Taught me that the biggest questions often have absurd answers — and that's okay. The real lesson: question everything, especially the question itself.
Science Fiction
2
The Foundation Series
Isaac Asimov
The idea that you can use math and science to predict and shape civilization's future. Psychohistory is basically what we're attempting with AI and data.
Science Fiction
3
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
Epic world-building and the power of fellowship against impossible odds. Sometimes the smallest players change everything.
Fantasy
4
Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
J.E. Gordon
The best book on structural engineering ever written. If you want to build rockets, cars, or anything physical — start here.
Engineering
5
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Walter Isaacson
Shows how radical thinking and relentless curiosity can reshape our understanding of reality. Einstein wasn't just smart — he refused to accept limits.
Biography
6
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Walter Isaacson
Franklin was the original polymath entrepreneur — inventor, diplomat, scientist, writer. Proof that one person can operate across many domains.
Biography
7
Superintelligence
Nick Bostrom
A serious examination of what happens when AI surpasses human intelligence. Required reading for anyone building AI systems.
AI & Technology
8
Zero to One
Peter Thiel
The difference between copying what works and creating something genuinely new. Competition is for losers — build monopolies through innovation.
Business
9
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Robert Heinlein
A lunar colony's fight for independence. Great exploration of self-governance, AI consciousness, and why space colonization matters.
Science Fiction
10
Merchants of Doubt
Naomi Oreskes
Exposes how a small group of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco to climate change. Understanding disinformation is critical.
Science & Society
11
Life 3.0
Max Tegmark
What does it mean to be alive in the age of AI? Tegmark maps out the possible futures — and why getting AI alignment right is existential.
AI & Technology
12
Our Final Invention
James Barrat
A stark warning about artificial general intelligence. Not pessimistic — realistic. You can't solve a problem you refuse to acknowledge.