David Senra’s 2026 Reading List

The 20 books David Senra recommended in 2026, with the reasons in their own words. See all the books David Senra recommends.

Other years: 2025

20 books recommended in 2026

The Creative Act: A Way of Being

by Rick Rubin

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #409 The Creative Genius of Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin: In the Studio

by Jake Brown

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: The Singular Life of Rick Rubin

The Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer

by Chris Clarey

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #412 How Roger Federer Works

Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder

by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Douglas Kent Hall

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #417 Arnold Schwarzenegger · Also recommended by 1 other

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

by Phil Knight

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #418 Phil Knight: Founder of Nike · Also recommended by 19 others

Kelly: More Than My Share of It All

by Kelly Johnson

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #419 Kelly Johnson: Skunk Works

Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary

by Geoffrey Cain

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #420 Steve Jobs In Exile

Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products

by Leander Kahney

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #421 Jony Ive

Pulitzer: A Life in Politics, Print, and Power

by James McGrath Morris

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #422 Joseph Pulitzer

Honda: The Man and His Machines

by Sol Sanders

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #423 Soichiro Honda

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

by Peter Thiel, Blake Masters

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #424 Peter Thiel on How to Build a Creative Monopoly · Also recommended by 37 others

The Merchant Bankers

by Joseph Wechsberg

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #425 The Merchant Bankers

The Nolan Variations

by Tom Shone

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #426 How Obsession Built Christopher Nolan

A Small Difference

by Raymond Plank

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #427 How Raymond Plank Built a $50 Billion Oil Company

A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age

by Jimmy Soni, Rob Goodman

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #428 How Claude Shannon Worked · Also recommended by 2 others

My Life in Advertising

by Claude Hopkins

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #430 How to Write Ads That Sell

Scientific Advertising

by Claude C. Hopkins

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #430 How to Write Ads That Sell · Also recommended by 2 others

Distant Force: A Memoir of the Teledyne Corporation and the Man Who Created It

by George A. Roberts

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #431 How Henry Singleton Worked

The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success

by William N. Thorndike

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #431 How Henry Singleton Worked · Also recommended by 4 others

The Mind of Napoleon: A Selection of His Written and Spoken Words

by Napoleon Bonaparte, J. Christopher Herold

On David Senra’s Founders Podcast: #432 The Mind of Napoleon