Books Recommended by Charlie Munger
The Language Instinct
How the Mind Creates Language
Steven Pinker
Source: "Says that human language ability is not just learned, it is deeply buried - to a considerable extent - in the genome." - Charlie Munger
Deep Simplicity
Bringing Order to Chaos and Complexity
John Gribbin
Source: "It's pretty hard to understand everything, but if you can't understand it, you can always give it to a more intelligent friend." - Charlie Munger
The Greatest Trade Ever
The Behind-the-Scenes Story of How John Paulson Defied Wall Street and Made Financial History
Gregory Zuckerman
Source: "He made a lot of money from entirely legal ways but may have created a lot of trouble for himself in the process." - Charlie Munger
The Years of Lyndon Johnson (4 books)
Robert Caro
Source: "I think reading [this series] is very important for anyone who wants a view into the human condition." - Charlie Munger
In the Plex
How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives
Steven Levy
Source: "I hate to admit this because I've ignored high tech all my life, but I actually read [this book]. And I found it a very interesting book." - Charlie Munger
The Martians of Science
Five Physicists Who Changed the Twentieth Century
Istvan Hargittai
Source: "A hell of a book about five Hungarian physicists, driven to the United States by Hitler, who contributed much to science here." - Charlie Munger
The Warren Buffett Portfolio
Mastering the Power of the Focus Investment Strategy
Robert G. Hagstrom
Source: "Not only very well written, but a considerable contribution to the synthesis of human thought on the investment process." - Charlie Munger
The Outsiders
Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success
William N. Thorndike
Source: "Details the extraordinary success of CEOs who took a radically different approach to corporate management." - Charlie Munger
Getting It Done
How to Lead When You're Not in Charge
Roger Fisher
Source: "This book is must reading for those seeking to maximize their contribution to the constructive work of the world." - Charlie Munger
Hard Drive
Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire
James Wallace
Source: "You really get a feeling for what it took to write and sell software in the software revolution." - Charlie Munger
Pride in Performance
Keep It Going!
Les Schwab
Source: "Will demonstrate really shrewd compensation systems in a whole chain of small businesses." - Charlie Munger
Ice Age
John Gribbin
Source: "Best work of science exposition and history that I've read in many years!" - Charlie Munger
Einstein
His Life and Universe
Walter Isaacson
Source: "I’ve read all the Einstein biographies, and this is by far the best." - Charlie Munger
Benjamin Franklin
An American Life
Walter Isaacson
Source: "It’s hard to write a bad book on such an interesting subject." - Charlie Munger
Titan
The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
Orson Scott Card
Source: "One of the best business biographies I have ever read." - Charlie Munger
A Universe from Nothing
Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing
Lawrence M. Krauss
Source: Charlie Munger recommended this book at the Daily Journal Meeting in 2013.
Models of My Life
Herbert A Simon
Source: Charlie Munger recommended this book in the "Poor Charlie's Almanack" book.
A Matter of Degrees
What Temperature Reveals about the Past and Future of Our Species, Planet, and Universe
Gino Segre
Source: Charlie Munger recommended this book in the "Poor Charlie's Almanack" book.
Living within Limits
Ecology, Economics, and Population Taboos
Garrett Hardin
Source: Charlie Munger recommended this book in the "Poor Charlie's Almanack" book.
Only the Paranoid Survive
How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
Andrew S. Grove
Source: Charlie Munger recommended this book in the "Poor Charlie's Almanack" book.
FAQ
Did Charlie Munger recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Charlie Munger must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Charlie Munger mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Charlie Munger is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Charlie Munger actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Charlie Munger, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
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