THE
POLYMATH
READING LIST
Books for understanding the past,
building the future, and becoming a
polymath.
Introduction
BY JACKSON TAYLOR, CAMERON THOMPSON, MATTHEW MASCOLO, COLLIN SMITH,
TREY GOFF, AND NATE BAKER
"For books are more than books, they are the life, the very heart and core of ages past, the
reason why men worked and died, the essence and quintessence of their lives."
-Marcus Tullius Cicero
"The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read."
-Mark Twain (probably)
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
-Proverbs 4:7 KJV
Compiled below is a carefully curated list of the most influential, educational, and inspirational
books that the founding team at Learn Arena has read over the years. You might have seen
some of these on other reading lists, and some you might not have seen. This is in no way meant
to be comprehensive, but do consider this your introduction to Learn Arena.
In the modern era, the success of a book is often more dependent upon the notoriety of the
publisher or the antics of the author than the work itself. This could not be further from the
polymath ideal. A literary work should stand on its own and aim to do nothing else but teach
those that know less about the subject than the author something useful about the world they
inhabit. The internet, and the exchange of ideas itself, is only as good as the ideas being
exchanged.
When was the last time you discussed a technical concept you found interesting with your
peers? Forcing you to formulate your speech in such a way that it lead to less ambiguity and not
more? We dare say the extent of most adult reading comes from the subtitles of [insert current
show that is earth shattering for all of 2 weeks] on Netflix. Why is this the case? Are we truly no
better than this!?
The answer to that question lies with the choice each one of us must make:
Do we bathe in the comfortable mediocrity and slide down our VR goggles to shield our eyes
from the degeneracy society is headed toward?
Or
Do we rip the goggles off, welcome the unrelenting wind of opposition in our face, and heed the
lessons taught by the greatest minds our species has ever produced?
If you choose the latter, you have chosen to start your journey to become a polymath.
We will see you in the Arena.
Cofounders
Learn Arena
1
JacksonTaylor
Cameron Thmpson
MatthewMascolo
CollinSmith
TreyGof
NateBaker
THE POLYMATH CANON
I AM INDEBTED TO MY FATHER
FOR LIVING, BUT TO MY
TEACHER FOR LIVING WELL"
-ALEXANDER THE GREAT
2
RANGE
DAVID EPSTEIN
This book is regarded among the Learn
founders as the single most influential
book on the design of the Learn Arena
platform. David Epstein makes a case for
why you should master a wide range of
disciplines. The short answer: do so and
you will be in a position to make
breakthroughs and innovations that no
narrow minded specialist would be
capable of.
THE POLYMATH
PETER BURKE
A detailed history of polymaths and how
they have shaped the arc of history;
written by Peter Burke, perhaps the
world’s leading expert on polymaths.
Burke identifies 500 western polymaths,
explores their wide-ranging contributions,
and demonstrates how their rise matched
a rapid growth of knowledge in the age of
the invention of printing, the discovery of
the new world and the scientific
revolution.
3
STEALING FIRE
STEVEN KOTLER
In ancient Greek mythology, the god
Prometheus managed to steal fire from
mount Olympus and give it to humanity,
which rapidly accelerated human
technological progress; it sparked the
dawn of civilization. Stealing Fire teaches
you how to do the same thing in your
personal life–how to attain the mystical
“flow state” where conscious thought is
sublimated to all-consuming, euphoric
focus on a specific task or project.
NUTRITION & PHYSICAL
DEGENERATION
WESTON PRICE
In the 1920’s and 30’s, Weston Price
traveled across the world studying
indegenous populations and how they
differed from genetically comparable
populations who had recently adopted the
western diet. His findings were
extraordinary and were compiled into
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration,
which is now a classic book on nutrition.
4
TECHNOLOGY
IF PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
MATHEMATICS IS SIMPLE, IT IS ONLY
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT REALIZE
HOW COMPLICATED LIFE IS."
- JOHN VON NEUMANN
5
WHERE IS MY
FLYING CAR?
J. STORRS HALL
We were promised flying cars, supersonic
jets, and profligate nuclear power too
cheap to meter. Instead we got 180
characters. Where is My Flying Car
explains why physical technological
progress is all but stalled, and how we can
restart it to make a prosperous sci-fi future
a reality.
LIFE 3.0
MAX TEGMARK
Polymaths gravitate toward the most
powerful & consequential technologies of
their time. There simply is no doubt that
artificial intelligence is that technology in
our current era. Begin developing your
understanding of this technology before it
is too late.
6
SUPERINTELLIGENCE
PATHS, DANGERS,
STRATEGIES
NICK BOSTROM
Nick Bostrom is perhaps the world’s most
prominent intellectual focusing on the
area of existential threats to humanity. He
believes superintelligent AI to rank chiefly
among those threats. This book outlines
Bostrom's research into how we might
create a superintelligent AI that will be
aligned with the goals of our species.
HUMAN
COMPATIBLE
STUART RUSSELL
Stuart Russell is a pioneer in the field of
artificial intelligence. In Human
Compatible, Russell argues that
continuing progress in AI capability is
inevitable due to enormous economic
Incentives. He offers refutations to a
number of common arguments dismissing
AI risk, and provides ideas for how we
might create “safe” AI.
7
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE: A
MODERN APPROACH
STUART RUSSELL & PETER NORVIG
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern
Approach is arguably the most popular
artificial intelligence textbook in the world.
We recommend this as the first step
towards a deeper technical understanding
of AI.
GROKKING DEEP
REINFORCEMENT
LEARNING
MIGUEL MORALES
Deep reinforcement learning is one of the
most promising approaches to artificial
intelligence. This is an outstanding
technical introduction to this subset of AI.
8
TUBES
ANDREW BLUM
In this ambitious work, Blum explores the
physical infrastructure underpinning the
most powerful network in the world; the
internet.
THE ART OF COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING
DONALD E. KNUTH
Published in 1968, The Art of Computer
Programming, Vol. 1 is a classic work of
computer science. Knuth presents an
overview of a wide variety of algorithms
and the analysis of them.
9
PHILOSOPHY
YOU HAVE POWER OVER YOUR
MIND - NOT OUTSIDE EVENTS.
REALIZE THIS, AND YOU WILL FIND
STRENGTH."
- MARCUS AURELIUS
10
MEDITATIONS
MARCUS AURELIUS
Our modern world is full of comfort &
distractions. To avoid atrophy and
perpetual adolescence, we must embrace
the struggles that force us to grow. You
must understand Stoicism, which is the
foundational philosophy that guided
some of the greatest leaders in history.
Perhaps no other man practiced &
contributed to the canon of stoicism more
than Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
HOW TO THINK LIKE
A ROMAN EMPEROR
DONALD ROBERTSON
Donald Robertson is a cognitivebehavioral psychotherapist who utilizes
the philosophy of stoicism into his clinical
practice. In How to Think Like a Roman
Emperor, Robertson covers the principles
of stoicism by detailing the life of Roman
emperor Marcus Aurelius and how he put
these principles into practice.
11
THE DAILY STOIC
RYAN HOLIDAY
Reading a foundational work on stoicism
is essential to understand it, but daily
reflection is essential to practice it. As the
most prolific modern proponent of
stoicism, Ryan Holiday wrote this book as
a daily tool to live the values of stoicism.
Each page offers a short daily meditation
to ground your life in essential wisdom,
reason, & virtue.
NICHOMACHEAN
ETHICS
ARISTOTLE
What is good? What is happiness? What is
virtue? How do we achieve a life well
lived? Written by one of the greatest
philosophers of all time, his work is the
essential introduction to the philosophical
framework of virtue ethics, which is the
foundation of countless philosophies that
have developed over the past 2000 years.
12
ECONOMICS & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
THE FIRST LESSON OF ECONOMICS
IS SCARCITY. THE FIRST LESSON OF
POLITICS IS TO DISREGARD THE
FIRST LESSON OF ECONOMICS."
- THOMAS SOWELL
13
THE CASE AGAINST
EDUCATION
BRYAN CAPLAN
In The Case Against Education,
economist Bryan Caplan brings the latest
empirical evidence to bear in showing
that traditional education systems are little
more than signaling mechanisms for
employers. With this book, you will
understand the necessity of new
education models such as Learn Arena.
BASIC
ECONOMICS
THOMAS SOWELL
There is no book that so thoroughly lays a
comprehensive foundation for economic
literacy. By reading and understanding the
facts, heuristics, and fundamentals in each
chapter of this book, you will understand
the governing principles of the economy,
human behavior, and policy dynamics
better than 99% of the general population.
14
CAPITALISM: THE
UNKNOWN IDEAL
AYN RAND
The word “capitalism” has become an
insult in modern western culture when in
fact it should be praised as the highest
ideal. In this brief but punchy work, Ayn
Rand provides an ironclad defense of
capitalism as the most moral and ethical
framework for large scale human
interaction.
ANARCHY, STATE,
AND UTOPIA
ROBERT NOZICK
Anarchy, State, and Utopia is the
redblooded contrast to John Rawl’s
destructive work, A Theory of Justice. This
book explores the political philosophy of
justice, the proper use of state power, and
the ideal philosophical form of
governance.
15
THE FATAL
CONCEIT
F.A. HAYEK
The Fatal Conceit by Friedrich Hayek
explains, in non-mathematical language,
why centrally planned economies and any
form of socialism are illogical and faulty at
their roots, as well as why only the
knowledge and resource allocation
efficiency of the price system in a totally
free market can truly provide for
prosperity, growth, and innovation.
THE PROBLEM OF
POLITICAL AUTHORITY
MICHAEL HUEMER
In The Problem of Political Authority,
philosopher Michael Huemer cogently
argues that the entire concept of political
authority within the framework of nation
states is fundamentally flawed in an
irreparable way. He goes on to explain that
the solution is a fundamental shift in how
human collective governance is provided.
16
THE ANARCHIST
HANDBOOK
MICHAEL MALICE
The Anarchist Handbook contains the
greatest essays ever written by the most
influential anarchist thinkers throughout
history. This work explains, in an
accessible way, why anarchism is not
chaos, but rather the only peaceful
solution to human coordination.
17
BUSINESS & PERFORMANCE
THE BEST PROJECTS ARE LIKELY TO BE
OVERLOOKED, NOT TRUMPETED BY A
CROWD; THE BEST PROBLEMS TO WORK
ON ARE OFTEN THE ONES NOBODY ELSE
EVEN TRIES TO SOLVE."
- PETER THIEL
18
ZERO TO ONE
PETER THIEL
More than just a book on business, it is a
distilled articulation of Thiel’s contrarian
worldview that has made him one the
most successful and revered tech
investors in silicon valley. His radically
clear thinking will challenge your
assumptions about the foundations of
how to think about innovation. If there is a
single book to read on the essence of
entrepreneurship, this is it.
TALENT
TYLER COWEN AND DANIEL GROSS
Tyler Cowen, the polymath economist,
professor, and blogger, joins forces with
one of the world’s most successful venture
capitalists to explain how to find talent,
why it’s often overlooked, and why finding
talented people and empowering them to
excel is the key catalyst to drive the next
phase of human progress.
19
AVERAGE IS OVER
TYLER COWEN
In this wakeup call of a book, economist
and polymath professor Tyler Cowen
explains why an ever-greater share of
wealth is being created by the tiny sliver
of the most intelligent and technologically
advanced sector of American life, and
how you can become part of that sliver.
THE WAR OF ART
STEVEN PRESSFIELD
There is a great force that stands between
you and your ambitions. It is silent,
powerful, and ever-present. It constrains
you with your permission. It keeps art from
being born and greatness from being
achieved. It is resistance. It is the force
that drives procrastination, distraction, and
self-doubt. There is a war on, and one of
you will win. The War of Art is a daily
weapon to defeat resistance and conquer
your goals.
20
MASTERY
ROBERT GREENE
Few figures are remembered as masters
of their craft. Greene breaks down
essential characteristics shared by the
greatest masters of the past and present
across various disciplines while providing
tools for you to discover your purpose
and unlock the road to mastery.
THE SIX PILLARS
OF SELF-ESTEEM
NATHANIEL BRANDEN
Self Esteem is the immune system of our
psyche. How we regard ourselves will
influence how susceptible we are to
psychological pitfalls. Combining both
philosophy and psychology, Branden
offers 6 action-based practices for
building our self esteem.
21
MAKE IT STICK
PETER C BROWN, HENRY L
ROEDIGER III, MARK A MCDANIEL
Good teaching must be tailored to the
individual. Everyone has different
learning styles. Right?
Wrong.
Make It Stick details recent discoveries in
cognitive psychology and offers concrete
techniques for becoming a more efficient
learner. The Learn Arena platform is
designed to leverage these principles to
maximum effect.
DEEP WORK
CAL NEWPORT
In Deep Work, Cal Newport gives
concrete, actionable tactics and methods
for drastically increasing productivity and
escaping the constant distraction of email,
Slack, iMessage, and Asana that keeps you
from actually getting meaningful work
done.
22
THE ART OF THE
IMPOSSIBLE
STEVEN KOTLER
An expert in peak performance, Steven
Kotler outlines methods of going far
beyond normal human capabilities and
achieving “the impossible” through peak
mental and physical states that you can
hone and utilize in everyday life.
THE ART OF
LEARNING
JOSH WAITZKIN
Joshua Waitzkin is a former child chess
prodigy and the subject of the film
“Searching for Bobby Fischer”. The Art of
Learning is half memoir and half
guide to mastering new disciplines and
fields of study efficiently.
23
THE ART OF
THINKING CLEARLY
ROLF DOBELLI
Humans certainly have the capacity for
reason, but this is not our default. Rolf
Dobelli highlights the most common
errors in thinking and decision making that
plague our largely primitive, reactionary
brains. A polymath is a clear and rational
thinker that recognizes the errors and
biases in his own thinking when they
occur.
DON'T DO STUFF
YOU HATE
ISAAC MOREHOUSE &
MITCHELL EARL
Following your passion is a terrible strategy.
Not because work should be hard and
unfulfilling, but because you don’t know what
your passion is. What you call a passion is
really an interest, and interests change
constantly.
A better tool to guide you towards a fulfilling
life is to avoid things that you hate: the things
that your gut resents, that you are not wired
to do, that you find soul-sucking, dreadfully
boring, or endlessly frustrating. By avoiding
things you hate, you will more quickly
discover your natural strengths and the things
you love that others hate. This will uncover
your true passions and allow you to explore
the uncharted seas of possibility.
24
WINNING
TIM S. GROVER
Tim Grover has been the performance
coach for Michael Jordan and Kobe
Bryant, two of the greatest champions of
all-time. Grover details what the mindset
of a winner looks like as well as how it is
developed. There is the best in a given
field… then there is the best of the best.
Grover deals with the latter.
THE DEFINING
DECADE
MEG JAY
Your twenties are a unique time of your
life that happens only once. Do not delude
yourself into thinking that you can
postpone critical decisions and stages of
life indefinitely. There is a clock, and it is
ticking.
In The Defining Decade, clinical
psychologist Meg Jay breaks down a
series of critical considerations that every
teen and twenty something needs to
understand very clearly about the window
of opportunities that will come and go in
their twenties. It contains inspirational
stories and cautionary tales. If you need
conviction to get things going now, there
is no better place to start.
25
THE FOURTH
TURNING
WILLIAM STRAUSS & NEIL HOWE
Why does history follow such clear
patterns? Why do generations behave so
differently? There are many cyclical
theories of history, but perhaps none as
observable and thoroughly documented
as Strauss-Howe generational theory. This
book explains this compelling theory that
equips the reader with insights on where
the world may be headed in the near
future. Originally published in 1996, the
theory has been profoundly insightful,
predicting many events of the past two
decades after its initial release.
PROGRAMMERS
AT WORK
SUSAN LAMMERS
A collection of interviews with 20 of the
most influential programmers of the later
half of the 20th century.
26
THE METAPHYSICAL
FOUNDATIONS OF
MODERN SCIENCE
E.A. BURTT
A polymath doesn’t merely memorize a
list of scientific facts. A polymath
understands the methodology of science
itself and the history of this process. The
scientific method and experimentation
backed by data forms the basis of world
changing breakthroughs.
INFLUENCE
ROBERT CIALDINI
You are always being sold. Everyone
wants something out of you, and they are
good at getting it. You could be good at
getting things from others. Influence is
governed by a series of principles that
Robert Cialdini masterfully breaks down in
this classic book. Learn about how to
leverage reciprocity, social proof,
likeability, authority, and scarcity to get
more out of life, and recognize bad actors
who are attempting to manipulate you.
27
THE ELEPHANT IN
THE BRAIN
KEVIN SIMLER & ROBIN HANSON
Robin Hanson, polymath economist
professor from George Mason University,
pulls the curtain on human behavior in
Elephant in The Brain. This book will leave
you with a robust mental model that
explains previously confusing or
frustrating aspects of human social
behavior allowing you to lead and excel
above your peers.
THE ALMANACK OF
NAVAL RAVIKANT
ERIC JORGENSON
Naval Ravikant is an entrepreneur,
investor, essayist, and polymath. This book
is a collection of his wisdom and insights.
28
BEHAVE
ROBERT SAPOLSKY
Robert Sapolsky, one of the world’s
leading primatologists, explains the
biology, neurochemistry, and evolutionary
explanation for the fundamentals of
human behavior. If you want to
understand at a deep biological level why
humans behave as they do, then read this
book.
LIFTOFF
ERIC BERGER
In a single decade, Elon Musk has made
scifi space travel from a teenage boy’s
fantasy to something so regular you can
watch the launches on Youtube. Liftoff
gives an insider’s view of how SpaceX
pulled it off, and how you can do
similarly transformational things with
your business.
29
HEALTH & NUTRITION
WHEN YOUR ARMS ARE
BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD,
SOMETHING IS WRONG.”
- STEVE REEVES
30
WHY WE SLEEP
MATTHEW WALKER
Sleep is the most important and most
neglected biological function of the
human body. Why We Sleep explains
how sleep works, how it effects every
biological system, and provides concrete
recommendations on how to drastically
improve your quality of life by improving
your sleep.
BREATH
JAMES NESTOR
Breathing is something we all take for
granted, but modern diet and behavior
patterns have made humans get worse at
breathing. Breath explains how we’ve
broken our respiratory systems and how to
drastically improve your physical
performance by consciously improving
how you breathe.
31
JAWS
SANDRA KAHN & PAUL EHRLICH
Our jaws and facial structures are
devolving. In Jaws, Sandra Kahn and Paul
R. Ehrlich present the evidence that this is
true, postulate why it is happening, and
outline how you might prevent this in
yourself and your children.
BIOHACKER'S
HANDBOOK
JAAKKO HALMETOJA, OLLI
SOVIJÄRVI, AND TEEMU ARINA
Biohacking is about hacking the human
body so as to maximize performance. A
polymath must maximize his or her
performance in all areas of life, thus
biohacking is a key ingredient of the
polymath recipe.
32
THE DENTAL DIET
STEVEN LIN
Steven Lin builds upon the work of
Weston Price with the benefit of modern
science and discoveries not yet made
when Nutrition and Physical
Degeneration was published. He also
explains the importance of dental health
as a harbinger of overall bodily health.
THE HEALING
POWER OF THE SUN
RICHARD HOBDAY
Sunlight is harmful in excessive doses, but
lack of sunlight can be extremely
damaging as well. Richard Hobday
explains the benefits of sunlight and the
ways in which sunlight can be used to
treat various ailments and illnesses.
33
BIOGRAPHIES & HISTORIES
LEARNING IS THE ONLY THING THE
MIND NEVER EXHAUSTS, NEVER
FEARS, AND NEVER REGRETS.”
- LEONARDO DA VINCI
34
THE INNOVATORS
WALTER ISAACSON
Walter Isaacson examines some of the
most influential players in the history of
computer technology, its applications,
and the impact that such advancements
had on our world. His work outlines
everything from video games to the
transistor through the lens of the men and
women that built them.
MAKING SILICON
VALLEY
CHRISTOPHE LECUYER
In Making Silicon Valley, Christophe
Lécuyer shows that the explosive growth
of the personal computer industry in
Silicon Valley was the culmination of
decades of innovation in the San
Francisco-area electronics industry.
35
STEVE JOBS
WALTER ISAACSON
Walter Isaacson covers the life and career
of Steve Jobs, one of the most iconic
American entrepreneurs. From starting in
his garage to being ousted by his own
company and back again, it is a great
lesson in bootstrapping a dream to
fruition through sheer determination and a
little creative help from psychedelics.
LEONARDO DA
VINCI
WALTER ISAACSON
Leonardo da Vinci is the ultimate
Renaissance man, and the apotheosis of a
polymath. Another great biography by
Walter Issacson, and a must read for
aspiring polymaths.
36
BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN
WALTER ISAACSON
Isaacson writes: “In his political
philosophy, as in his religion and science,
Franklin was generally non-ideological,
indeed allergic to anything smacking of
dogma. Instead, he was, as in most
aspects of his life, interested in finding out
what worked…what made him a rebel, and
later much more of one, was his
resistance to establishment authority.”
ABOUT FACE
COLONEL DAVID HACKWORTH
Top generals in the US military look back
on their early career working with “Mr.
Infantry” with fondness and reverence.
Colonel David Hackworth’s legendary life
and career exemplifies what it means to be
a leader and to live by your convictions
regardless of the costs. This
autobiography is one of the best military
memoirs ever written and is one of the
very best leadership references in
existence. You will finish the book resolved
to be a better leader and a harder person.
37
HOWARD
HUGHES
DONALD BARLETT &
JAMES STEELE
Howard Hughes is one of our favorite
American polymaths. Extremely
successful in aviation, engineering,
business and film making, the life of
Howard Hughes was extraordinary.
THE MAN FROM
THE FUTURE
ANANYO BHATTACHARYA
The smartest man in human history and
the greatest polymath of all time was John
von Neumann. No life of intellectual
achievement deserves greater admiration
and careful study than his. It is a true
testament to the upper limits of the human
mind.
38
ISAAC NEWTON
JAMES GLEICK
If John von Neumann is the greatest
polymath in human history, Isaac Newton
is a strong candidate for second place.
James Gleick’s work is a concise
biography of the life of this extraordinary
polymath. Newton discovered Calculus,
developed the three laws of motion,
devised laws of universal gravitation, and
proposed new theories of light and color
to name a few.
CICERO
ANTHONY EVERITT
Synonymous with other great names of
the pinnacle of the Roman Empire, Cicero
was an influential lawyer, politician, and
philosopher. In this biography, Everitt
takes us into the fascinating, scandal
riddled world of Rome during the first
century BC.
39
SPQR: A HISTORY
OF ANCIENT ROME
MARY BEARD
A polymath must understand history, and
the rise and fall of the Roman empire is
perhaps the most important era to study
in all of our recorded history.
THE ITALIAN
RENAISSANCE
PETER BURKE
The Italian Renaissance was the era of the
polymath. Scholar Peter Burke details the
culture, values, and institutions that lined
up in Italy during the 15th and 16th
centuries that made this period of human
flourishing possible. It is our mission to
usher in the long overdue 21st century
renaissance, reaching heights of human
potential that will set humanity on a course
of new technological, social, and cultural
prosperity.
40
THOMAS
JEFFERSON: THE
ART OF POWER
JON MEACHAM
When the White House hosted a dinner
with 49 Nobel Prize winners, President
John F. Kennedy made a toast stating “I
think this is the most extraordinary
collection of talent, of human knowledge,
that has ever been gathered together at
the White House, with the possible
exception of when Thomas Jefferson
dined alone.” Meacham’s biography dives
into one of the most iconic figures in
American history - author, inventor,
diplomat, architect, and linguist… to name
a few.
TITAN: THE LIFE
OF JOHN D.
ROCKEFELLER SR.
RON CHERNOW
A name synonymous with capitalism and
industry - Chernow’s work illustrates the
life, legacy, and controversy of the “Titan”
John David Rockefeller. From humble
beginnings to an oil empire worth more
than a fortune, this thorough analysis
spares no details of one of the men who
built America.
41
FICTION
INTERESTING THINGS HAPPEN
ALONG BORDERS - TRANSITIONS NOT IN THE MIDDLE WHERE
EVERYTHING IS THE SAME."
- NEAL STEPHENSON
42
FAHRENHEIT 451
RAY BRADBURY
A dystopian novel which paints a picture
of a future American society where books
are outlawed and “firemen'' are
dispatched to burn any books discovered.
Fahrenheit 451 is a powerful critique of
censorship.
ATLAS SHRUGGED
AYN RAND
Partially fiction and partially prophesy,
Atlas Shrugged is one of the most
influential works of the 20th century. In
Atlas Shrugged, Rand elucidates a
coherent and compelling philosophy that
praises entrepreneurship and provides a
compelling call to action, all couched in a
riveting fictional tale.
43
DO ANDROIDS
DREAM OF
ELECTRIC SHEEP?
PHILIP K. DICK
The source material for the excellent
Blade Runner film franchise, this famous
novel by Philip K. Dick describes a
dystopian future where manufactured
androids have become indistinguishable
from humans, forcing society and the
reader to grapple with many existential
philosophical issues.
DUNE
FRANK HERBERT
Dune is one of the greatest sci-fi novels
ever written. Telling the story of Paul
Atradiedes, heir to a planet in a far, far
future, Dune mixes hard sci-fi technology
with mysticism, romance, action, and
mystery in a combination not seen before
or since.
44
THE SHADOW OF
THE TORTURER
GENE WOLFE
A science fiction story about a young
Severian, an apprentice to the Guild of
Torturers on the world called Urth, who is
exiled for committing the ultimate sin of
his profession—showing mercy towards
his victims.
THE BROTHERS
KARAMAZOV
FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY
The Brothers Karamazov is a deeply heart
wrenching Russian novel that adriotly
grapples with omnipresent issues of faith,
free will, morality, doubt, and reason. This
novel won’t give you the answers to these
challenging questions, but it will help you
think more clearly about them.
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FLOWERS FOR
ALGERNON
DANIEL KEYES
Flowers for Algernon tells the story of a
mentally handicapped young man who is
given an experimental surgery which
makes him superintelligent, only to watch
that intelligence slowly fade back into full
on mental disability over time. A gripping,
moving, and heartwrenching novel, it
forces the reader to empathize with the
less intelligent and grapple with the social
and cultural forces buffeting those who
lost the genetic lottery.
SNOW CRASH
NEAL STEPHENSON
Snow Crash is a fictional tale of a
cyberpunk future with some of the coolest
technology one can imagine. The book
that invented the metaverse, Snow Crash
is a must-read for any aspiring
technologist who wants to build the
future.
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THE THREE BODY TRILOGY
LIU CIXIN
The Three Body Problem Trilogy is quite simply the greatest hard science fiction
trilogy ever written. It spans centuries, delves deep into the bleeding edge of
modern astrophysics and technology, all while forcing the reader to confront truly
terrifying realistic existential questions about the nature of life and consciousness in
the universe.
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