Sam Altman is an influential entrepreneur and investor, known particularly for his role as the former president of Y Combinator, one of the most successful startup accelerators that has helped launch companies like Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe. Born in 1985 in Chicago, Altman started his first company, Loopt, at the age of 19 while attending Stanford University. Although he eventually dropped out to pursue his entrepreneurial ventures, his leadership at Y Combinator and his investments across various technology sectors have made him a key figure in Silicon Valley. Currently, he is the CEO of OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research lab that aims to promote and develop friendly AI in a way that benefits humanity as a whole.
❝If you are not learning, you are regressing; such is the nature of the world we live in.❞ — Sam Altman
Sam Altman has expressed his appreciation for reading, particularly non-fiction and scientific materials, which he integrates into his work in technology and AI. Reading plays a significant role in his ongoing education and in staying abreast of the latest developments and ethical considerations in technology. Although not frequently public about his personal life, Altman's professional advice often includes the importance of continual learning and adapting, which reading undoubtedly supports. His leadership style involves a deep understanding of technological trends and societal needs, where reading and education are fundamental to navigating the complexities of innovation.
Sam Altman's Favorite Books
Last Updated: June 2024
The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World
Author: David Deutsch
Publisher: Viking
Date: Jul 21st, 2011
David Deutsch explores a broad range of scientific, philosophical, and cultural topics, arguing that through the pursuit of explanations, humans are capable of unlimited intellectual and practical progress.
A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius
Author: Dave Eggers
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: Feb 12th, 2013
This memoir, characterized by its postmodern style and humorous self-awareness, recounts Eggers' experiences raising his younger brother in San Francisco following the tragic deaths of their parents.
Guns, Sails and Empires: Technological Innovation and European Expansion 1400-1700
Author: Carlo Cipolla
Publisher: Barnes Noble Books
Date: Oct 8th, 1996
Cipolla explores how advancements in military and naval technology enabled European powers to establish overseas empires and dominate global trade during the early modern period.
A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life
Author: J. Craig Venter
Publisher: Viking Adult
Date: Oct 18th, 2007
Venter, one of the leading scientists in genomic research, recounts his controversial race to decode the human genome, offering insights into his groundbreaking scientific contributions and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic research.
Winning
Author: Jack Welch
Publisher: HarperAudio
Date: Apr 6th, 2005
Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, shares his insights and strategies for success in business management, covering everything from leadership and hiring to competitive strategy and corporate growth.
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Man's Search for Meaning
Author: Viktor E. Frankl
Publisher: Beacon Press
Date: Jun 1st, 2006
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has transcended its own genre by describing his experiences in Nazi death camps, all the while explaining his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about, and then immersively imagining that outcome.
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Author: Walter Isaacson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: Apr 10th, 2007
Walter Isaacson delves into the life of Albert Einstein, illuminating how his revolutionary ideas reshaped modern physics while exploring his personal and professional journeys.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Publisher: Macmillan Collector's Library
Date: Mar 21st, 2017
ilde’s only novel tells the story of a young man, Dorian Gray, who wishes his portrait would age instead of him, leading to a life of hedonism and moral descent, exploring themes of vanity, moral duplicity, and the nature of beauty.
Brave New World
Author: Aldous Huxley
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Date: Jul 5th, 2005
Set in a dystopian future where individuals are systematically controlled and conditioned for roles in a totalitarian society, Huxley’s novel critiques the dangers of sacrificing individuality for technological and governmental control.
Meditations
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Oct 31st, 2006
Written by a Roman Emperor and philosopher, these personal writings and aphorisms reflect his Stoic philosophy, providing guidance on how to handle adversity and exercise self-control, and offering insights into ethical living.
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
Author: Julian Jaynes
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Date: Oct 8th, 1976
Julian Jaynes presents a controversial theory that human consciousness arose as a recent development in history, linked to the breakdown of a previous mind-state where decisions were made through auditory hallucinations believed to be the voices of gods.
The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison
Author: James Madison
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Nov 8th, 2005
This book provides a detailed day-by-day account of the debates and discussions that shaped the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787, as recorded by James Madison, one of the key figures at the convention.
The Kite Runner: A Novel
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Date: Oct 3rd, 2023
This bestselling novel explores the unlikely and profound friendship between Amir, a wealthy boy from Kabul, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant, as their lives take dramatically different courses in the backdrop of Afghanistan’s turbulent history.
Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age
Author: Michael A. Hiltzik
Publisher: HarperCollins e-books
Date: May 13th, 2009
Hiltzik narrates the history of Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), which played a pivotal role in developing many of the technologies that underpin the modern computer industry, including the graphical user interface, laser printing, and the Ethernet.
Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It
Author: Scott Kupor
Publisher: Portfolio
Date: Jun 4th, 2019
Scott Kupor, managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, demystifies venture capital, explaining how VCs decide where and how much to invest, and teaching entrepreneurs how to structure their companies to attract the best venture partnerships.
The Principia
Author: Sir Isaac Newton
Publisher: University of California Press
Date: Feb 5th, 2016
Newton's groundbreaking work lays out the three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation, which have formed the foundation for classical mechanics and drastically changed our understanding of the universe.
Foundation and Earth
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Aug 31st, 2004
The continuation of the Foundation series where Golan Trevize continues his quest to understand the choice he made regarding the galaxy's future, leading to a search for Earth with profound implications.
The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914
Author: Christopher Clark
Publisher: Allen Lane
Date: Sep 27th, 2012
This detailed historical analysis explores the complex web of political, diplomatic, and military events that led to the outbreak of World War I, arguing that the leaders of the time were like sleepwalkers, unaware of the consequences of their actions.
Powering the Future: How We Will (Eventually) Solve the Energy Crisis and Fuel the Civilization of Tomorrow
Author: Robert B. Laughlin
Publisher: Basic Books
Date: Sep 27th, 2011
Nobel laureate Laughlin provides a scientific forecast of how various energy technologies will evolve over the next two centuries, offering a realistic look at how humanity can sustainably meet its energy demands.
Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Year at Lockheed
Author: Leo Janos
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Date: Feb 26th, 2013
Rich, the second director of Lockheed’s Skunk Works, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the top-secret aerospace development division, sharing stories of innovations that produced some of the most famous aircraft in history, including the U-2 and the Stealth fighter.
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
Author: Alice Munro
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date: Nov 6th, 2001
In this collection of short stories, Munro masterfully explores the complexities of human relationships through the tales of ordinary people dealing with love, loss, and the pivotal moments that shape their lives.
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Author: Nick Bostrom
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Sep 3rd, 2014
Nick Bostrom examines the future prospects of artificial intelligence and the existential risks it poses, proposing strategies to ensure that AI developments benefit humanity.
The Fall
Author: Albert Camus
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: May 25th, 2023
In this philosophical novel, Camus presents a monologue by Jean-Baptiste Clamence, a former Parisian attorney who recounts his life and moral failures, exploring themes of existentialism, guilt, and human hypocrisy.
Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Jun 1st, 2004
Isaac Asimov's groundbreaking novel introduces his grand narrative of the decline and fall of a Galactic Empire and the scientific effort to shorten the ensuing dark age.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Author: Daniel Kahneman
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Oct 25th, 2011
Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman explores the dual-process model of the human mind, explaining how our two systems of thinking—fast, intuitive, and emotional; slow, deliberate, and logical—influence everything from our everyday decisions to our economic behaviors.
The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
Author: Julie Zhuo
Publisher: Portfolio
Date: Mar 19th, 2019
Zhuo, a seasoned tech executive, shares her insights and personal experiences in transitioning from an individual contributor to a highly effective manager, offering practical advice on leadership, decision-making, and team building.
Hold 'em Poker
Author: David Sklansky
Publisher: Two Plus Two Pub. / Creel
Date: Dec 1st, 1996
This comprehensive guide by one of poker’s leading authorities provides strategies and theories for competitive players looking to win at Texas Hold'em, covering everything from the basics of play to advanced tactics.
Second Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Jun 1st, 2004
This installment of Asimov's Foundation series focuses on the mysterious Second Foundation, tasked with preserving the edges of science and ensuring the original Foundation's prophecies come to fruition.
Pandaemonium: The Coming of the Machine As Seen by Contemporary Observers
Author: Humphrey Jennings
Publisher: Free Press
Date: Oct 8th, 1985
Compiled by British filmmaker Jennings, this unique book presents a selection of firsthand accounts from 1660 to 1886, chronicling the industrial revolution and its impact on society through the eyes of its contemporaries.
Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
Author: Lester R. Brown
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date: Jan 17th, 2008
Brown provides a comprehensive plan for reversing environmental degradation and saving civilization, emphasizing the need for renewable energy, sustainable development, and population stabilization.
Prelude to Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Mar 1st, 1989
In this prequel to his seminal Foundation series, Isaac Asimov recounts the early life of Hari Seldon, the brilliant mathematician who develops psychohistory, a method of predicting the future.
Medieval Technology and Social Change
Author: Lynn White
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Dec 31st, 1963
White examines the profound impact of technological innovations on medieval society, including the stirrup’s role in changing warfare and feudalism, and the adoption of the heavy plow in agriculture.
Foundation and Empire
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Jun 1st, 2004
The second book in Asimov's Foundation series, exploring the inevitable decay of a sprawling empire and the efforts by the Foundation to manage and mitigate the catastrophic loss of knowledge.
The Old Way: A Story of the First People
Author: Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Oct 17th, 2006
This ethnographic work provides a vivid account of the life of the Ju/'hoansi people of the Kalahari Desert, exploring their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyles and the profound changes brought about by contact with the modern world.
Endurance
Author: Alfred Lansing
Publisher: Basic Books
Date: Apr 28th, 2015
Lansing's gripping account details the incredible survival story of explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew, who struggled to survive in Antarctica for over a year after their ship was crushed by ice in 1915.
Plentiful Energy: The Story of the Integral Fast Reactor
Author: Charles E. Till
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date: Dec 6th, 2011
The book details the development and promise of the Integral Fast Reactor, a type of nuclear reactor that offers improvements in safety, efficiency, and waste management over traditional reactors.
Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies
Author: Reid Hoffman
Publisher: Crown Currency
Date: Oct 9th, 2018
This book provides a practical framework for a strategy that prioritizes speed over efficiency in an environment of uncertainty, and it’s used by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to rapidly grow their companies and achieve massive scale.
Fundamentals of Plasma Physics
Author: Paul M. Bellan
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: May 1st, 2006
This textbook offers a thorough introduction to the principles and applications of plasma physics, with discussions on kinetic theory, magnetohydrodynamics, wave mechanics, and diagnostic techniques.
Mind of Napoleon: A Selection of His Written and Spoken Words
Author: Napoleon
Publisher: Columbia Univ Pr
Date: Oct 8th, 2024
This collection offers insight into Napoleon Bonaparte’s thoughts on war, politics, and governance, providing a glimpse into the strategic mind and ambitious spirit of one of history’s most influential leaders.
Molecular Biology of the Cell
Author: Bruce Alberts
Publisher: Garland Science
Date: Nov 18th, 2014
Often referred to as the "bible" of molecular biology, this comprehensive textbook provides an in-depth exploration of the processes and systems at work in cells, essential for students and professionals in the biological sciences.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Author: Jane Jacobs
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Sep 13th, 2011
Jacobs’ influential book critiques 1950s urban planning policy, which she saw as detrimental to the social fabric of cities, and proposes new principles for building vibrant urban communities.
Man's Search For Meaning
Author: Viktor E. Frankl
Publisher: Rider
Date: Jan 1st, 2011
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has transcended its own genre by describing his experiences in Nazi death camps, all the while explaining his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about, and then immersively imagining that outcome.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
Author: Christopher Alexander
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Oct 8th, 1977
This influential book proposes a functional approach to architectural and urban design, presenting 253 design problems typical of urban environments, and offering corresponding solutions based on natural and human-centered principles.
Hacking Sales: The Playbook for Building a High-Velocity Sales Machine
Author: Max Altschuler
Publisher: Wiley
Date: May 31st, 2016
Altschuler provides innovative tactics and tools designed for the modern sales process, offering strategies to streamline sales using automation, technology, and a focus on behavioral economics to drastically improve efficiency and results.
The Republic
Author: Plato
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date: Feb 15th, 2021
In this foundational philosophical text, Plato explores themes of justice, order, and character through a series of dialogues led by Socrates, culminating in a detailed discussion of the philosopher-king and the ideal city-state.
The Trial of Socrates
Author: I. F. Stone
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Date: Oct 8th, 1988
Stone reexamines the historical events leading to the trial and subsequent execution of Socrates, arguing that the philosopher's opposition to democracy may have played a significant role in his death sentence.
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Author: Peter Thiel
Publisher: Crown Currency
Date: Sep 16th, 2014
Peter Thiel provides unconventional wisdom and practical advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of innovation and creating new products that jump from zero to one, rather than improving on existing products.
The Transit of Venus
Author: Shirley Hazzard
Publisher: Viking Adult
Date: Mar 14th, 1980
Hazzard's novel follows the lives and loves of two orphaned sisters, who migrate from Australia to post-war England, where their paths diverge as they navigate love, ambition, and the complexities of womanhood.
Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez
Author: Richard Rodriguez
Publisher: David R. Godine, Publisher
Date: Jul 5th, 2022
This autobiographical work explores Rodriguez's experiences navigating the educational system as a child of Mexican immigrant parents, discussing the personal and societal impacts of assimilation and the loss of his cultural identity.
Call Me by Your Name: A Novel
Author: André Aciman
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Jan 23rd, 2007
This novel is a tender and poignant exploration of first love and heartbreak, set during a sun-drenched summer on the Italian Riviera, where a young man named Elio falls in love with a visiting scholar, Oliver.
The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time
Author: Jonathan Weiner
Publisher: Knopf
Date: May 3rd, 1994
Weiner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book documents the work of biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant in the Galápagos Islands, providing compelling real-time observations of evolution in action among finch populations.
The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership
Author: Bill Walsh
Publisher: Portfolio
Date: Jul 3rd, 2009
This book outlines the leadership philosophy of Bill Walsh, the legendary San Francisco 49ers coach, focusing on his innovative management practices, commitment to excellence, and the lessons he learned about team building and leadership.
Anna Karenina
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: May 1st, 2004
Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece traces the tragic love affair between Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky, set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Russian society, exploring themes of passion, loyalty, and societal norms.
Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets
Author: Michael T. Bosworth
Publisher: McGraw Hill
Date: Sep 22nd, 1994
This book presents a sales methodology that focuses on addressing clients' critical issues and providing solutions to their problems, rather than traditional product-focused selling.
Foundation's Edge
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Nov 1st, 1991
Asimov continues his Foundation saga with the quest to find Earth, the mythical planet where humans originally came from, which leads to revelations that could alter the future of the galaxy.
The Supermen: The Story of Seymour Cray and the Technical Wizards Behind the Supercomputer
Author: Charles J. Murray
Publisher: Wiley
Date: Jan 18th, 1997
This book profiles Seymour Cray, a pioneer of supercomputing, detailing his innovative work in developing high-speed computers and the culture of creativity and determination among his team.
