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 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.
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.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
Author: Christopher Alexander
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Apr 2nd, 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.
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.
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.
Winning
Author: Jack Welch
Publisher: Harper Business
Date: Oct 13th, 2009
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.
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.
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Author:
Publisher:
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 Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
Author: Julian Jaynes
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Date: Apr 2nd, 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.
Foundation's Edge
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Del Rey
Date: Feb 22nd, 2012
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 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.
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.
Foundation and Earth
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Del Rey
Date: Feb 22nd, 2012
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
