Vinod Khosla’s 2017 Reading List

Not that I agree with all of it, but it is still mind-bending speculation about our future as a follow-up to a previous favorite, Sapiens. It’s directionally right.

Brand building for entrepreneurs trying to upset the incumbents. One of the few “how to” books I enjoyed.

I don’t read fiction, but this almost historical fiction is fun especially for Silicon Valley types.

The physics behind biology, cities, economics and companies. Do they grow, scale and die by the same math equations? New insights that are enlightening and delightful.

One of my favorite one hour reads about intellectual honesty. I wish more people were this honest!

Among the best insights into our brain and behavior. A top of the charts for me for this year, along with Scale.

Wish all books maximized learning per hour of reading time. A very well done book on branding and new brand values. It will be the death of many incumbents.

Fun read about our biases and how our brain functions.

Not surprising but explicit description of the American psych on sugar and fat by the sugar industry. I would not have believed this much influence is possible.

Fascinating though older book.

Surprising, but will feel very obvious to the rationalists. A good case against too much empathy.

Easy access to meditation.

If you want speculation about what the master AI might need (one view). For a slightly more technical read, I’d suggest Ian Goodfellows Deep Learning.

Great, very quick overview of astrophysics. Easily accessible.

Another of my favorites this year. Long but worth every page.

Fun though older book.

Not very far from the truth on the financial services industry though the authors biases come through. Not all correct (in my view), but still worth reading.