Paul Graham's Recommended Books

Paul Graham's Recommended Books | Generated by AI

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Question: What books does Paul Graham recommend?

Answer:

Paul Graham, the entrepreneur, essayist, and co-founder of Y Combinator, has recommended over 100 books across his essays, interviews, and social media posts. His suggestions span genres like history, science, startups, biography, fiction, and computer science, often emphasizing practical insights for founders, thinkers, and general readers. He frequently highlights books that shaped his worldview, such as classics on innovation, human behavior, and historical turning points.

While he doesn’t maintain a single curated list on his website, compilations from his recommendations (drawn from tweets, essays, and Q&As) include the following standout titles. I’ve grouped them thematically for clarity, with brief context where Graham provided it. This is not exhaustive but covers many of his most-cited picks.

Startup and Business Essentials

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Graham calls it “the one book we encourage startup founders to read” and “critically important for anyone in business.”
Founders at Work: Stories of Startups’ Early Days by Jessica Livingston
Praised for its raw insights into early-stage companies.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Recommended as “probably the single most valuable book a startup founder could read.”

Science and Innovation

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
A favorite for its evolutionary insights; Graham has tweeted about it multiple times.
The Double Helix by James D. Watson
Described as a “great story” about scientific discovery, which Graham has reread as an adult.
Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age by Paul Graham
His own book, often self-recommended for understanding tech culture.
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Harold Abelson and Gerald Jay Sussman
“One of the great classics of computer science”; Graham says he still learns from it after 15 years.

History and Biography

The Old Way by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Strongly recommended for learning about hunter-gatherers.
From Galileo to Newton by A. Rupert Hall
Highlighted in Graham’s recent “best books I’ve read” lists for its scientific history.
The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective by Robert C. Allen
Part of his World Book Day recommendations for economic history.
A Sense of Where You Are by John McPhee
Called “the most beautiful book I’ve ever read.”
I Want to Be a Mathematician by Paul Halmos
Recently praised as one of the best books on mathematics.

Fiction and Classics

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Included in his humorous list of books with “politics very different to [his] own.”
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Graham wishes he could recapture the excitement he felt reading it at 15.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Frequently mentioned as a thought-provoking classic.
Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
His top pick when asked for a Wodehouse recommendation.

Other Notables

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan (memoir/adventure).
More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite by Sebastian Mallaby (finance history).
Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus by Nicholas A. Christakis (recent pandemic analysis).
The Art of War in the Middle Ages by Charles Oman (military history).
History of Medieval Europe by R.H.C. Davis (concise medieval overview).

Graham’s tastes lean toward narrative-driven non-fiction that reveals how ideas and people drive change. For startups, he prioritizes interpersonal and execution skills; for personal growth, he favors books blending intellect with storytelling. If you’re interested in a specific category (e.g., history or tech), his essays like “How to Do What You Love” often weave in more tailored suggestions.

References:

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