Become A Polymath: An Interdisciplinary Reading List

Note: this post is a long one, and lists over 120 books. I included an index below to help navigate it. 

 

Reading List Index:

• Science 
  • ​Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology 
  • Geology
  • Computer Science
  • Technology
• Math​
  • Systems Theory
  • Game Theory
• Social Sciences
  • Political Science
  • Economics
  • Psychology
  • Anthropology
  • Gender + Sex Studies
  • Archeology
  • Sociology
  • Environmental Science
• Humanities
  • History
  • Literature
  • Philosophy
  • Art 
  • Linguistics 
  • Religion
  • Myth
• Finance
• Entrepreneurship
• Professions
  • Design
  • Medicine
  • Media/Communications
  • Law
  • Agriculture 
  • Cooking
• Personal Development
  • Learning
  • Habits
  • Writing 
  • Goals
  • Values
  • Mastery

Hello there reader!

​I wanted to compile a list of books across disciplines that might provide the beginnings of a generalist education—for anyone who is eager for such a thing. And so, I did. Full disclosure: I have not read all of these books yet. In fact, I’ve read far too few. However, they are on my reading list, and I will pop some champagne when, and if, I get through them all. I hope you will, too.

You can use this resource to find something to put on your summer reading list, or to follow as an all-encompassing, overly ambitious goal. If you are wondering how to become a polymath, then this collection of books is your ticket. My belief is that it includes some of the best books of all time. 

Occasionally, the writing in this list can be a bit flippant. Did I say flippant? I meant funny. If it's not for you... my sincerest sympathies. 

Of course, reading works best when you do it well. Before embarking on your reading journey, here are some tools to help you remember what you read, and get better at learning.

Science

 

​Physics

 

6 Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics by Its Most Brilliant Teacher — Richard Feynman

Nobel-Prize winner Richard Feynman walks the reader through the nature of atoms, quantum physics, gravity, the conservation of energy, and other key concepts in physics. 6 Easy Pieces is written for the eager, curious student and doesn't require a background in mathematics. If you are looking to develop an introductory grasp of physics, you could do much worse than this book.

The Theoretical Minimum — Leonard Susskind & George Hrabovsky

​The authors cover classical physics, laws of motion, dynamics, as well as electrical and magnetic forces. More math-heavy than 6 Easy Pieces, The Theoretical Minimum remains approachable and focused on the the essentials. Plus, the authors allude to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men in the first lecture, so you know it must be good. 

For the Love of Physics: From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge of Time — Walter Lewin

Bill Gates—the computer guy--writes that Lewin is "an incredible teacher who’s passionate about the beauty of physics and its power as a way of looking at the world". He adores this book, and you should, too. Lewin makes physics relatable and fun, without sacrificing on clarity and explanatory power. Pair this book with Lewin's iconic physics lectures, and you are well on your way to developing a foundational understanding of the discipline. 

Chemistry

 

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe — Theodore Gray & Nick Mann

​Elements. There are a bunch of them. This book does a wonderful job of breaking down the periodic table, and rendering each element with stunning visuals and clear—yet in-depth—descriptions. Did you know that boron carbide is one of the hardest known substances? Now you do. What can you do with this newfound knowledge? I'm sure you'll think of something.

Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape our Man-Made World — Mark Miodownik

Asides from being obsessed with the letter M, Miodownik is also obsessed with stuff. While we often take the materials of the world around us for granted, he obsesses over their complexity. From glass to steel, Miodownik wants to know why it behaves the way it does, and how it came to be that way. Each chapter presents a different material from a unique perspective. 

Chemistry: Class XI — NCERT

Textbooks don't have to be boring. This one is chock-full of foundational knowledge—and well-formatted, to boot.  it covers everything from bonding to thermodynamics and equilibrium. You can even read it online for free. This is the book that Walter White would want you to read.

As he once put it: "chemistry is, well technically, chemistry is the study of matter. But I prefer to see it as the study of change."

Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie — Barbara Goldsmith

This book offers a panoptic view of the world's most famous female chemist. Through letters, workbooks, diaries, and interviews, Goldsmith paints an all-too-human picture of Marie Curie, beginning with her early fascination with chemistry. A great book to uncover the humanity and stories behind the science of chemistry.

 

Biology
​

Biology — Campbell and Reese

The definitive biology textbook. It covers cells, genetics, evolution, and ecology—and that's just for starters. It's got fun chapters on viruses and fungi as well. If you want to learn everything possible about life on earth but don't know where to start, this book might just be your holy grail. 

Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worst — Robert Sapolsky

​Why do judges hand out harsher prison sentences before lunch? How do genes, hormones, environment and culture influence our behaviour? Are we basically just overfed, socially savvy baboons with killer technology? Sapolksy answers these questions and more in a tour-de-force effort that combines rigorous science with equal parts humour and wit. His concept of interdisciplinary buckets adds a lot of dimension to the  largely specialist-oriented study of biology.

Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life — Daniel C. Dennett

Darwin had, like, this pretty cool idea. Life is constantly changing. What if some of those changes helped certain organisms survive and pass on their genes, while leaving others in the dust? The life that survived would contain the DNA that program for those advantageous changes. Dennett explores the myriad implications of Darwin's theory of evolution through detailed logic and imaginative thought experiments.

The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity—And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race — Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael E. Long

I know what you are thinking—the title and subtitle of this book combined are far too long. That's okay though, because this book explains how desire works, and why anticipating so often feels better than having. It also happens to be the book I am reading as I write this article. If you want to understand why you can't stop watching Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen, or why dieting never seems to work, give it a read.

The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology — Shane Parrish & Rhiannon Beaubien
​
​This book breaks down concepts across scientific disciplines and applies them to diverse areas through analogy. How can thermodynamics help us think better about the spread of cultures? How does an understanding of alloying lead to the formation of better teams? Take a gander at my infographic summary of the book here. 

Geology

 

The Story of Earth: The First 4.5 Billion Years, from Stardust to Living Planet — Robert M. Hazen

​How did Earth go from space rock to hunk of burning magma to home? Hazen guides the reader through the history of our planet and the wild transformations that have occurred on it. Did you know that the sun used to "rise" every 5 hours, and the moon took up 250 times more space in the sky? I didn't. But now I do, and I'm kind of bummed out about it. #bringbackbigmoon

Annals of the Former World — John McPhee

This book won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction. It's about the geology of North America. Here's a picture of John McPhee looking like a bad ass with his hands in his pockets. Enough said. 

 

Computer Science

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software — Charles Petzold

(note: the following book summary is in morse code—just in case you were wondering.)

-.-. --- -.. .. -. --. / .. ... / .- -. / . -..- - . -. ... .. --- -. / --- ..-. / .... ..- -- .- -. .. - -.-- .----. ... / .. -. --. . -. ..- --- ..- ... / .- -... .. .-.. .. - -.-- / - --- / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. -.-. .- - . .-.-.- / .--. . - --.. --- .-.. -.. / ... .... --- .-- ... / .... --- .-- / -.-. --- -- .--. ..- - . .-. ... / --- .--. . .-. .- - . / --- -. / - .... . / ..- -. .. --.- ..- . / .-.. .- -. --. ..- .- --. . ... / - .... .- - / .- / -... ..- -. -.-. .... / --- ..-. / ...- . .-. -.-- / ... -- .- .-. - / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . / -.-. .- -- . / ..- .--. / .-- .. - .... .-.-.-

The Art of Computer Programming — Donald E. Knuth

The Bible of computer programming. While it may not teach you current computer languages, it covers the foundations of algorithms and is required reading for any aspiring coder.

​If only there was an algorithm for coming up with great book recommendations...

Technology

 

The Way Things Work Now — David Macaulay

​Okay, so technically this book is for kids. However, I don't really know how anything works, so I found it extremely helpful. The Way Things Work Now explains everything from levers and friction to digital cameras and smartphones. If you have an inquisitive child—or clueless adult—in your life, this book is a great choice. 

 

Math

​Note: these books are great for exploring ideas in math, statistics, and game theory. If you want to learn math concepts from the ground up, Khan Academy might be a better bet. 

What is Mathematics?: An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods — Richard Courant, Herbert Robbins, Ian Stewart

What is Mathematics? is awesome. It begins with the basics that everyone is familiar with, and builds up from there. The biggest problem with formal mathematics education is  that classrooms proceed at a fixed pace. If you miss a couple of core concepts along the way, you get thrown to the wolves. Grab this book, and form your own wolf pack. 

The Art of Statistics: How to Learn From Data — David Spiegelhalter 

Mark Twain once wrote that "there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Actually, he didn't come up with it. He said it though. But he stole it.... from someone else. I mean, obviously he didn't steal it from himself.

The book? Oh yeah. Haven't read it yet. I've heard it's great, though!

Alex's Adventures in Numberland: Dispatches from the Wonderful World of Mathematics — Alex Bellos 

A fun admixture of math history and math proofs, this book delves into both areas with panache. A great introductory read. Alex's Adventures in Numberland  makes mathematics exciting again. 

Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction — Philip E. Tetlock & Dan Gardner

​This book exposes a glaring flaw in much of socio-economic theory: people—and markets—are terrible at predicting the future. However, Tetlock and Gardner show us that there are ways of improving at the art of prognostication. Working together to eliminate blindspots, thinking probabilistically, and being open to changing your position are three superpowers you can harness right away. So throw your crystal ball in the dumpster, and grab a copy of Superforecasting. 
​

Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets — Nassim Taleb

Written by everyone's favourite curmudgeonly ex-derivatives trader, Fooled by Randomness points out that we all like the world to fit into a neat, clearly explainable package. But, it just ain't so. Luck, chaos, and randomness are far more frequently to blame—or praise—for the events all around us. Nowhere is this more evident than the world of investing. Understanding how chance operates in our lives will make you more knowledgeable about markets, and about the uncertainty of life more broadly. Oh, and Nassim Taleb would also like to point out that he knows more than you. 
​

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World — And Why Things Are Better Than You Think — Hans Rosling

​Most people score worse than chimpanzees when taking a basic ten to twelve question quiz on global trends. We collectively seem to think that global poverty, health, and human progress are worsening—when in fact, they are getting better. Statistics to the rescue! You can take the quiz here (it's from 2018). You might just get a crisp, shiny certificate like this one: 

jealous?

​Systems Theory

 

Thinking in Systems: A Primer — Donella H. Meadows

​Many of the biggest problems facing us right now are due to system failures. This book uncovers how systems work, how myopic interventions can fail or backfire, and what to do about it. When Atul Gawande introduced a checklist for surgeons that cut mortality rates nearly in half, he was  addressing a systems-based issue. If you want to solve intractable problems and make a difference, this book is for you.

The Great Mental Models Volume 3: Systems and Mathematics — Rhiannon Beaubien & Rosie Leizrowice

​"Wait... how can you recommend a book that hasn't come out yet?" I hear you ask.
​
The answer is simple. Farnam Street has done a fantastic job of writing in detail about useful ideas from diverse subject areas. Their list of 100 mental models is required reading for anyone who seeks a well-rounded interdisciplinary education. 
​

Game Theory

 

The Evolution of Cooperation — Robert Axelrod

Written by a political scientist, this interdisciplinary work examines the role of cooperation in strategic thinking and decision-making. Ever wonder what you would do if you were arrested alongside your partner in crime, and asked to rat on him or her in exchange for a reduced sentence? Then read this book—because it's better to be prepared.

Introducting Game Theory: A Graphic Guide — Ivan Pastine & Tuvana Pastine

​I love books that take complex concepts and distill them into graspable, visual content. Game Theory: A Graphic Guide is just such a book. Getting down the basics of game theory is vital to cultivating a better understanding of evolution, economics, and human behaviour. In the best of all possible worlds, you could learn a game like poker or chess alongside this book. 

The Infinite Game — Simon Sinek

Games like football and checkers have clear rules and boundaries, well-defined end points, and winners. Also, losers. But, life is an infinite game. There is no finish line in the game of life. Chasing money, status, or fame are hollow illusions of victory. Having an overarching purpose, a vision of the future you want to participate in, is what makes the game worth the candle. Like a fine wine, this book pairs well with Sinek's other great work, Start With Why. 
​

Social Sciences

 

​Political Science

 

A Theory of Justice — John Rawls

​This is the book that spawned the famous "veil of ignorance" concept. A fair and just society is one where you would be okay being born into the world—even if you didn't know what your race, gender, or socioeconomic status would be. This model is great for making more impartial decisions, and is a classic thought experiment. In the process, Rawls tackles social contract theory and utilitarianism. You can read it for free here. Get some. 

The Prince — Niccolo Machiavelli

At the other end of the spectrum, The Prince is all about the acquisition, consolidation, and maintenance of power. It contains some savage phrases, like “if an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.” If you want to understand the mechanics of political power, give this one a go. Here's a copy you can read for free. 

Democracy in America — Alexis de Tocqueville

I speed read Democracy in America in just under 5 minutes. It is about America. And democracy.

​You're welcome. 

​You can read it for yourself here. It's only 836 pages short.

On Liberty — John Locke

On Liberty presents a defence of individual freedoms and an inditement of conformity and groupthink. Many of Locke's arguments (i.e. for free speech) seem uncontroversial today, but this is because they have been so deeply woven into the fabric of society. While his style is dated, the ideas remain as important as ever. Read it for free here. 

The Communist Manifesto — Karl Marx, Freidrich Engels

​"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Well, not really. Should we overthrow the current capitalist economic structure because it is corrupt and oppressive? I don't think so. The Communist Manifesto is a slim volume of well-intentioned but misguided political thought. Important to keep around as a reminder, though. 

This Amazon review says it all: 

The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to The French Revolution  — Francis Fukayama

​This book is an epic chronicle of political history from tribes to nation-states. Technically the first of a two-volume series, Fukayama documents the rise of modern democracies, and points out their common prerequisites: a state, the rule of law, and a capable government. A great book for understanding how political order came to be, as well as how fragile it often is. 

 

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of The Wealth of Nations — Adam Smith​

The foundational text of capitalism. Asides from the "invisible hand" of the market, Smith covers the economy of self-interest, wages, and... corn prices. In fact, he talks a lot about corn prices. But, if you can look beyond that, The Wealth of Nations is a landmark book which still bears relevance today.

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science — Charles Wheelan

Economics doesn't have to be an inscrutable subject, filled with lots of prevaricating and hedging. It can be less inscrutable, with only moderate amounts of prevaricating and hedging. Naked Economics takes the study of markets out of the world of astrology and into the world of... astronomy. Which is a better world. For everyone. 

Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy — Thomas Sowell

A bit more on the libertarian side, Sowell's book covers the law of unintended consequences, scarcity, and trade-offs. I debated between this book and Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson. I guess I'll include both. You can make up your mind over which one does a better job. 

23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism — Ha-Joon Chang 

There are no free markets. Trickle-down economics doesn't work. We need to ensure that markets serve us, and don't run amok instead. Chang's book is an excellent antidote to economic ignorance, and sheds light on how capitalism operates—and should operate. Economics should be like Neapolitan ice cream: you've got to have a little strawberry democracy, chocolate libertarianism, and vanilla socialism all mixed together. I mean you could just scoop your favourite flavour out, I suppose. Okay, analogy over.  ​

Psychology

 

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol Dweck

​No exaggeration: This book will change your life. Most of us spend a lot of time in fixed mindset, where mistakes are embarrassing and to be avoided, our talents and intelligence are genetically encoded at birth, and the success of others reveals our own inadequacies. Dweck offers another path: a growth mindset. We can embrace failure/ mistakes as fuel for progress, become smarter and more skilled, and use the success of others to bolster our own efforts. This is the book to read if you want to reach your fullest potential.

Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman

Pioneering behavioural economist Danny Kahneman outlines two thinking systems: one that is fast, intuitive, but prone to bias, and the other which is slower, more deliberate, and less prone to bias. The book also addresses our tendency towards loss aversion and overconfidence. If you want to make better decisions, it is best to practice delayed intuition. Spend some time mulling things over in system 2 before making a system 1 judgment. 

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion — Robert Cialdini

Remember Machiavelli's The Prince? This is like the civilized, evidence-based, toned down version of that book. Discover how to persuade others to your point of view and get people on board with your idea, project, or vision. Humans are reciprocal creatures; give someone something they want, and they are likely to give back in kind. When commodities appear scarce, we tend to value and desire them more. Which is why people went nuts for toilet paper early on in the pandemic. Aren't people just the best?

The Social Animal — Elliot Aronson

The definitive guide to social psychology. Aronson comprehensively covers the elements of social behaviour: from why we follow others, to how we become attracted to other people, to why advertising works. If you are one of those people who interacts with other people from time to time, then this book is a must-read.

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

When a tasks is too challenging and we are not capable enough, we get frustrated. When tasks are easy and our skill level is high, we get bored. In the middle lies the sweet spot of flow. When an activity is just outside of our comfort zone, but we feel competent and able, we enter into a state of deep focus and awareness. Time seems to melt away, and all that matters in the world is what is happening right now in front of us. Flow is a great  manual for reflecting on—and achieving—such states of consciousness. 

​Anthropology

 

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind — Yuval Noah Harari

This compelling book tells the saga of the human race, from 10,000 years ago until today. Along the way, Harari guides us through the revolutions that led to massive changes, and the advent of "intersubjectivity"—the stories that bind cultures and societies together. 

“A meaningful life can be extremely satisfying even in the midst of hardship, whereas a meaningless life is a terrible ordeal no matter how comfortable it is.”

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies — Jared Diamond

How much of human history has been dictated by geography? A ton, according to Jared Diamond. While some critics refer to this book as "geographical determinism", it offers a window into the localized  asymmetries of power that have dominated civilization. Basically Sid Meier's Civilization in book form. 

Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle — Daniel L. Everett

​Everett spent 7 years with a remote Amazonian tribe called the Pirahã. While his original intention was to convert them to Christianity, he became so enraptured with their idiosyncratic language that he made it his mission to understand it. Fast forward many years, and Everett is one of the leading linguists and researchers of his day. 

​Gender Studies

 

Women, Race & Class — Angela Davis 

​One of the best works of writing on the women's movement. She connects the dots between the anti-slavery movement and women's suffrage, pointing out that progress is a continual struggle against the equilibrium of the time. A great book to read if you want to understand racism, sexism and classism in America.

The Second Sex — Simone de Beauvoir 

A classic work on the concept of womanhood through history. She traces the experience of women navigating a world dominated by men and masculinity. After centuries of inequality and injustice towards women, this book is a vital corrective.

“Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with absolute truth.”

Iron John: a Book About Men — Robert Bly ​
​Men and masculinity are getting a hard rap these days. Young males are increasingly suffering from a lack of purpose, identity, and motivation. Celebrated American poet Robert Bly has something to say about all of that. Part myth, part psychological exposition, Bly explores what it means to be a man in a world where male growth has been systematically stunted.

​Archeology

 

Three Stones Make a Wall: The Story of Archeology — Eric Cline

Three Stones Make a Wall uncovers (pun intended) many of the universal characteristics of modern archeological digs. Cline presents many of the personalities of archeology, and traces the history of a relatively recent discipline. This book is also a tour of many of the world's most fecund archeology sites. A great read if you are as unfamiliar with the subject as I am. ​

Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention — Ben Wilson

​Cities. You probably either live in one, or have heard of one. Metropolis shows how cities came to be, and argues that so much of human ingenuity and progress are the result of them. He's not wrong. All in all, a fascinating historical analysis of a feature of humanity that we so often take for granted. 

A Short History of Humanity — Johannes Krause & Thomas Trappe

In case you haven't noticed the trend, I am a fan of expansive, sweeping histories of humanity and social progress. This work by Krause & Trappe explores the emerging science of "archeogenetics", or the study of ancient DNA. It tells a story of a species that has been wandering and mingling since time immemorial.

​Sociology

 

Economy and Society — Max Weber

A complex and sophisticated comparison of societies across many domains: law, freedom, class, and communities. While difficult to read, it is a pioneering work in the field of sociological analysis and is worth taking some time to hack away at. 

The Sociological Imagination — C. Wright Mills 

This book examines the interwoven strands of the individual and society. Mills is essentially a humanist—he argues for a sociology that accurately examines and works towards resolving the biggest issues that we face.
 
"That these three - biography, history, and society - are the co-ordinate points of the proper study of man has been a major platform on which I have stood when criticizing several current schools of sociology who have abandoned this classic tradition."

Deschooling Society — Ivan Ilych

It is no shocking revelation that our school system is  broken. Standardized testing, common core, and a total disconnect between modern learning science are all rampant, and render institutional education woefully ineffective. Illich's treatise recommends self-directed education and social bonds that value learning as a way to counteract the damage that schools have done. 

​Environmental Science

 

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Shape Our Minds, & Shape Our Futures — Merlin Sheldrake

First of all, Merlin Sheldrake is such a bad-ass name. He is clearly some kind of wizard. I'll bet he's currently toting a staff and conjuring earth daemons in a remote cave somewhere that smells of peat moss and rain. 
​
This book is about one of my favourite fascinations: fungi. Sheldrake explores their intelligence, as well as their colossal impact on human development. This book may just change the way you see the world. 

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions we Have and the Breakthroughs We Need — Bill Gates 

Bill Gates—that computer guy again—seeks to tackle climate change and chart a course towards a zero-emissions economy. He outlines the progress we have made so far, and offers a call to action for present & future generations. Given that climate change is one of the most pressing existential challenges that we face, it would be wise for us all to take heed. 

The Diversity of Life — E. O. Wilson

One of the world's most celebrated biologists explores the emergence of biodiversity on the planet, and delineates humanity's role in threatening it. 

Fun fact: Wilson is a myrmecologist, which, as everyone knows, is the study of mermaids. Wondering how many mermaids he found in the Amazon jungle? You'll have to read the book to find out. ​

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries From a Secret World — Peter Wohlleben

As it turns out, trees are far more conscious than we give them credit for. Wohlleben shares his decades of dendrology knowledge and expertise in this book.

“When you know that trees experience pain and have memories and that tree parents live together with their children, then you can no longer just chop them down and disrupt their lives with larger machines.”

The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World — Andrea Wulf

Humboldt was one of the first people to truly see the interconnectedness of nature for what it was. Wulf writes about how much of an impact the man had on future generations of naturalists, politicians and artists. 

“Humboldt ‘read’ plants as others did books – and to him they revealed a global force behind nature, the movements of civilizations as well as of landmass. No one had ever approached botany in this way.”

Humanities

 

​History

 

The Lessons of History — Will & Ariel Durant 

The Durants are a true power couple. Over four decades, they toiled away and compiled a comprehensive eleven volume masterwork called The Story of Civilization. This book is a condensed version of their encyclopedic efforts. Whether you are a novice looking to begin your journey into the world of history, or a seasoned historiographer searching for a compact account of global historical events, this book will serve you well.

A Short History of Nearly Everything — Bill Bryson 

Okay, so this book doesn't technically belong in the humanities section of this post. My bad. However, it is an amazing sojourn in the world of historical science. Guided by the perennially funny Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything is like a tour of the universe, from the Big Bang to the discovery of cosmic background radiation—and beyond. A great read. 

History of the Peloponnesian War — Thucydides 

​This book came on my radar after Robert Greene recommended it here. Written around 400 B.C., Thucydides details the events of war between Athens and Sparta.  If you want to read about history from the person who ostensibly invented it, then History of the Peloponnesian War is for you. 

"It has been said that Earthling civilization, so far, has created ten thousand wars, but only three intelligent commentaries on war—the commentaries of Thucydides, of Julius Caesar and of Winston Niles Rutherfoord."     -- Kurt Vonnegut

A Little History of the World — Ernst Gombrich 

Intended for younger readers, Gombrich's A Little History of the World  captures the arc of history in 40 succinct chapters. While it is very far from a complete telling of history, as a telling of the story of history it works marvellously.  

“It’s a bad idea to try to prevent people from knowing their own history. If you want to do anything new you must first make sure you know what people have tried before.”

​Literature

 

One Hundred Years of Solitude — Gabriel Garcia Marquez 

My favourite novel of all time, hands down. An epic tale of the fictional town of Macondo, that revolves around the Buendias family across multiple generations. One Hundred Years of Solitude is filled with magic, intrigue, love, ice, and firing squads, among other things.

"...and then they learned that dominant obsessions can prevail against death..." 

The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Certainly one of the greatest American novels ever written. We get more than a taste of New York during the roaring 20's, and encounter a pining romantic millionaire playboy—who throws lavish, unparalleled parties. What's not to like? 

“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.”

Lolita — Vladimir Nabokov

​Highly controversial for its time—and to this day—Lolita follows our "friend" Humbert Humbert as he tries to convince us that falling in love with his wife's twelve year old daughter is okay. One of the most incredible literary feats of all time... and Nabokov didn't even write it in his first language. That would be like deciding to start learning Mandarin and then composing Hamlet... in Mandarin. Beyond impressive. 

​“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul."

Brave New World — Aldous Huxley 

​A nightmarish depiction of an authoritarian society where people are genetically fabricated in test tubes, anaesthetized with a drug called Soma, and brainwashed into accepting the roles and occupations that are given to them. So, kind of like real life right now. 

“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”

1984 — George Orwell

Another tale of an epic, dystopian world. Orwell conjures up a world where everyone's freedoms have been stripped away, and Big Brother is always watching. The novel offers up multiple neologisms: newspeak (where all complex thinking and expression is excised from language) and doublethink (the mental gymnastics conducted to fit in with the totalitarian directives) are chief among them. 

“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.”

Hamlet — William Shakespeare 

​Simply put, one of Shakespeare's most recognized—and greatest—plays. 

“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.”
​

Philosophy

 

A History of Western Philosophy — Bertrand Russell

A clear, concise recounting of the lives of the world's major philosophers and their defining ideas—from ancient Greece to the 20th century. The chapters are relatively short, allowing you to feel a sense of forward movement as you progress through this tome of collected human wisdom.

“To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy, in our age, can still do for those who study it.”

The Story of Philosophy — Will Durant 

Written by one half of the Durant duo, The Story of Philosophy is another great work that spans the history of human thought. Knowing what struggles the greatest minds faced gives us a new perspective on the issues of our own times. Durant's aim here is to humanize knowledge. A great book for the aspiring generalist who wants to dabble in philosophy. 

“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.”

The Symposium — Plato 

The philosopher A. N. Whitehead once wrote that  "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato." So much of the bedrock of philosophy can be discovered in Plato's writing, and this is one of his most approachable works. Dealing with the perennial subjects of love and beauty, The Symposium is a unique combination of myth and ideas. 

“Love is simply the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole.”

Meditations — Marcus Aurelius

This work was never intended to see the light of the day. Written by candlelight in the small hours of the night, the journal of Marcus Aurelius contains some of the most incisive wisdom and advice ever laid down on the page. A great introduction to Stoicism. I highly recommend the Gregory Hays translation, as it is more modern and comprehensible. 


“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

The Myth of Sisyphus — Albert Camus

A great primer on existentialist philosophy. If we are destined to endure the hardships of an indifferent universe—like Sisyphus rolling his rock up a mountain, only to have it fall back down and start again—why should we live? Camus explores the question of suicide, which he calls the only serious question in philosophy, and emerges with a more optimistic worldview than one might expect. 

“The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

On The Genealogy of Morals — Freidrich Nietzsche

​Not for the faint of heart. Nietzsche takes on the evolution of Christian morality, arguing that "good" and "evil" are judgments based on a framework of meekness and flawed character, in an attempt to eradicate the animal qualities of humankind. Nietzsche argues for the self-determination of values, and against the morality of the herd. Great reading if you want to become an Übermensch—which is a lovely word. However, I think science has had more to say about morality in the intervening decades since Genealogy was written. 


“Man, the bravest of animals, and the one most accustomed to suffering, does not repudiate suffering as such; he desires it, he even seeks it out, provided he is shown a meaning for it, a purpose of suffering. The meaninglessness of suffering, not suffering itself, was the curse that lay over mankind so far.”

Art

 

Ways of Seeing — John Berger 

Berger explores how we see art and make meaning from our visual surroundings. One of the best works on European artistic traditions since the 15th century. 

“The mirror was often used as a symbol of the vanity of woman. The moralizing, however, was mostly hypocritical. You painted a naked woman because you enjoyed looking at her, you put a mirror in her hand and you called the painting "Vanity", thus morally condemning the woman whose nakedness you had depicted for your own pleasure.”

The Story of Art — Ernst Gombrich 

Gombrich is at it again, this time with a much lengthier treatise on the history of art—from cave paintings to the modern stuff. 


“One never finishes learning about art. There are always new things to discover.”

The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh

What better way to discover the world of art than to witness the intimate writings of one of its most distinguished practitioners? These letters reveal the life of a tortured artist searching for love and meaning. But they also reveal an articulate voice, well versed in literature, who was deeply connected with other artists of his day.

“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.”

 

Linguistics
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An Introduction to Language — Victoria A. Fromkin, Robot Rodman, Nina Hayems

While you were likely introduced to language at a very young age, it helps to add some formal metalearning to the equation.  Easy to read, this volume is filled with humour and clear explanations of complicated concepts. Great for the study of linguistics or the psychology of language.

The Language Instinct — Steven Pinker 

The author of such great works as The Stuff of Thought and Enlightenment Now takes you on a guided tour of language, from how it evolved to how the brain processes it to how we learn it. 

“Humans are so innately hardwired for language that they can no more suppress their ability to learn and use language than they can suppress the instinct to pull a hand back from a hot surface.”

The Etymologicon — Mark Forsyth

The chapter titles, such as Dick Snary, Autopeotomy and Cappucino Monks, should give you a reasonably good indication of the amount of humour and hilarity present in this book. Forsyth ventures forth into the wacky world of language and its origins, establishing the relationships between such disparate-seeming words as gentleman and hydrogen, or buffaloes and film buffs.

“Poetry is much more important than the truth, and, if you don't believe that, try using the two methods to get laid.”

Religion

 

The Bible — God

The greatest story ever told. 

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

The Qur'an 

The greatest story ever told. 

"When the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them. And capture them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayers, and pay the alms, then let them go their way. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."

The Upanishads 

​The greatest story ever told. 

“You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny. [ Brihadaranyaka IV.4.5 ]”

The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings — Thich Nhat Hanh 

A distillation of Buddhist ideas from one of its most inspiring practitioners. An enlightening read(pun intended). 

“Don’t throw away your suffering. Touch your suffering. Face it directly, and your joy will become deeper. You know that suffering and joy are both impermanent. Learn the art of cultivating joy. Practice like this, and you come to the third turning of the Third Noble Truth, the “Realization” that suffering and happiness are not two. When you reach this stage, your joy is no longer fragile. It is true joy.”

Myth

 

The Power of Myth — Joseph Campbell & Bill Moyers

 Campbell shows us who we really are. He holds the mirror of a thousand stories up to our faces, so that we can see—and create—ourselves anew. Even in a world of technology and science, old narratives and myths have a place in our hearts and minds. 

“Follow your bliss and doors will open where there were no doors before.”

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes — Edith Hamilton

An excellent introduction to the world of heroes and mythology. It includes a diverse array of Greek, Norse, and Roman myths that give the reader a better sense of the many literary allusions that crop up in modern media. If you looking to get a sense of ancient mythology without reading through dozens of volumes, this book is a perfect fit.

“The early Greek mythologists transformed a world full of fear into a world full of beauty.”

 

Finance + Entrepreneurship

 

The Psychology of Money — Morgan Housel

This book makes the argument that money has a lot more to do with decision-making and behaviour than with mathematical formulas. Another revelation the authors make: how wealthy you are has more to do with luck than you might think. Being born in a country with high income and more entrepreneurial opportunities isn't something you can control, but it has an outsized impact on your mindset and approach to money. 

"Money’s greatest intrinsic value—and this can’t be overstated—is its ability to give you control over your time.”

Rich Dad, Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki

A classic personal finance read that completely changed my views on money and investing. The bottom line: wealth comes from positive cash flow, and positive cash flow comes from income producing assets. If you have to rely on a paycheque, it will take forever to get rich. If it is wealth you seek, better to become an investor or an owner.

“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.”

I Will Teach You to Be Rich — Ramit Sethi

Want to learn how to master your money without scrimping on the fun stuff in life? Ramit Sethi offers a unique system to automate your income and expenses, and work towards financial independence. This isn't a get-rich-quick book; it's a get rich through calculated saving and spending over 20 years book. That doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, though...

“Frugality, quite simply, is about choosing the things you love enough to spend extravagantly on—and then cutting costs mercilessly on the things you don’t love.”

The Lean Start-Up — Eric Ries

​A great book for those who are interested in starting their own businesses or participating in emerging, innovative organizations. Ries provides insights on how to succeed with limited initial capital, and design a product that actually fits consumer's needs through experimentation. There has never been a better time to start a new entrepreneurial project, and this book can show you how. 

“The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.”

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

A short read; I devoured this book in two days. Thiel, the legendary entrepreneur behind Paypal and Palantir, walks you through the art of building something new. Along the way, he outlines why monopolies are good, how technological progress has actually stagnated, and how there are still secrets left to be uncovered. You can read my full review here. 

“The most valuable businesses of coming decades will be built by entrepreneurs who seek to empower people rather than try to make them obsolete.”

Professions

 

​Design

 

The Design of Everyday Things — Donald A. Norman

Almost everything in your immediate domestic environment is the product of design—and a lot of it is crap. Norman details the principles of good design, and shows us that how it can be done in this indispensable book. 

“A brilliant solution to the wrong problem can be worse than no solution at all: solve the correct problem.”

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People — Susan M. Weinschenk

This is a superb book that explores the psychology of design, and shows you how to create user experiences which yield the results you seek—whether you are creating a new product, writing a blog post, or designing the latest app.
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“People seek out and pay attention to information and cues that confirm their beliefs. They don’t seek out—in fact, they ignore or even discount—information that doesn’t support what they already believe.”

Medicine

 

The Emperor of All Maladies — Siddartha Mukherjee

Mukherjee has written a sweeping, Pulitzer prize-winning history of cancer, which provides insights into what the future of treatment will look like. 

“Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing. —Voltaire”

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science — Atul Gawande 

Gawande is ruthlessly honest about the medical profession, and reveals its all-too-human flaws. Complications is divided into three sections: fallibility, mystery, and uncertainty. Medical advances can only come if these three factors are controlled and reduced.

“No matter what measures are taken, doctors will sometimes falter, and it isn't reasonable to ask that we achieve perfection. What is reasonable is to ask that we never cease to aim for it.”

Media/Communications

 

Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media — Edward S. Herman & Noam Chomsky

The authors argue that American mass media is guilty of pedalling propaganda and projecting worldviews that best align with their interests. In an age of media divisiveness, "fake news", and post-truth politics, Manufacturing Consent should be required reading. 

“Education is a system of imposed ignorance.”

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die — Chip & Dan Heath

​​Have you ever wondered why some terrible ideas (like flat earth conspiracy theories) end up proliferating while fantastic ideas (like flurbocoin) go extinct? Then this is the book for you. Ideal reading material for entrepreneurs who want to make sure their ideas/products/services stick, and don't get left in the dust.


“The most basic way to get someone's attention is this: break a pattern.”

Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man — Marshall MacLuhan

The grandfather of modern communications theory. Many of his ideas have entered into common parlance—most notably "the medium is the message". Although, when the work of the same name was published, it contained an error: "the medium is the massage". MacLuhan decided to keep it, as it worked on multiple levels ("massage" and  "mass age"). 

“Art is anything you can get away with.”

Law

 

The Rule of Law — Tom Bingham 

Bingham examines the eponymous phrase, showing how social stability, economic progress, and justice itself depend on it. An excellent foray into the role of law in modern society.

“In a world divided by differences of nationality, race, colour, religion and wealth [the rule of law] is one of the greatest unifying factors, perhaps the greatest, the nearest we are likely to approach to a universal secular religion.”

Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges — Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner

A guide to improving at the art of persuasion and playing the game. Perfect if you want to spend some time mastering what Adam Grant calls "prosecutor mode" in his book Think Again. 

"I think I'm a pretty nice fella."  — Antonin Scalia

Agriculture

 

The Man Who Fed the World — Leon Hesser

You many not know him that well, but Norman Borlaug changed the world. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work which catalyzed the Green Revolution, and saved more than 100 million lives. While Hesser's biographical work leaves something to be desired, the story of Borlaug is an inspirational one. 

Also, no one seems to be able to spell his name (Bourlag - exhibit a, Borlang - exhibit b).

Restoration Agriculture: Real World Permaculture for Farmers — Mark Shepard

The word "permaculture" was coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in 1978. It is a combination of the words permanent and agriculture. Why am I telling you this? Because Shepard's book is all about permaculture—growing food sustainably, in a way that actually enhances the environment instead of degrading it. 

“The nation and most of the rest of the world is chasing a technofix instead of adjusting to ecological/economic reality.”

The Botany of Desire — Michael Pollan 

Have we truly domesticated plants? Or have they domesticated us? Pollan explores the proliferation of four plants and examines the world through their eyes. 

“It has become much harder, in the past century, to tell where the garden leaves off and pure nature begins.”

Cooking

 

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering The Elements of Good Cooking — Samin Nosrat

Now a popular Netflix special, Samin Nosrat distills the elements of good cooking into four essential ideas. Through this lens, she offers 100+ recipes that can be played around with to develop a better understanding of how ingredients and cooking processes go together. The perfect book to read if you don't know a fricassee from a vindaloo. 

“Play to each element’s strengths: use Salt to enhance, Fat to carry, and Acid to balance flavor.”

The Way to Cook — Julia Child

With such a self-assured title from an iconic name in cooking, you know this book is bound to deliver. This book is a great introduction to the basics of cooking for beginners, as well as an improvisational guide for more advanced gastronomes(had to look that one up). It contains over 800 recipes, which will only take you ten days to get through (if you make eighty dishes a day like a regular person).  

Personal Development

 

​Learning

 

Learn Like a Pro — Barbara Oakley & Olav Schewe

As a teacher at heart, I love the work that Barbara Oakley has done to take a step back and examine how we learn best. This book combines concepts from learning science and productivity tools to help you improve at any subject or skill. You can read my full summary of the book here. 

"Learning means connecting neurons in your brain. To make learning deep and lasting, you have to make those connections strong." 

Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning — Peter C. Brown

Learning how to learn is the ultimate meta-skill: it helps you to extract more knowledge and skill out of any book, class, or training. The authors of Make it Stick outline super effective learning methods—like retrieval, interleaving, and spaced repetition—that will serve you well as you tackle difficult learning projects. Check out my full summary here. 

"Making mistakes and correcting them builds the bridges to advanced learning." 

Ultralearning — Scott H. Young

Young is a consummate learner. In just twelve months, he completed the entire 4 year MIT curriculum, including tests and projects. This book shows you how you can take on audacious learning projects and succeed by following nine key principles. You can read more about what those principles are here. 

“Your deepest moments of happiness don’t come from doing easy things; they come from realizing your potential and overcoming your own limiting beliefs about yourself.”

Habits

 

Atomic Habits — James Clear 

Good habits are vital to a well-lived life. This is because so many of our day-to-day behaviours are automated. On top of that, many of the decisions we think are conscious are in fact merely the product of habit. James Clear breaks down how habits work from first principles, and offers some incredible systems and strategies to master our habits. 

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything — B. J. Fogg

Fogg shows you how to make habit formation easy and hyper-effective. It's all about celebrating incremental progress and starting off with small, but cumulative, efforts. A great complement to Atomic Habits. 

“In order to design successful habits and change your behaviors, you should do three things. Stop judging yourself. Take your aspirations and break them down into tiny behaviors. Embrace mistakes as discoveries and use them to move forward.”

Writing

 

The Elements of Style — William Strunk & E. B. White​

This classic book offers sage wisdom on writing, and provides a practical framework to improve at the craft. If you want to learn how to communicate effectively through writing, or brush up on your skills, then check out The Elements of Style. 

“When a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.”

On Writing Well — William Zinsser

Another no-nonsense guide to writing better. Zinsser shows that writing is very much a skill that can be learned—through practice and attentiveness. In a world where everyone writes, free copies of On Writing Well should be handed out in public. 

“Decide what you want to do. Then decide to do it. Then do it.”

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within — Natalie Goldberg

This book occupies the cross-disciplinary niche of Zen meditation and writing. Natalie Goldberg exhorts you to discover yourself through the act of creative composition, and get in touch with the depths of your own mind. 


“Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.”

Goals

 

Put Your Dream to the Test — John C. Maxwell

Leadership coach and author extraordinaire, John C. Maxwell wants to turn you from dreamer into achiever. He offers a step-by-step guide and ten incisive questions that will put you on the path to success. 

Remember: Don't let your dreams be dreams. 

“A dream worth pursuing is a picture and blueprint of a person's purpose and potential.”

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less — Greg Mckeown 

So many of the tasks that fill our days are laughably unimportant. And yet, time and again we get bogged down by the peripheral and the inessential. Mckeown's book gives the reader a system for cutting through the noise and focusing on the most vital work that gives our lives meaning and purpose.

“The word priority came into the English language in the 1400s. It was singular. It meant the very first or prior thing. It stayed singular for the next five hundred years.”

Values

 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck — Mark Manson

In this pioneering work of negative self-help, Mark Manson shows how far too many of us give far too many f*cks about the wrong things. He advocates for working towards clarity with regards to our personal values. The more you know what you want—and what is most meaningful in life—the less you need to worry about the nonsense. 
​“The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.”

Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl

Viktor Frankl endured three years of detention in Nazi concentration camps. In Man's Search for Meaning, he recounts the horrors he faced, as well as what kept him going. Frankl found that there are three fundamental sources of meaning in life: 1) the work you create or produce, 2) the people you love, and 3) how you respond to unavoidable suffering. It was this last source that gave Frankl a sense of agency when everything else had been stripped away from him. 

​“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help us Make a Difference — William MacAskill

A great primer on the effective altruism movement. Through a series of pointed questions, MacAskill helps you form better judgments on charitable giving, and avoid wasting valuable time and energy on charities that don't have much of an impact. In the emotion-laden world of altruism, Doing Good Better provides some much needed rational insights. 

“The challenge for us is this: How can we ensure that, when we try to help others, we do so as effectively as possible?”

Mastery

 

Mastery — Robert Greene

“Think of it this way: There are two kinds of failure. The first comes from never trying out your ideas because you are afraid, or because you are waiting for the perfect time. This kind of failure you can never learn from, and such timidity will destroy you. The second kind comes from a bold and venturesome spirit. If you fail in this way, the hit that you take to your reputation is greatly outweighed by what you learn. Repeated failure will toughen your spirit and show you with absolute clarity how things must be done.”

Peak: Secrets From the New Science of Expertise — Anders Ericsson 

At the core of the book lies the concept of deliberate practice. Just putting 10,000 hours into something isn't going to make you an expert at it. Deliberate practice requires adequate feedback, the correcting of errors, as well as a coach or mentor who can reveal your blind spots. Deliberate practice may not be particularly easy or fun, but it works.

“This is a fundamental truth about any sort of practice: If you never push yourself beyond your comfort zone, you will never improve.”

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World — David Epstein

We've been fed the myth that we should specialize early on, and double down on it. However, research shows that varying your practice, within and across disciplines, yields incredible benefits. It's better to try lots of things and find the right fit than toiling away at a single thing right out of the gate.

"Knowing when to quit is such a strategic advantage that every single person, before undertaking an endeavor should enumerate conditions under which they should quit.”