Dive into the literary world of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Naval Ravikant 

A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius

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

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

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

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

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

Walter Isaacson delves into the life of Albert Einstein, illuminating how his revolutionary ideas reshaped modern physics while exploring his personal and professional journeys.
Also recommended by:
Elon Musk 

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman 

The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

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.
Also recommended by:
Neil deGrasse Tyson  David Bowie 

The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison

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

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Neil deGrasse Tyson 

Foundation and Earth

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman  Elon Musk 

The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914

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

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

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

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

Nick Bostrom examines the future prospects of artificial intelligence and the existential risks it poses, proposing strategies to ensure that AI developments benefit humanity.
Also recommended by:
Elon Musk 

The Fall

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Elon Musk  Lex Fridman 

Thinking, Fast and Slow

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Bill Nye  Adam Savage 

Hold 'em Poker

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman  Elon Musk 

Pandaemonium: The Coming of the Machine As Seen by Contemporary Observers

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Elon Musk  Lex Fridman 

Medieval Technology and Social Change

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman  Elon Musk 

The Old Way: A Story of the First People

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Jordan Peterson 

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction

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

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Elon Musk 

The Transit of Venus

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Oprah Winfrey  Ernest Hemingway 

Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman  Elon Musk 

The Supermen: The Story of Seymour Cray and the Technical Wizards Behind the Supercomputer

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.
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