š£Announcing 'The Infinite Loops Canon' - a guide to the 30 books that have shaped the podcast.
For Twitter lovers, we've also listed all 30 titles below.
Looking for quotes, further reading recommendations and more? Check out the link.
Happy reading!
infiniteloops.substack.com
For Twitter lovers, we've also listed all 30 titles below.
Looking for quotes, further reading recommendations and more? Check out the link.
Happy reading!
infiniteloops.substack.com
1. The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; by @DavidDeutschOxf
The rational optimistsā manifesto. Described by Jim as āprobably the most profound and important book Iāve ever read.ā
Need we say any more?
The rational optimistsā manifesto. Described by Jim as āprobably the most profound and important book Iāve ever read.ā
Need we say any more?
2. The Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu
A treatise on balance, harmony and humility. One of the foundational texts of Jimās worldview, and an eternal reference point for the podcast.
A treatise on balance, harmony and humility. One of the foundational texts of Jimās worldview, and an eternal reference point for the podcast.
3. Hero with a Thousand Faces; by Joseph Campbell
Are you a fan of Star Wars? Rick & Morty? The Odyssey? The Wizard of Oz? All are different versions of Campbellās generalisable, eternal āheroās journeyā, described in Campbellās book.
Are you a fan of Star Wars? Rick & Morty? The Odyssey? The Wizard of Oz? All are different versions of Campbellās generalisable, eternal āheroās journeyā, described in Campbellās book.
4. Meditations; by Marcus Aurelius
Donāt waste your energy on things you canāt control. Focus on things you can control. Like reading this book.
Donāt waste your energy on things you canāt control. Focus on things you can control. Like reading this book.
5. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
A feel-good, light travelogue which can be zipped through in a couple of hours.
If you believed that then you really havenāt been paying attention.
A feel-good, light travelogue which can be zipped through in a couple of hours.
If you believed that then you really havenāt been paying attention.
6. Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing; by Jed McKenna
Weāll let our friend @Dan_Jeffries1 lead on this one:
āDo you like swimming with giant electric eels? Good. Itās just like that.ā
Weāll let our friend @Dan_Jeffries1 lead on this one:
āDo you like swimming with giant electric eels? Good. Itās just like that.ā
7. The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size; by Tor NĆørretranders
You are currently absorbing c.11 million bits of information per second. Of that 11 million, your conscious mind can only process a maximum of c.50. This book is about the remaining 10,999,950 bits.
You are currently absorbing c.11 million bits of information per second. Of that 11 million, your conscious mind can only process a maximum of c.50. This book is about the remaining 10,999,950 bits.
8. The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by @wstorr
Want to gain a better understanding of humanOS? Read this book.
Want to gain a better understanding of humanOS? Read this book.
9. The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by @JoHenrich
āHuman natureā may be very different to what we Western weirdos think it is. This book explains why.
āHuman natureā may be very different to what we Western weirdos think it is. This book explains why.
10. Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Donāt Make Sense; by @rorysutherland
Packed with wisdom:
āIn maths, 10 x 1 is always the same as 1 x 10, but in real life, it rarely is. You can trick ten people once, but itās much harder to trick one person ten times.ā
Packed with wisdom:
āIn maths, 10 x 1 is always the same as 1 x 10, but in real life, it rarely is. You can trick ten people once, but itās much harder to trick one person ten times.ā
11. Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds; by Charles Mackay
Mackayās seminal book shows how we often descend into mass group mania, driven by greed, fear, excitement, and imitation.
If only we could think of a recent news example to illustrate his point.
Mackayās seminal book shows how we often descend into mass group mania, driven by greed, fear, excitement, and imitation.
If only we could think of a recent news example to illustrate his point.
12. Reminiscences of a Stock Operator; by Edwin LefĆØvre
Jim: āOld, but classic that all investors should read. Youāll swear heās writing about markets of today.ā
Jim: āOld, but classic that all investors should read. Youāll swear heās writing about markets of today.ā
13. What Works on Wall Street; by @jposhaughnessy
Obviously.
Obviously.
14. The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by @HowardxBloom
Jim: āInstead of thinking of markets as some exogenous, abstract entitiesā¦we need to start understanding them as human creations designed to provide said humans with things they desire.ā
Jim: āInstead of thinking of markets as some exogenous, abstract entitiesā¦we need to start understanding them as human creations designed to provide said humans with things they desire.ā
15. The Lessons of History; by Will and Ariel Durant
Just a casual attempt to distil 5,000 years of history and 10 volumes of books (over 12,000 pages) into 13 short chapters.
Articulates a recurring Infinite Loops theme: circumstances may change, but human nature doesnāt.
Just a casual attempt to distil 5,000 years of history and 10 volumes of books (over 12,000 pages) into 13 short chapters.
Articulates a recurring Infinite Loops theme: circumstances may change, but human nature doesnāt.
16. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; by Thomas S. Kuhn
A foundational text for those seeking to understand the process by which we discover new paradigms.
A foundational text for those seeking to understand the process by which we discover new paradigms.
17. AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future; by @kaifulee and @ChenQiufan
Part science fiction, part science forecasting.
The central thesis? AI will transform our lives, but we remain masters of our own fate.
Part science fiction, part science forecasting.
The central thesis? AI will transform our lives, but we remain masters of our own fate.
18. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character); by Richard Feynman
An autobiographical paean to curiosity, independence, problem-solving, fun and honesty from one of the most brilliant scientists of the 20th century.
An autobiographical paean to curiosity, independence, problem-solving, fun and honesty from one of the most brilliant scientists of the 20th century.
19. The Hitchhikerās Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams
A philosophy book disguised as a humourous sci-fi story.
Including this book in our list may or may not have been one of @jlowinās redlines before signing up to the OSV advisory council.
A philosophy book disguised as a humourous sci-fi story.
Including this book in our list may or may not have been one of @jlowinās redlines before signing up to the OSV advisory council.
20. The Lathe of Heaven; by Ursula K Le Guin
To be honest, we could have included basically any book written by Ursula Le Guin here.
What would you do if your dreams had the power to reshape reality?
To be honest, we could have included basically any book written by Ursula Le Guin here.
What would you do if your dreams had the power to reshape reality?
21. Cloud Atlas; by @david_mitchell
One of the best books of the 21st century.
One of the best books of the 21st century.
22. Dune; by Frank Herbert
One of the most influential science fiction series of all time. Obviously itās going to be on the list!
One of the most influential science fiction series of all time. Obviously itās going to be on the list!
23. To Kill a Mockingbird; by Harper Lee
What more do we need to say?
What more do we need to say?
24. Interpreter of Maladies; by Jhumpa Lahiri
A beautifully written series of stories about communication, belonging, romanticism and family.
A beautifully written series of stories about communication, belonging, romanticism and family.
25. Zorba the Greek; by Nikos Kazantzakis
An exploration of existentialism, nihilism, modernity and, of course, the Tao. One of Jimās favourite novels.
An exploration of existentialism, nihilism, modernity and, of course, the Tao. One of Jimās favourite novels.
26. Siddharta; by Hermann Hesse
You can get your life lessons straight from the Buddha, but that wonāt turn you into the Buddha. Bookish knowledge is nowhere near enough to replace real-world experiences.
You can get your life lessons straight from the Buddha, but that wonāt turn you into the Buddha. Bookish knowledge is nowhere near enough to replace real-world experiences.
27. Bring Up the Bodies; by Hilary Mantel
The second and best of Mantelās trilogy chronicling the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell. If you havenāt already read it, where have you been for the last 10 years?
The second and best of Mantelās trilogy chronicling the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell. If you havenāt already read it, where have you been for the last 10 years?
28. Prometheus Rising; by Robert Anton Wilson
āIf you think you know what the hell is going on, youāre probably full of shit.ā
ā Robert Anton Wilson
āIf you think you know what the hell is going on, youāre probably full of shit.ā
ā Robert Anton Wilson
29. Unflattening; by @Nsousanis
Impossible to summarise. Psychology, philosophy, illusion, abstraction, critical theory and mythology combine in this graphic novel to create a mind-bending, perception-expanding experience.
Impossible to summarise. Psychology, philosophy, illusion, abstraction, critical theory and mythology combine in this graphic novel to create a mind-bending, perception-expanding experience.
30. Slouching Towards Bethlehem; by Joan Didion
A collection of essays on 60s San Francisco. Referred to in the New York Times as āsome of the best written prose today in this countryā on publication in 1968. Renowned for its scathing account of hippie counterculture.
A collection of essays on 60s San Francisco. Referred to in the New York Times as āsome of the best written prose today in this countryā on publication in 1968. Renowned for its scathing account of hippie counterculture.
What do you think of the list? Are there any books that you think should or shouldn't be included? Let us know in the comments!
Fancy winning a copy of all 30 books? Youāre in luck! Check out our competition:
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