“I was raised by books. Books, and then my parents,” says Elon...
Reads with Ravi@readswithravi
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Jan 08, 2024
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“I was raised by books. Books, and then my parents,” says Elon Musk.
He used to read books for 10 hours a day as a kid. He not only reads them; he devours them. And he always advises people to read books.
20 books recommended by @elonmusk 🧵
He used to read books for 10 hours a day as a kid. He not only reads them; he devours them. And he always advises people to read books.
20 books recommended by @elonmusk 🧵
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1) Issac Asimov's Foundation Series
In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great. I like the Foundation series, probably one of the all-time best.
In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great. I like the Foundation series, probably one of the all-time best.
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2) Benjamin Franklin by @WalterIsaacson
I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful. Actually, a lot of them aren't really business. [...]
Isaacson's biography on Franklin is really good. Cause he was an entrepreneur and he sort of started from nothing, actually he was just like a run away kid, basically, and created his printing business and sort of his way of doing that, and then over time all of the science and politics.
I'd say certain he's one of the few people I most admire. Franklin's pretty awesome.
I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful. Actually, a lot of them aren't really business. [...]
Isaacson's biography on Franklin is really good. Cause he was an entrepreneur and he sort of started from nothing, actually he was just like a run away kid, basically, and created his printing business and sort of his way of doing that, and then over time all of the science and politics.
I'd say certain he's one of the few people I most admire. Franklin's pretty awesome.
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3) Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom
Worth reading Superintelligence by Bostrom. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.
Worth reading Superintelligence by Bostrom. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.
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4) Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark
A compelling guide to the challenges and choices in our quest for a great future of life, intelligence and consciousness—on Earth and beyond.
A compelling guide to the challenges and choices in our quest for a great future of life, intelligence and consciousness—on Earth and beyond.
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5) The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
I know it's cliche, but this is my favorite book ever.
“The heroes of the books I read, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the ‘Foundation’ series, always felt a duty to save the world,”
I know it's cliche, but this is my favorite book ever.
“The heroes of the books I read, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the ‘Foundation’ series, always felt a duty to save the world,”
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6) Human Compatible by Stuart Russell
Worth reading.
Worth reading.
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7) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams
I guess when I was around 12 or 15... I had an existential crisis, and I was reading various books on trying to figure out the meaning of life and what does it all mean?
It all seemed quite meaningless and then we happened to have some books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer in the house, which you should not read at age 14 (laughter). It is bad, it’s really negative.
So then I read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy which is quite positive I think and it highlighted an important point which is that a lot of times the question is harder than the answer. And if you can properly phrase the question....
I guess when I was around 12 or 15... I had an existential crisis, and I was reading various books on trying to figure out the meaning of life and what does it all mean?
It all seemed quite meaningless and then we happened to have some books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer in the house, which you should not read at age 14 (laughter). It is bad, it’s really negative.
So then I read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy which is quite positive I think and it highlighted an important point which is that a lot of times the question is harder than the answer. And if you can properly phrase the question....
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8) Our Final Invention by James Barrat
While on the subject of AI risk, Our Final Invention by @jrbarrat is also worth reading.
While on the subject of AI risk, Our Final Invention by @jrbarrat is also worth reading.
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9) Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel has built multiple breakthrough companies, and Zero to One shows how.
Peter Thiel has built multiple breakthrough companies, and Zero to One shows how.
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10) Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway
I recommend people read a book called Merchants of Doubt. All they need to do is create doubt.
I recommend people read a book called Merchants of Doubt. All they need to do is create doubt.
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11) Deep Learning (Adaptive Computation and Machine Learning series) by Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio and Aaron Courville
Written by three experts in the field, Deep Learning is the only comprehensive book on the subject.
Written by three experts in the field, Deep Learning is the only comprehensive book on the subject.
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12) Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age by W. Bernard Carlson
I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful.
I think it's also worth reading books on scientists and engineers. Tesla, obviously.
I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful.
I think it's also worth reading books on scientists and engineers. Tesla, obviously.
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13) Culture by Iain M. Banks
SpaceX, the rocketry firm he founded in 2002, owns two ocean-going barges that serve as mobile landing pads for its rockets. One is called Just Read the Instructions, the other Of Course I Still Love You.
Both are named after sentient spaceships in the “Culture” books, all of which have similarly playful names (one warship, which spends most of its time waiting idly to be called up for action, is called the Killing Time.)
SpaceX, the rocketry firm he founded in 2002, owns two ocean-going barges that serve as mobile landing pads for its rockets. One is called Just Read the Instructions, the other Of Course I Still Love You.
Both are named after sentient spaceships in the “Culture” books, all of which have similarly playful names (one warship, which spends most of its time waiting idly to be called up for action, is called the Killing Time.)
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14) The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
[Elon Musk recommended this book as one of his favorite books about space.]
[Elon Musk recommended this book as one of his favorite books about space.]
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15) Isaac Asimov's Robot Series
In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great.
In terms of sci-fi books, I think Isaac Asimov is really great.
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16) The Art of War by Sun Tzu
I've read this book many times.
I've read this book many times.
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17) Structures by J. E. Gordon
It is really, really good if you want a primer on structural design.
It is really, really good if you want a primer on structural design.
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18) The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense by @GadSaad
Great book.
Great book.
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19) The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant
The Story of Civilization. First book is a little dry, but second book, The Life of Greece, is incredible.
The Story of Civilization. First book is a little dry, but second book, The Life of Greece, is incredible.
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20) The Capitalist Manifesto by @johanknorberg
This book is an excellent explanation of why capitalism is not just successful, but morally right.
This book is an excellent explanation of why capitalism is not just successful, but morally right.
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@johanknorberg @AtlanticBooks Thank you for going through the thread. Follow me at @readswithravi for more book learning, reviews, and lessons. Teach or share with others what you learn, that's how we grow.
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Reads with Ravi@readswithravi
“I was raised by books. Books, and then my parents,” says Elon Musk.
He used to read books for 10 hours a day as a kid. He not only reads them; he devours them. And he always advises people to read books.
20 books recommended by @elonmusk 🧵
He used to read books for 10 hours a day as a kid. He not only reads them; he devours them. And he always advises people to read books.
20 books recommended by @elonmusk 🧵