Salman Khan

An insightful exploration into how AI will transform education, making learning more personalized and accessible.

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders

by L. David Marquet

A compelling leadership book that recounts how one leader transformed a struggling naval crew into a top-performing team by empowering them to take ownership.

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters

A deep dive into the mindset required to create innovative startups, focusing on building unique, world-changing products rather than simply competing in existing markets.

High Growth Handbook: Scaling Startups from 10 to 10,000 People

by Elad Gil

A strategic guide for startup leaders on scaling operations, hiring, and navigating the challenges of rapid growth.

Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building

by Claire Hughes Johnson

Insights and tactics from a seasoned executive on how to effectively scale teams and build a strong organizational culture in a growing company.

The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to Learn

by Richard W. Hamming & Bret Victor

A thought-provoking book that encourages readers to think deeply and creatively about problem-solving in science and engineering.

Stratechery

by Ben Thompson

A popular blog offering in-depth analysis of technology and media strategy, with a focus on the intersection of business and technology.

The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done

by Peter F. Drucker

A classic guide on management, focusing on how executives can maximize their effectiveness through time management, decision-making, and prioritization.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

by Ben Horowitz, Kevin Kenerly, et al.

A candid look at the challenges of building and leading a startup, offering practical advice on navigating the toughest aspects of entrepreneurship.

Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company

by Andrew S. Grove

A guide to navigating and leveraging strategic inflection points—moments of critical change in business—by the former CEO of Intel.

The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail

by Clayton M. Christensen

A foundational book on disruptive innovation, exploring why successful companies often fail when faced with new technologies and how to avoid this fate.

The Gene: An Intimate History

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

A captivating history of genetics, tracing the scientific discoveries that have shaped our understanding of heredity and human identity.

Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II

by Arthur Herman

An inspiring account of how American industry mobilized during World War II, turning the country into the arsenal of democracy and securing victory.

Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

by Tony Fadell

Insights from the creator of the iPod on the process of designing and bringing innovative products to market.

Rework

by Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson, et al.

A provocative manifesto for entrepreneurs, challenging conventional business wisdom and offering a new approach to work and success.

The Culture Code

by Daniel Coyle, Will Damron, et al.

A deep dive into the secrets of highly successful groups, exploring how culture can be nurtured to drive performance and innovation.

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

by Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, et al.

Leadership lessons from former Navy SEALs, emphasizing accountability, teamwork, and discipline in achieving success.

When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management

by Roger Lowenstein

A gripping narrative of the rise and catastrophic fall of Long-Term Capital Management, offering insights into the dangers of financial overconfidence.

Business of Startups 2020

by Lessons learned from our first product recall

They say that if you’re not embarassed by your first version, you’re doing it wrong. Well when you’re selling DIY space shuttle kits it turns out it’s a bit more complicated.

Books

Podcasts