Books Recommended by Paul Graham
The Making of Europe
Conquest, Colonization and Cultural Change, 950-1350
Robert Bartlett
Source: "I know I've recommended this book already, but it's so good I have to do it again. [The author] brings history to life by explaining how and why the things happened that other books merely tell you happened." - Paul Graham
Albert Einstein
Creator and Rebel
Banesh Hoffmann
Source: "The most exciting [biography of Einstein] I've read. The author is a physicist who is genuinely excited about Einstein's discoveries, and it moves fast instead of trying to leave no detail unpublished." - Paul Graham
The Double Helix
A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA
James D. Watson Ph.D.
Source: "The most impressive feature of [this book] is how much [the author] admits he didn't know. He's constantly talking about papers he couldn't understand and important concepts he didn't grasp." - Paul Graham
Dog Man (12 books)
Dav Pilkey
Source: "Don't be so quick to add it to your reading list. Dog Man is aimed at 5-10 year olds." - Paul Graham
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Harold Abelson
Source: "This is one of the great classics of computer science. I bought my first copy 15 years ago, and I still don't feel I have learned everything the book has to teach." - Paul Graham
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Tales of a Consulting Detective
Arthur Conan Doyle
Source: "Few thoughts happier than realizing it's been long enough since you last read the Sherlocks Holmes stories that you can read them again." - Paul Graham
The Power Law
Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future
Sebastian Mallaby
Source: "If you want to understand how venture capital works and the effect it has had on the US economy, this is the book to read." - Paul Graham
Harry Potter (8 books)
J.K. Rowling
Source: Paul Graham mentioned these books on Twitter.
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
Box Set
Bill Watterson
Source: "Watterson is like Wodehouse. Because he works in an unpretentious medium, few realize how timelessly great he is." - Paul Graham
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Source: "The one book we encourage startup founders to read. [...] It's critically important for anyone in business." - Paul Graham
How to Be Topp
Ronald Searle
Source: "I read this during dinner and laughed so much that people must have wondered what was wrong with me." - Paul Graham
The Lord of the Rings (4 books)
J. R. R. Tolkien
Source: Paul Graham's answer to "any book recommendations for young adults?"
Concorde
The Inside Story
Geoffrey Knight
Source: "[The author] was in charge of BAC's Commercial Aircraft Division, and thus the British side of Concorde development." - Paul Graham
Plagues and Peoples
William McNeill
Source: "I suspect if you'd read 'Guns, Sails, and Empires' and [this book], little in 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' would surprise you." - Paul Graham
Barbarian Days
A Surfing Life
William Finnegan
Source: "It's one of those rare books that divide your life into two parts: before you read it, and after." - Paul Graham
The Old Way
A Story of the First People
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Source: "If you want to learn more about hunter gatherers I strongly recommend [this book]." - Paul Graham
The Harmless People
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Source: "If you want to learn more about hunter gatherers I strongly recommend [this book]." - Paul Graham
Sunset at Blandings
PG Wodehouse
Source: "The writing in the novel Wodehouse left unfinished when he died at 93 is crisp as ever." - Paul Graham
Sea Flight
The Wartime Memoirs of a Fleet Air Arm Pilot
Hugh Popham
Source: "A wonderful book. I'm looking at the few pages left and wishing there were more." - Paul Graham
The Quest for El Cid
Richard Fletcher
Source: One of Paul Graham's answers to "are there any books on medieval history you can recommend?"
FAQ
Did Paul Graham recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Paul Graham must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Paul Graham mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Paul Graham is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Paul Graham actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Paul Graham, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
117 books
Got feedback? Email us 📧