Give and take
Adam Grant · 2013
Also recommended by: Michael Mauboussin · Arianna Huffington · Gretchen Rubin · Seth Godin · Susan Cain · Daniel Pink · Simon Sinek · Changpeng Zhao
Programmer and creator · Ruby on Rails, Basecamp
Books recommended by David Heinemeier Hansson
David Heinemeier Hansson, known as DHH, is a Danish programmer based in the United States, creator of the Ruby on Rails framework and co-founder of Basecamp (now 37signals), a company known as a reference for remote work and an organizational culture that is an alternative to the venture-capital-funded startup model. He is also a race car driver, having competed in high-level competitions such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
As co-author — alongside Jason Fried — of books such as Rework and It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work, DHH voices firm opinions on work, technology, and business. His reading recommendations tend to reflect this profile: works that question conventions, address management pragmatically, and explore the intersection of technology, philosophy, and culture.
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Key Ideas from the 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss · 2007
”My key takeaway from The 4-Hour Workweek was the concept of lifestyle design.”
Also recommended by: Daniel Pink · Gary Keller · Marc Andreessen · Walter Isaacson · Derek Sivers · Bruno Perini
Talent Code
Daniel Coyle · 2009
”Main complaint seems to be "this is a layman's description of not-new ideas". I'm just fine with that.”
Guide to the Good Life
William B. Irvine · 2006
”an easy way to learn about it and recognize why this resonates”
The big short
Michael Lewis
”I like The Big Short . I’d read the book already. That was a good one.”
The Road To Wigan Pier
George Orwell · 1937
”it’s amazing how much of the abusive ideology revealed in his account of the miners is still present in today’s gig economy.”
Also recommended by: Jordan Peterson
Maverick
Ricardo Semler · 1993
”He wrote a fantastic book called Maverick that was great inspiration to me and I know to Jason as well.”
Also recommended by: Jason Fried
Ruby on Rails Tutorial
Michael Hartl · 2011
”@mhartl's much celebrated The Ruby on Rails Tutorial”
Also recommended by: Derek Sivers
Drive
Daniel Pink · 2009
”I just read Daniel Pink’s book, Drive , which takes some of those same ideas about motivations and rewards and extrapolates them in a little bit of a – I mean, I like the book – but kind of obnoxious language of business.”
Also recommended by: Tobi Lutke
The origins of political order
Francis Fukuyama · 2011
”There’s a fantastic two-part book called The Origins of Political Order by Fukuyama, and Political Order and Political Decay”
Also recommended by: Mark Manson
Political Order and Political Decay
Francis Fukuyama · 2014
”which traces back nation states all the way back to 4,000 years B.C. and goes through all the case studies of the rise of China and so forth.”
Also recommended by: Mark Manson
Myth of the Spoiled Child
Alfie Kohn · 2014
”There’s also a great book called The Myth of the Spoiled Child , which is even more specific about nurturing and supporting kids and so forth.”
Fear of Freedom
Erich Fromm · 1941
”It’s one of my all-time top ten favorite books. Applies well in both business and politics.”
Understanding exposure
Bryan Peterson · 2004
”That was probably one of the first primers I read on this.”