Library
Fiction
The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
Great story about individualism and productivity, the psychology of masses, and architecture.
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
Sober, uncensored writing. Realistic fiction, non-glorified description of the reality of World War 1.
A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towels
Excellent ending. Amor Towels tells a rich story with a diverse set of characters across decades - all from inside a hotel.
Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne
fun read with a lot of 19th-century science misconceptions.
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
Great read about humility, sacrifice, stoicism.
War and Peace - Leo Tolstoi
Great perspective for long-term thinking, highly immersive story and believable characters.
Nonfiction
Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World - Graham Allison
Very nuanced and mostly accurate analysis of geopolitical trends for the 21st century.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI - Yuval Noah Harari
I'm a big fan of Harari's work. Nexus tells the story of information and its power in human societies.
A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence - Jeff Hawkins
Breakdown of what intelligence is in theory and how the human brain fosters it. Extremely valuable insights.
An Elegant Defense - Matt Richtel
A showcase of the complexity of the human immune system. Great for people without a biochemistry degree.
Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey
One of the best biographies I have ever read.
Measure What Matters - John Doerr
Outcomes over output, valuable perspectives on measuring value creation and executing business strategy.
The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World - Peter Frankopan
Great read if you want to zoom out on eastern geopolitics and perspecitves on globalization.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Yuval Noah Harari
This is an extremely broad summary of how humans became what they are today. Sapiens breaks down how much our behavior, customs, means, and priorities have changed since the beginning of the species and why.
Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow - Yuval Noah Harari
Fascinating outlook on the next human millenium. The timeframe gives the author permission to think big.