Walter Isaacson Book Recommendations

The Only Game in Town

Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the Next Collapse

by Mohamed A. El-Erian

"A must-read from one of the most astute financial analysts of our time." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Begin Again

by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

"Must-read." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

On the Bus

The Complete Guide to the Legendary Trip of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and the Birth of the Counterculture

by Paul Perry

"Read [this book]." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Measure What Matters

How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs

by John Doerr

"The most important venture capitalist of our era reveals a key to business innovation and success." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Tools and Weapons

The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age

by Brad Smith

"This is a colorful and insightful insiders’ view of how technology is both empowering and threatening us. From privacy to cyberattacks, this timely book is a useful guide for how to navigate the digital future." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

On the Road

by Jack Kerouac

"Read [this book]." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

The 4-Hour Workweek

Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

by Tim Ferriss

"[The author has] a great curiosity and [...] a great love for things." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

by Benjamin Franklin

"Cast as a letter to his son. It’s not some deep ruminations and things. It’s about how you make your way through this world." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

The Moviegoer

by Walker Percy

Walter Isaacson mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast. (Source)

Fantasyland

How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History

by Kurt Andersen

"I think it helps you understand the wackiness happening in our country today." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Poor Richard's Almanack

by Benjamin Franklin

Walter Isaacson mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast. (Source)

Holy Bible

"Everybody, of course, should be familiar with [this book], which is a way of being taught through both parables and tales of people and their values." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Destined for War

Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?

by Graham Allison

"When a new power arises in the world, it results in a clash with the dominant power. This important and fascinating book extracts lessons for how we can avoid such a confrontation." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

The Odyssey

by Homer

"There’s something beautiful about [this book] because Ulysses is on the boat and then he’ll have this incredible adventure. But then he gets to get back on the boat and move on." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Mark Twain

"Read [this book]." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Future Forward

Leadership Lessons from Patrick McGovern, the Visionary Who Circled the Globe and Built a Technology Media Empire

by Glenn Rifkin

"Provides a dramatic, clear-eyed look at this visionary entrepreneur and the leadership lessons he used to build his global company." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

The End of Illness

by David B. Agus

"Both a useful guide on how to stay healthy and a fascinating analysis of the latest in medical science." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

A Shot to Save the World

The Inside Story of the Life-or-Death Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine

by Gregory Zuckerman

"An inspiring and informative page-turner." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

The Founders

The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley

by Jimmy Soni

"An indispensable guide to modern innovation and entrepreneurship." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Play Nice But Win

A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader

by Michael Dell

"A fast-paced tale of launching a public company, taking it private, and then taking it public again." - Walter Isaacson (Source)

Genius Makers

The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World

by Cade Metz

"This colorful page-turner puts artificial intelligence into a human perspective." - Walter Isaacson (Source)