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Read a diversity of opinions. Read capital. Read the prince. Read wealth of nations. Hearing from a lot of different people will give you the ability to formulate your own view given all the information, which is critical in this world. 

On finance, devil take the hindmost, this time it's different, debt first 5000 years, predictably irrational, this time it's different, fooled by randomness, and when money dies are some favorites. 

Also, good on you for looking to do some reading. So many young people nowadays don't read, and it's a real shame. All the information in human history-from the greatest minds-have been written in books. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to respond, I’ll look into your suggestions and comment down here once I’ve read something!

 

You’re always mentioning reading, do you have any books you recommend that are just interesting reads, they don't have to be full on nonfiction. Trying to find a new book to read and would love to hear your recommendations, thanks.

 

I did list some books I swear by here, but for the expanded mind type stuff here's some good ones

  • invisible cities
  • Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman
  • Guns, Germs, and Steel
  • Notes From Underground
  • The Path to Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson
  • The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
  • Algorithms to Live by
  • The Power Broker
  • Arthashastra

There's plenty of other economic and finance texts I can recommend too, if that's what you're looking for. 

 

Still at Uni, so probably not as qualified as some of the other people in this forum, but I am currently reading fooled by randomness and it is such a fun read, especially if you are interested in trading and statistics, but don't want to have a long ass textbook, Nassim also includes so many funny anecdotes, its been a great read.

 

Thank you.  I actually bought the book after college and read it, as I was moving to SF from Hawaii to start my career.  I wanted to do deals.  Later on, I read it again with more context on how the world worked. 

I also had Barbarians at the Gate in my backpack. 

This was 20 years ago. 

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

Don't read any of these stupid "sigma" books or business books (except Barbarians at the Gate because it is entertaining). You will get enough of that BS on the job. If you ever want to be a legitimate well respected and creative thinker, which you will need if you ever wanna generate real alpha, read stuff that will challenge you and key you into new perspectives. 

I echo usernameladiesman on those recs, and would additionally recommend: 

-Fanged Noumena by Nick Land... other dark enlightenment material (yarvin) is less interesting and challenging

-Das Kapital and contemorary marxist works (such as postmodernism, or the cultural logic of late capitalism)

-Some thiel-adjacent philosophy might be interesting, but you can probably glean enough about girard and how he applies it to business by just reading profiles/articles about him 

-Read stuff on meditation 

-How to Think Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

 

wallstreetmemes

How to win friends and influence people. Being a kind person who people can rely on will get you further than just about anything else in this industry. Clients are won because of trust - execution is obviously important but trust is the number one factor in client relationships

Great book for someone starting their career.

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

Abusement Park

The Alchemist. For all those who need to touch grass.

Great book. Timing wise, in my opinion, save The Alchemist for after a few years working or your mid-life crisis (that was me).  OP wants to grind for a few years in banking and has been touching a lot of grass in college.  

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

For guys (and gals), but in particular guys who are searching for or missing that older uncle or father type who’s going to tell you nuggets of wisdoms and motivate you to be better, think bigger, the book “The Magic of Thinking Big” is great.  Written in 1959, it is timeless.  There are 9 hour audio books on YouTube you can listen to while at the gym.  You can buy or borrow the book too. 

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

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