History
Books
Philosophy
Self-improvement
Psychology
Self-help
Personal Finance
Wealth
Savings
Time Management
Risk
Globalism
Social Philosophy
20 books every person should read in their 20s:
= thread =
= thread =
The Psychology of Money
by Morgan Housel
Subject: Personal Finance
Lessons:
• Wealth is unseen
• Savings = gap between your ego and income
• Luck cannot exist without risk
• Plan better; apply a margin of error
• Use your money to buy time
by Morgan Housel
Subject: Personal Finance
Lessons:
• Wealth is unseen
• Savings = gap between your ego and income
• Luck cannot exist without risk
• Plan better; apply a margin of error
• Use your money to buy time
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
by Yuval Noah Harari
Subjects: History; Social Philosophy
Lessons:
• Humans invented money and writing to cooperate
• Globalism is making the world more peaceful
• Luxuries become necessities that create new obligations
by Yuval Noah Harari
Subjects: History; Social Philosophy
Lessons:
• Humans invented money and writing to cooperate
• Globalism is making the world more peaceful
• Luxuries become necessities that create new obligations
Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
Genre: Philosophical Fiction
Lessons:
• Learn to think, wait, & fast
• We give meaning to experiences (good or bad)
• Transform everything that happens to you into value
• Wisdom is earned by action
• Forge your own path to self-realization
by Hermann Hesse
Genre: Philosophical Fiction
Lessons:
• Learn to think, wait, & fast
• We give meaning to experiences (good or bad)
• Transform everything that happens to you into value
• Wisdom is earned by action
• Forge your own path to self-realization
The Defining Decade
by Meg Jay
Subject: General Advice
Lessons:
• 30 is not the new 20. Make your 20s count
• Value people outside your close circle
• Exercise extreme care when choosing a life partner
• Early jobs influence long-term wage growth
by Meg Jay
Subject: General Advice
Lessons:
• 30 is not the new 20. Make your 20s count
• Value people outside your close circle
• Exercise extreme care when choosing a life partner
• Early jobs influence long-term wage growth
Influence
by Robert Cialdini
Subject: Psychology
Lessons:
• Learn the 6 principles of influence:
1. Reciprocity
2. Commitment/consistency
3. Social proof
4. Authority
5. Liking
6. Scarcity
• If someone is trying to manipulate you, label the principle to disarm them
by Robert Cialdini
Subject: Psychology
Lessons:
• Learn the 6 principles of influence:
1. Reciprocity
2. Commitment/consistency
3. Social proof
4. Authority
5. Liking
6. Scarcity
• If someone is trying to manipulate you, label the principle to disarm them
Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman
Subject: Psychology
Lessons:
• We think in two systems (1=automatic, 2=considered)
• The mind uses shortcuts to make decisions
• We often make emotional, not rational, decisions
• Learn to slow down; engage with System 2
by Daniel Kahneman
Subject: Psychology
Lessons:
• We think in two systems (1=automatic, 2=considered)
• The mind uses shortcuts to make decisions
• We often make emotional, not rational, decisions
• Learn to slow down; engage with System 2
Why We Sleep
by Matthew Walker
Subject: Health & Wellness
Lessons:
• Sleeping 7-9 hrs daily influences happiness and elite performance
• Lack of sleep impacts mental health
• Value rest to become your best self
• Get science-backed tips for improving your sleep
by Matthew Walker
Subject: Health & Wellness
Lessons:
• Sleeping 7-9 hrs daily influences happiness and elite performance
• Lack of sleep impacts mental health
• Value rest to become your best self
• Get science-backed tips for improving your sleep
Fountainhead
by Ayn Rand
Genre: Philosophical Fiction
Lessons:
• Make decisions based on your moral code
• Think for yourself (ignore critics & mass opinion)
• To say I love you, one must know first how to say the ‘I’
• Pursue a path that makes you beholden to nobody
by Ayn Rand
Genre: Philosophical Fiction
Lessons:
• Make decisions based on your moral code
• Think for yourself (ignore critics & mass opinion)
• To say I love you, one must know first how to say the ‘I’
• Pursue a path that makes you beholden to nobody
Atomic Habits
by James Clear
Subject: Behavioral Change
Lessons:
• Small behavioral changes compound into big results
• 1% better daily = 37x improvement yearly
• 4 Laws to building a habit:
1) Make it obvious
2) Make it attractive
3) Make it easy
4) Make it satisfying
by James Clear
Subject: Behavioral Change
Lessons:
• Small behavioral changes compound into big results
• 1% better daily = 37x improvement yearly
• 4 Laws to building a habit:
1) Make it obvious
2) Make it attractive
3) Make it easy
4) Make it satisfying
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
by Ramit Seth
Subject: Personal Finance
Lessons:
• Get clear about your ‘Rich Life’
• Save and invest money before you ever see it
• Create an automated money system
by Ramit Seth
Subject: Personal Finance
Lessons:
• Get clear about your ‘Rich Life’
• Save and invest money before you ever see it
• Create an automated money system
Never Split the Difference
by Chris Voss
Subject: Negotiation, EQ
Lessons:
• Prepare your best-alternative-option in advance
• Let your counterpart make the first offer
• Be prepared for extremes
• Ask open-ended questions
by Chris Voss
Subject: Negotiation, EQ
Lessons:
• Prepare your best-alternative-option in advance
• Let your counterpart make the first offer
• Be prepared for extremes
• Ask open-ended questions
Getting Past Your Breakup
by Susan J. Elliott
Subject: Relationship
Lessons:
• Remember that love is an action
• Follow a policy of ‘no contact’ for self-care
• Learn the phases of grief and label them
• Post-breakup is an opportunity to change your life
by Susan J. Elliott
Subject: Relationship
Lessons:
• Remember that love is an action
• Follow a policy of ‘no contact’ for self-care
• Learn the phases of grief and label them
• Post-breakup is an opportunity to change your life
The 4-Hour Workweek
by Tim Ferriss
Subject: Entrepreneurship
Lessons:
• Join the ‘New Rich’ and practice lifestyle design
• How to escape the 9-5
• Build a ‘muse’ that earns money as you sleep
• Apply the 80/20 Principle to be maximally effective
by Tim Ferriss
Subject: Entrepreneurship
Lessons:
• Join the ‘New Rich’ and practice lifestyle design
• How to escape the 9-5
• Build a ‘muse’ that earns money as you sleep
• Apply the 80/20 Principle to be maximally effective
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
By Richard Feynman (Nobel-prizewinning physicist)
Subject: Autobiography; Science
Lessons:
• Be outrageously curious
• The first rule: Don’t fool yourself
• Apply the ‘Feynman Technique’ for deep learning/understanding
By Richard Feynman (Nobel-prizewinning physicist)
Subject: Autobiography; Science
Lessons:
• Be outrageously curious
• The first rule: Don’t fool yourself
• Apply the ‘Feynman Technique’ for deep learning/understanding
Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor Frankl
Subject: Psychology
Lessons:
• Success (and survival) depends on our ability to find meaning in life
• A compelling ‘Why’ can push you through the toughest of circumstances
by Viktor Frankl
Subject: Psychology
Lessons:
• Success (and survival) depends on our ability to find meaning in life
• A compelling ‘Why’ can push you through the toughest of circumstances
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Cheryl Strayed
Subject: Autobiography, Travel
Lessons:
• Pain is a catalyst to change your life for the better
• Fear is the story we tell ourselves
• Being a human in nature is intensely satisfying (do this more)
by Cheryl Strayed
Subject: Autobiography, Travel
Lessons:
• Pain is a catalyst to change your life for the better
• Fear is the story we tell ourselves
• Being a human in nature is intensely satisfying (do this more)
The Algebra of Happiness
by Scott Galloway
Subject: General Advice
Lessons:
• Work hard: Your 20s set your career trajectory
• Opportunity is a function of density. Pick an environment that’s crowded with success
• If something is free and brings you joy, do more of THAT
by Scott Galloway
Subject: General Advice
Lessons:
• Work hard: Your 20s set your career trajectory
• Opportunity is a function of density. Pick an environment that’s crowded with success
• If something is free and brings you joy, do more of THAT
Bigger Leaner Stronger
by Michael Matthews
(For women-specific advice, see ‘Thinner Leaner Stronger’)
Subject: Health & Wellness
Lessons:
• Follow a proven workout plan
• Emphasize heavy compound movements (squat, bench, deadlift, etc.)
• Track your sets and weight
by Michael Matthews
(For women-specific advice, see ‘Thinner Leaner Stronger’)
Subject: Health & Wellness
Lessons:
• Follow a proven workout plan
• Emphasize heavy compound movements (squat, bench, deadlift, etc.)
• Track your sets and weight
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion
Subject: Memoir; Relationship
Lessons:
• Learn how to approach loss/grief
• Some things are outside your control (accept this)
• Life goes on
by Joan Didion
Subject: Memoir; Relationship
Lessons:
• Learn how to approach loss/grief
• Some things are outside your control (accept this)
• Life goes on
The Almanak of Naval Ravikant
by Eric Jorgenson
Subject: Health, Wealth, & Free Time
Lessons:
• Money and happiness are skills
• Productize yourself
• A good reputation is invaluable
• Play long-term iterated games, compound your growth
• And much, much more.
by Eric Jorgenson
Subject: Health, Wealth, & Free Time
Lessons:
• Money and happiness are skills
• Productize yourself
• A good reputation is invaluable
• Play long-term iterated games, compound your growth
• And much, much more.
That’s all 20!
What else would you add?
If you enjoyed this thread, please RT the first tweet and follow me @SystemSunday
This account exists to help you:
• Learn systems + mental models
• Become your best self
Cheers,
Ben
What else would you add?
If you enjoyed this thread, please RT the first tweet and follow me @SystemSunday
This account exists to help you:
• Learn systems + mental models
• Become your best self
Cheers,
Ben
Loading suggestions...