While others are still looking for numbers, what books are people at a16z Crypto reading?

Original title: Some books we're reading this summer 2024
Original source: a16z crypto editorial

Original translation: Little Catcher CHAOS, Crypto KOL

What books are a16z employees reading?

On June 28, a16z crypto updated the article "Some books we're reading this summer 2024" on its official website. I did a simple translation and sorted it out, and put the books related to investment/finance/technology in advance.

Use the time others spend watching porn to read books, so that you can outperform others in the bull market.

Lyn Alden: Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better

"Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better"

"Alden draws lessons and insights from monetary history and powerfully demonstrates how decentralized digital currencies can address the challenges facing the monetary system in the past and today."

Carol Coye Benson, Scott Loftesness, Russ Jones: Payments Systems in the U.S.: A Guide for the Payments "This textbook covers many aspects of the payment system (wire transfers, ATMs, credit cards, debit cards, etc.) in detail. You probably won't read this book from beginning to end, but if you want to understand the flow of funds after a credit card is swiped, it's a great resource. More importantly, understanding the complexity of the existing payment system makes me more excited about the future of blockchain payment networks." Annelise Osborne: From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance

From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance

"I like this book very much. It builds a bridge between traditional finance and technical engineering and cryptocurrency. Both types of people are necessary to continue to develop the web3 ecosystem."

Verity Harding: AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own

"AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own"

"Harding is an expert in the interaction between artificial intelligence and public policy. She understands the rise of modern AI through technological movements over the past century or so. This "Humanistic Manifesto in the Age of AI" argues that AI Far from being predetermined, the impact on society is up to all to push technology toward its greatest social potential."

Ran Spiegler: The Curious Culture of Economic Theory

《Curious Culture of Economic Theory》

"A vibrant collection of articles that explores the intellectual history and philosophy of economic theory. Spiegler discusses how and why economists reason in particular ways about topics such as strategic behavior, (ir)rationality, and information—all while teaching conceptual frameworks and anthropologicalizing the field."

Henry Hazlitt: Economics in One Lesson

《Economics Lesson》

“Full of insights and thoughts on basic economics.”

Peter Robison: Flying Blind

《Flying Blind》

"This is the most complete business history of Boeing, showing how it gradually declined from a widely respected engineering company to lose its reputation for safety and quality."

Scott Page: The Model Thinker: What You Need to Know to Make Data Work for You

The Model Thinker: What You Need to Know to Make Data Work for You

This book teaches a range of mathematical models, from networks to Markov chains to signaling, and shows how they can be applied to data sets. This may sound very boring - it is not. Page shows how to use these mental models in the real world and argues that because any one model is a poor simulation of the real world, we need multiple models to navigate our lives.

Rick Rubin: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

《The Creative Way: A Way of Being》

“A master class in integrating the creative process into your life. Whether you’re making music, writing, painting, programming, or investing in technology: be open to new ideas, be willing to experiment, and be prepared to overcome failure. Concise, accessible, and thought-provoking.”

Greg McKeown: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

《Essentialism: The Quest for Less, But Better》

“This book introduced me to the concept of ‘timing.’ The ancient Greeks had two words for time – one was ‘chronos’, the linear, clock-measured time we are familiar with. The second was ‘kairos’, which represented the moment of opportunity or the ‘right’ time, which can only be experienced by living in the present moment. ‘Kairos’ is a timeless time that occurs at a decisive or meaningful moment. None of us can change ‘chronos’ (although sometimes we want it to go faster and sometimes slower), but we can all increase the time we live in ‘kairos’. This is an old bestseller and worth rereading.”

David McCullough: The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

"McCullough is a thorough researcher who knows how to weave a narrative. His account of the extraordinary efforts behind one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19th century is for anyone interested in innovation, technology, and daring leadership. It is a paean to will."

William Zinsser: Writing to Learn

Writing to Learn

“I recently learned that the author of the writing bible, The Art of Writing, has another book on writing. If you only read one, read The Art of Writing, but if you’re a huge Zinsser fan, like me, read both. This sequel is filled with samples of clear, concise, powerful writing from masters like Einstein and Darwin. His argument is that anyone can learn any subject—no matter how complex—by writing in concise language. It’s a beautiful belief because it’s true.”

Emily Monosson: Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic

Withering: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic

“This is a mind-opening and thought-provoking book that won’t just make you freak out about fungal pandemics, but make you think about evolutionary competition and the strategic struggles between various organisms and the fungi that sometimes exterminate them.”

Adrian Tchaikovsky: Children of Time

Children of Time

A perfect blend of science fiction and evolutionary biology, Children of Time takes readers on an epic journey across time and space. The novel explores the rise and fall of civilizations, the resilience of life, and the unexpected consequences of man's quest for survival. It's very difficult to make epic hard science fiction both intellectually stimulating and emotionally moving, but this book does it. It will capture your imagination and linger with you long after you've finished reading it.

Sid Meier: Sid Meier's MEMOIR!: A Life in Computer Games

Memoir! : A Life in Computer Games

"The creator of Civilization and dozens of other computer games looks back on how he and his collaborators built one of the greatest game franchises in history. Not only does "Memoirs" trace the history of computer hardware, graphics, AI, and game design, it's also filled with top advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and creators. It's also got a lot of humor."

Zhao Yufei: Graph Theory and Additive Combinatorics: Exploring Structure and Randomness

"Graph Theory and Additive Combinatorics: Exploring Structure and Randomness"

"My friend Zhao Yufei has written a beautiful, vibrant book about the phenomenon in combinatorics where structure emerges from apparent randomness and vice versa. The book is an entertaining introduction to the field, covering everything from Szemerédi's theorem to the card game SET."

James C. Scott: Against the Grain

《Against the Grain》

"In Against the Grain, James C. Scott overturns the common logic of civilization: animals, plants, and fire domesticated humans; the so-called "savages" had a cleaner, healthier lifestyle and emerged as an important and economically necessary counterpoint to the state; these early states did not develop taxes - instead, it was the ability to tax farmers by levying domesticated grains that were readily available on the ground that led to the formation of early states. The economic, technological, and political systems we rely on all have corresponding stories to explain their origins."

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges: The Ancient City

The Ancient City

“What did the ancients of the ancients think? We understand and pay attention to the history and beliefs of the ancient Romans, Greeks, and Indians because we have easier access to their writings. But how much do we know about the beliefs of the ancients who went before that? Those Proto-Indo-European beliefs shared by the ancient Romans, Greeks, Indians, Persians, etc., which formed the basis of Western civilization.

The Ancient City (1864) is surprisingly readable despite its age. It explores everything we can infer based on ancient texts and linguistic foundations. It is the clearest account I have ever read of the development of Western culture up to the advent of Christianity.”

Will Guidara: Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Extraordinary Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

“He worked at Eleven Madison Park for many years and was a big part of its success. This book is easy to read, but very applicable to our daily work. It also applies to politics.”

Peter Nichols: A Voyage for Madmen

“This is a fascinating account of the first solo race around the world! The race was held in 1968-1969 and was open to the public - which is why most of the competitors had little experience. The champion was The race was completed in 312 days (the current solo record is 42 days). I think this has a lot in common with startup founders: most have no idea what the journey entails, they have to fix problems with the boat as they sail, and for some, the journey itself is more important than the monetary reward and accolades at the end.

James C. Scott: Seeing like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed

《Seeing like a State: Why Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed》

“Seeing like a State gave me some clarity on how to look at the operations of organizations of all sizes. I’ve been recommending this book to anyone running a startup, a business, a community. Yes, you need to decentralize control and encourage grassroots innovation—lessons that are especially true in the blockchain space. Also, the first half of the book is a great history lesson on early bureaucracies.”

Laozi: Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching

“The truth is in your heart!”

Alex Hutchinson ：Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

《Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance》

“I’ve been reading a lot of books about perseverance and endurance lately. I especially liked the author’s behind-the-scenes interviews during Nike’s 2-hour marathon project and the chapter on pain, which mentions cyclists Jens Voight and Eddy Merckx.”

Matt Fitzgerald ：How Bad Do you Want It?: Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle

How Hard Do You Want to Fight? : Mastering Mind Over Muscle

"A diverse collection of epic race stories, including insightful interviews with elite athletes about what goes on in their minds and bodies during their most challenging races."

David Oks: The Modern Diet is a Biosecurity Threat

“A fascinating and practical analysis of how and why the modern diet is killing us.”

Haruki Murakami: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

“Murakami’s fascinating memoir includes reflections on running and writing, their intersection, and their impact on his life.”

Des Linden: Choosing to Run

《Choose to Run》

“I recommend this memoir. Boston Marathon champion Des Linden is a treasure and the embodiment of perseverance.”

Hugh Wilford: The CIA: An Imperial History

《CIA: An Imperial History》

“A new perspective on the agency is told through the actions of key figures.”

Frank Conroy: Stop-Time: A Memoir

Stop Time: A Memoir

“This coming-of-age story and look back at rebellious youth, while true, fascinated me more than JD Salinger’s novel.”

David Perkins: φ,π, e, and i

φ, π, e, and i

“It’s fun to read in order, but even more fun to flip through. You never know when you’ll discover your new favorite formula that incorporates some of the most famous numbers in mathematics. (For example, look at pages 89-91!)”

Annie Jacobsen: Nuclear War

Nuclear War

"Annie Jacobsen uses top sources to outline the nuclear capabilities and policies of nations around the world, placing them in the context of a hypothetical attack on the United States. It is thought-provoking in many ways, one of which will keep you up at night."

Robert Kurson: Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

Shadow Divers: The True Story of Two Americans Who Adventured to Solve the Final Mystery of World War II

“This is a super-engrossing (true!) story - I recommend not reading the back cover (or learning anything about the book ahead of time) because it's much more interesting as the mystery unfolds both for you and the characters.”

David Grann: The Wager

“The Wager tells a riveting true story of survival at sea and about human nature during the Age of Exploration.”

Ray Vukcevich : Glinky

The Grinch

"What's that, in the sky - a bird? A plane? No, it's The Grinch - the most 'Grinch' science fiction short story ever!"

Denis Johnson : Tree of Smoke

"Tree of Smoke"

"This fascinating Vietnam War spy thriller cleverly interweaves the stories of a rookie CIA agent, a lost Marine, and a missionary Canadian nurse, while also being a reflection on American history, mythology, and more."

R.F. Kuang : Babel

"The Tower of Babel"

“This is one of the most beautiful books I have read since The Name of the Wind. It mixes some elements of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, with a dash of The Chronicle of Killing Kings and Harry Potter, and the deadly beauty of The Song of Achilles. It is a heartbreaking story that broke me down and brought me to tears, but I still highly recommend it.”

Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson: A Memory of Light (book #14 in the Wheel of Time series)

A Memory of Light (book #14 in the Wheel of Time series)

“I read about 500 of these books and I am very happy with them.” The Cat Who Saved Books by 2014, I began actively avoiding reading the series for fear of the inevitable ending and sadness at the end of a series that had stuck with me for five years. The slow build-up and tension to the final battle was painful, and I don't recommend reading this series if you're not ready for hundreds of pages of desert treks and troll battles. Sanderson (who took over the series after Jordan's unexpected death) builds tension on multiple fronts and unravels the final battle until it finally explodes in an epic finale.

Jinsaka Tosuke: The Cat Who Saved Books (translated by Louise Heal Kawai)

The Cat That Saved Books

“This cozy read is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. Filled with wise observations and sage advice, it felt like a safe haven from reality while the owner escaped his own labyrinth. Anyone who loves books will find themselves reflected in these pages.

Percival Everett: James

James

“After seeing the movie American Novel (adapted from his earlier novel Erased), I picked up Everett’s new novel, James. I was not disappointed. James is a work of inspiration. Everett The style is full of irony, sympathy and vitality, a perfect tribute to Mark Twain, and is inspired by The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. ”

Dennis Lehane: Small Mercies

A Small Mercy

"Great for beach reading - Dennis Lehane at his best."

Akimitsu Takagi: The Noh Mask Murder

The Noh Mask Murder Case

"A suspenseful novel with a multi-layered author-narrator-detective structure that is as innovative and unique as Agatha Christie's seminal novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. As with other orthodox mysteries, the solution relies on logic - all the evidence is in the book. Yet, even so, the reader is left perplexed as the story builds to an almost poetic climax in complexity."

Mick Herron: Slow Horses

Slow Horses

"What happens to MI5 spies who can't be fired but are no longer suited to the A-Team? These misfits are sent to Slough House, where they do the worst spy work - until they quit or retire. In this inventive, clever and funny spy novel, these so-called 'slow horses' find themselves back in the spotlight when a kidnapping turns deadly conspiracy."

Joanna Faber and Julie King: How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 "I'm a proponent of mental models in web3. However, when I looked for equivalent mental models for parenting, I had no idea where to start. This book provides several frameworks and tactical tools for resolving conflict, dealing with emotions, and my favorite part is how to get kids moving from one activity to another in a timely and unstressed manner."

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