36 Books recommended by Vinod Khosla
Vinod Khosla is an Indian-American billionaire businessman and venture capitalist. He is a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Khosla Ventures. In 2014, Forbes counted him among the 400 richest people in the United States.
Vinod Khosla
Book Recommendations
Life on the Edge
Life on the Edge
Jim Al-Khalili,Johnjoe McFadden
Life is the most extraordinary phenomenon in the known universe; but how did it come to be? even in an age of cloning and artificial biology, the remarkable truth remains: nobody has ever made anything living entirely out of dead material. life remains the only way to make life. are we still missing a vital ingredient in its creation? like richard dawkins' the selfish gene, which provided a new perspective on how evolution works, life on the edge alters our understanding of our world's fundamental dynamics. bringing together first-hand experience
“highly recommended; one of the few books I have read twice!”
— Source
The Brand Flip
The Brand Flip
Marty Neumeier
Business & EconomicsBest-selling brand expert marty neumeier shows you how to make the leap from a company-driven past to the consumer-driven future. you'll learn how to flip your brand from offering products to offering meaning, from value protection to value creation, from cost-based pricing to relationship pricing, from market segments to brand tribes, and from customer satisfaction to customer empowerment. in the 13 years since neumeier wrote the brand gap, the influence of social media has proven his core theory: "a brand isn't what you say it is - it's what they
“Wish all books maximized learning per hour of reading time. A very well done book on branding and new brand values.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
Behave
Behave
Robert M. Sapolsky
ScienceMore than a decade in the making, this game-changing book is robert sapolsky's genre-shattering attempt to answer that question as fully as perhaps only he could, looking at it from every angle. sapolsky's storytelling concept is delightful but it also has a powerful intrinsic logic: he starts by looking at the factors that bear on a person's reaction in the precise moment a behavior occurs, and then hops back in time from there, in stages, ultimately ending up at the deep history of our species and its evolutionary legacy.and so
“Among the best insights into our brain and behavior. A top of the charts for me for this year, along with Scale.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
Daniel C. Dennett
How did we come to have minds? for centuries, poets, philosophers, psychologists, and physicists have wondered how the human mind developed its unrivaled abilities. disciples of darwin have explained how natural selection produced plants, but what about the human mind?in from bacteria to bach and back, daniel c. dennett builds on recent discoveries from biology and computer science to show, step by step, how a comprehending mind could in fact have arisen from a mindless process of natural selection. a crucial shift occurred when humans developed the ability to share
“Another of my favorites this year. Long but worth every page.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
What You Do Is Who You Are
What You Do Is Who You Are
Ben Horowitz
Ben horowitz, a leading venture capitalist, modern management expert, and new york times bestselling author, combines lessons both from history and from modern organizational practice with practical and often surprising advice to help executives build cultures that can weather both good and bad times. ben horowitz has long been fascinated by history, and particularly by how people behave differently than you’d expect. the time and circumstances in which they were raised often shapes them—yet a few leaders have managed to shape their times. in what you do is who you
“This book brings us on a journey through ancient to modern culture, answering a question fundamental to any organization: who are we?...”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Jungle Grows Back
The Jungle Grows Back
Robert Kagan
HistoryA brilliant and visionary argument for america's role as an enforcer of peace and order throughout the world--and what is likely to happen if we withdraw and focus our attention inward.recent years have brought deeply disturbing developments around the globe. american sentiment seems to be leaning increasingly toward withdrawal in the face of such disarray. in this powerful, urgent essay, robert kagan elucidates the reasons why american withdrawal would be the worst possible response, based as it is on a fundamental and dangerous misreading of the world. like a jungle
“This is a powerful, urgent essay into why American withdrawal would be the worst possible response, based on a fundamental and dangerous misreading of the world.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Third Pillar
The Third Pillar
Raghuram Rajan
CapitalismFrom one of the most important economic thinkers of our time, a brilliant and far-seeing analysis of the current populist backlash against globalization.raghuram rajan, distinguished university of chicago professor, former imf chief economist, head of india's central bank, and author of the 2010 ft-goldman-sachs book of the year fault lines, has an unparalleled vantage point onto the social and economic consequences of globalization and their ultimate effect on our politics. in the third pillar he offers up a magnificent big-picture framework for understanding how these three forces--the state, markets, and
“This book provides a solid framework as to why things begin to deteriorate, and how society can successfully find their way back to a secure and stable plane.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
“One of my favorite one hour reads about intellectual honesty. I wish more people were this honest!”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
Other People's Money
Other People's Money
Charles V. Bagli
Business & EconomicsIn just over three years, real estate giant tishman speyer and its partner, blackrock, lost billions of investors’ dollars on a single deal. the new york times reporter who first broke the story of the sale of stuyvesant town-peter cooper village takes readers inside the most spectacular failure in real estate history, using this single deal as a lens to see how and why the real estate crisis happened.how did the smartest people in real estate lose billions in one single deal? how did the church of england, the california
“Not all correct (in my view), but still worth reading.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
Against Empathy
Against Empathy
Paul Bloom
EmpathyNew york post best book of 2016we often think of our capacity to experience the suffering of others as the ultimate source of goodness. many of our wisest policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers agree that the only problem with empathy is that we don’t have enough of it.nothing could be farther from the truth, argues yale researcher paul bloom. in against empathy, bloom reveals empathy to be one of the leading motivators of inequality and immorality in society. far from helping us to improve the lives of others, empathy is
“A good case against too much empathy. ”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
This Is Your Brain on Music
This Is Your Brain on Music
Daniel J. Levitin
PsychologyWhether you load your ipod with bach or bono, music has a significant role in your life—even if you never realized it. why does music evoke such powerful moods? the answers are at last be- coming clear, thanks to revolutionary neuroscience and the emerging field of evolutionary psychology. both a cutting-edge study and a tribute to the beauty of music itself, unravels a host of mysteries that affect everything from pop culture to our understanding of human nature, including: • are our musical preferences shaped in utero? • is there
“Fascinating though older book.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
Troublemakers
Troublemakers
Leslie Berlin
HistoryThe narrative of the silicon valley generation that launched five major high-tech industries in seven years, laying the foundation for today’s technology-driven world.at a time when the five most valuable companies on the planet are high-tech firms and nearly half of americans say they cannot live without their cell phones, troublemakers reveals the untold story of how we got here. this is the gripping tale of seven exceptional men and women, pioneers of silicon valley in the 1970s and early 1980s. together, they worked across generations, industries, and companies to
“This book tells the story of the world I have always lived, loved and believed in, despite the recent techlash.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Eating the Big Fish
Eating the Big Fish
Adam Morgan
Business & Economics"eating the big fish is on fire with ideas. best in the marketplace." -steve hayden, president, worldwide brand services, ogilvy & mather "in 1986, the levi's(r) dockers(r) brand challenged the biggest fish in the men's apparel sea, haggar. and we beat the pants off them! in his new book, adam morgan adroitly presents many of the same fundamental marketing principles which worked so well for us. a must read for marketing professionals." -steve goldstein, v.p. marketing & research, levi's brand u.s.a. years ago, avis was a little fish in the
“One of the few how to books I enjoyed.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
The Formula
The Formula
Albert-László Barabási
PsychologyIn this pioneering examination of the scientific principles behind success, a leading researcher reveals the surprising ways in which we can turn achievement into success.too often, accomplishment does not equate to success. we did the work but didn't get the promotion; we played hard but weren't recognized; we had the idea but didn't get the credit. we've always been told that talent and a strong work ethic are the key to getting ahead, but in today's world these efforts rarely translate into tangible results. recognizing this disconnect, laszlo barabasi, one
“This book transforms how our success-obsessed society approaches their professional careers and long-term goals.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Business & EconomicsNo matter your goals, atomic habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. james clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.if you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. the problem is your system. bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. you do
“A decent book on self-help tools, not a category I am generally a fan of.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Shoshana Zuboff
Business & EconomicsThe challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, the first detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called "surveillance capitalism," and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control our behavior.in this masterwork of original thinking and research, shoshana zuboff provides startling insights into the phenomenon that she has named surveillance capitalism. the stakes could not be higher: a global architecture of behavior modification threatens human nature in the twenty-first century just as industrial capitalism disfigured the natural world in the twentieth.zuboff vividly brings to life the
“This book dives into the largest act of capitalist colonisation ever attempted...Yet its not an anti-tech book.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Loonshots
Loonshots
Safi Bahcall
Business & EconomicsWhat do james bond and lipitor have in common? what can we learn about human nature and world history from a glass of water?in loonshots, physicist and entrepreneur safi bahcall reveals a surprising new way of thinking about the mysteries of group behavior that challenges everything we thought we knew about nurturing radical breakthroughs.drawing on the science of phase transitions, bahcall shows why teams, companies, or any group with a mission will suddenly change from embracing wild new ideas to rigidly rejecting them, just as flowing water will suddenly change
“This book explores the beauty, quirkiness, and complexity of ideas, especially new and out-of-the-box ones.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Inflamed Mind
The Inflamed Mind
Edward Bullmore
PsychologyWorldwide, depression will be the single biggest cause of disability in the next 20 years. but treatment for it has not changed much in the last three decades. in the world of psychiatry, time has apparently stood still... until now. in this game-changing book, university of cambridge professor edward bullmore reveals the breakthrough new science on the link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain. he explains how and why we now know that mental disorders can have their root cause in the immune system, and outlines a
“This book reveals the new breakthrough on the link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Mindfulness in Plain English
Mindfulness in Plain English
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Author bhante gunaratana, a renowned meditation master, takes us
“Easy access to meditation”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
El tiburón de 12 millones de dólares
El tiburón de 12 millones de dólares
Don Thompson
En este recorrido ameno y fascinante por las casas de subastas, las galerías y el mundo de los coleccionistas, don thompson desvela los secretos económicos y las estrategias de marketing que impulsa al mercado a producir los precios astronómicos a los que se cotizan las obras de los grandes artistas, desde basquiat a koons, tàpies o jasper johns.thompson nos acerca a la psicología y los intereses que mueven el mercado artístico para recordarnos que en el arte contemporáneo como en tantos otros campos, la línea que separa la cultura y
“I always thought of art as really really snooty as it is manifested (not as it is created) and this book proves the point.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Breakthrough
The Breakthrough
Charles Graeber
Health & FitnessFor decades, scientists have puzzled over one of medicine's most confounding mysteries: why doesn't our immune system recognize and fight cancer the way it does other diseases, like the common cold?as it turns out, the answer to that question can be traced to a series of tricks that cancer has developed to turn off normal immune responses-tricks that scientists have only recently discovered and learned to defeat. the result is what many are calling cancer's "penicillin moment," a revolutionary discovery in our understanding of cancer and how to beat it.in
“This book guides readers through the scientific research transforming immunotherapy from the miraculous to the forefront of twenty-first-century medical science.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Last Days of Night
The Last Days of Night
Graham Moore
FictionNew york, 1888. gas lamps still flicker in the city streets, but the miracle of electric light is in its infancy. the person who controls the means to turn night into day will make history--and a vast fortune. a young untested lawyer named paul cravath, fresh out of columbia law school, takes a case that seems impossible to win. paul's client, george westinghouse, has been sued by thomas edison over a billion-dollar question: who invented the light bulb and holds the right to power the country? the case affords paul
“I don't read fiction, but this almost historical fiction is fun especially for Silicon Valley types.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Neil deGrasse Tyson
ScienceWhat is the nature of space and time? how do we fit within the universe? how does the universe fit within us? there’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author neil degrasse tyson.but today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. so tyson brings the universe down to earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.
“Great, very quick overview of astrophysics. Easily accessible.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
Blitzscaling
Blitzscaling
Chris Yeh,Reid Hoffman
Business & EconomicsLinkedin cofounder, legendary investor, and host of the award-winning masters of scale podcast reveals the secret to starting and scaling massively valuable companies.what entrepreneur or founder doesn't aspire to build the next amazon, facebook, or airbnb? yet those who actually manage to do so are exceedingly rare. so what separates the startups that get disrupted and disappear from the ones who grow to become global giants?the secret is blitzscaling: a set of techniques for scaling up at a dizzying pace that blows competitors out of the water. the objective of
“A great book on blitzscaling: An insightful book”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Lifespan
Lifespan
David A. Sinclair PhD,Matthew D. LaPlante
It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. but what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? what if we could choose our lifespan? in this groundbreaking book, dr. david sinclair, leading world authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. as he writes: “aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.” this book takes us to the frontlines of research many from dr. david sinclair’s own lab at harvard—that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even
“This eye-opening narrative reveals incredible scientific breakthroughs about aging and ways we can slow down, or even reverse, the process. ”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Coddling of the American Mind
The Coddling of the American Mind
Greg Lukianoff,Jonathan Haidt
The generation now coming of age has been taught three great untruths: their feelings are always right; they should avoid pain and discomfort; and they should look for faults in others and not themselves. these three great untruths are part of a larger philosophy that sees young people as fragile creatures who must be protected and supervised by adults. but despite the good intentions of the adults who impart them, the great untruths are harming kids by teaching them the opposite of ancient wisdom and the opposite of modern psychological
“A good companion read to Winner Takes All”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Winners Take All
Winners Take All
Anand Giridharadas
Social ScienceFormer new york times columnist anand giridharadas takes us into the inner sanctums of a new gilded age, where the rich and powerful fight for equality and justice any way they can--except ways that threaten the social order and their position atop it. we see how they rebrand themselves as saviors of the poor; how they lavishly reward "thought leaders" who redefine "change" in winner-friendly ways; and how they constantly seek to do more good, but never less harm. we hear the limousine confessions of a celebrated foundation boss; witness
“This is an important read and it contains many very valuable points.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Range
Range
David Epstein
What's the most effective path to success in any domain? it's not what you think. plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. if you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up to the people who got a head start. but a closer look at research on the world's top performers, from professional athletes to nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the
“Every high school and college student should read it.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
McMafia
McMafia
Misha Glenny
True CrimeWith the collapse of the soviet union, the fall of the berlin wall, and the deregulation of international financial markets in 1989, governments and entrepreneurs alike became intoxicated by forecasts of limitless expansion into newly open markets. no one would foresee that the greatest success story to arise from these events would be the globalization of organized crime. "mcmafia" is a fearless, encompassing, wholly authoritative investigation of the now proven ability of organized crime worldwide to find and service markets driven by a seemingly insatiable demand for illegal wares. whether
“Fun though older book.”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
The Uninhabitable Earth
The Uninhabitable Earth
David Wallace-Wells
It is worse, much worse, than you think. if your anxiety about global warming is dominated by fears of sea-level rise, you are barely scratching the surface of what terrors are possible. in california, wildfires now rage year-round, destroying thousands of homes. across the us, "500-year" storms pummel communities month after month, and floods displace tens of millions annually.this is only a preview of the changes to come. and they are coming fast. without a revolution in how billions of humans conduct their lives, parts of the earth could become
“A great read even though I think it overstates things. It scares, and its time to be be very very scared. The message is more important than the details and it is powerful.”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
The Case Against Sugar
The Case Against Sugar
Gary Taubes
Health & FitnessAmong americans, diabetes is more prevalent today than ever; obesity is at epidemic proportions; nearly 10% of children are thought to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. and sugar is at the root of these, and other, critical society-wide, health-related problems. with his signature command of both science and straight talk, gary taubes delves into americans' history with sugar: its uses as a preservative, as an additive in cigarettes, the contemporary overuse of high-fructose corn syrup. he explains what research has shown about our addiction to sweets. he clarifies the arguments
“Vinod Khosla's recommended book read”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
The Master Algorithm
The Master Algorithm
Pedro Domingos
ComputersIn the world's top research labs and universities, the race is on to invent the ultimate learning algorithm: one capable of discovering any knowledge from data, and doing anything we want, before we even ask. in the master algorithm, pedro domingos lifts the veil to give us a peek inside the learning machines that power google, amazon, and your smartphone. he assembles a blueprint for the future universal learner--the master algorithm--and discusses what it will mean for business, science, and society. if data-ism is today's philosophy, this book is its
“Vinod Khosla's recommended book read”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
How to Change Your Mind
How to Change Your Mind
POLLAN MICHAEL
BodyMind & SpiritWhen lsd was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. it promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. but in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. in recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of lsd, psilocybin and dmt. could these drugs in fact improve the
“Vinod Khosla's recommended book read”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari
HistoryHow do computers and robots change the meaning of being human? how do we deal with the epidemic of fake news? are nations and religions still relevant? what should we teach our children?yuval noah harari's 21 lessons for the 21st century is a probing and visionary investigation into today's most urgent issues as we move into the uncharted territory of the future. as technology advances faster than our understanding of it, hacking becomes a tactic of war, and the world feels more polarized than ever, harari addresses the challenge of
“Vinod Khosla's recommended book read”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Friday Black
Friday Black
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
FictionIn the stories of adjei-brenyah’s debut, an amusement park lets players enter augmented reality to hunt terrorists or shoot intruders played by minority actors, a school shooting results in both the victim and gunman stuck in a shared purgatory, and an author sells his soul to a many-tongued god.adjei-brenyah's writing will grab you, haunt you, enrage, and invigorate you. by placing ordinary characters in extraordinary situations, adjei-brenyah reveals the violence, injustice, and painful absurdities that black men and women contend with every day. these stories tackle urgent instances of racism
“Vinod Khosla's recommended book read”
Jan 15, 2020 — Source
Scale
Scale
Geoffrey West
The former head of the sante fe institute, visionary physicist geoffrey west is a pioneer in the field of complexity science, the science of emergent systems and networks. the term “complexity” can be misleading, however, because what makes west’s discoveries so beautiful is that he has found an underlying simplicity that unites the seemingly complex and diverse phenomena of living systems, including our bodies, our cities and our businesses. fascinated by issues of aging and mortality, west applied the rigor of a physicist to the biological question of why we
“Vinod Khosla's recommended book read”
Dec 21, 2017 — Source
