Books Recommended by Peter Thiel
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Originals
How Non-Conformists Move the World
Adam Grant
Source: "It can sometimes seem as if one must learn everything old before one can try anything new. [The author] does a masterful job showing that is not the case; we are lucky to have him as a guide." - Peter Thiel
7 Powers
The Foundations of Business Strategy
Hamilton Helmer
Source: "[The author] understands that strategy starts with invention. He can't tell you what to invent, but he can and does show what it takes for a new invention to become a valuable business." - Peter Thiel
100 Plus
Sonia Arrison
Source: "Its message is evergreen: how scientists are directly attacking the problem of aging and death and why we should fight for life instead of accepting decay as inevitable." - Peter Thiel
1 recommenderThe Lord of the Rings (4 books)
J. R. R. Tolkien
Source: "The classic [series] I always give." - Peter Thiel
Cryptonomicon
Neal Stephenson
Source: "The early PayPal team worked well together because we were all the same kind of nerd. We all loved science fiction: Cryptonomicon was required reading." - Peter Thiel
4 recommendersAtlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Source: "When I first read [Ayn Rand's books] in the late 80s, it felt pretty crazy. And in the last decades, it's in many ways felt much more correct." - Peter Thiel
Bloodlands
Europe Between Hitler and Stalin
Timothy Snyder
Source: "Tells how the Nazis and the Soviets drove each other to ever more murderous atrocities as they fought to dominate Eastern Europe." - Peter Thiel
2 recommendersThings Hidden Since the Foundation of the World
Rene Girard
Source: "We [followers of Girard], had sort of a sense that we had figured out the truth about the world in a way that nobody else did." - Peter Thiel
2 recommendersPsychopolitics
Conversations with Trevor Cribben Merrill
Jean-Michel Oughourlian
Source: "For a fresh application of Mr. Girard’s insights into power politics, that great international theater of irrationality." - Peter Thiel
1 recommenderThe Reasonableness of Christianity
John Locke
Source: "Said that Christ obviously had to mislead people, since if he had not done so, the authorities might have tried to kill him." - Peter Thiel
1 recommenderParadise Lost
John Milton
Source: "The mind is its own place and of itself can make a hell of heaven, and a heaven of hell." - Peter Thiel
1 recommenderThe Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World
From Marathon to Waterloo
Edward Shepherd Creasy
Source: "Peter [Thiel] would, at one point, pass me a copy of [this book], the book he had read as he’d mulled his options over." - Ryan Holiday
2 recommendersThe Master and Margarita
Mikhail Bulgakov
Source: "The devil shows up in Stalinist Russia, [...] and gives everybody what they want, and everything goes haywire." - Peter Thiel
Discourses on Livy
Niccolò Machiavelli
Source: "Something in these pages planted itself deep into [Peter Thiel]’s mind when he first read it long ago." - Ryan Holiday
1 recommenderAnna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Source: "All happy families are alike, and all unhappy families are unhappy in their own special way." - Peter Thiel
Dangerous
Milo Yiannopoulos
Source: "If you don't use your freedom of speech, one day you might find that it's gone. Buy this book while it's legal." - Peter Thiel
1 recommenderCapital in the Twenty-First Century
Thomas Piketty
Source: "Accurately describes inequality in the past and present of countries like the United States." - Peter Thiel
4 recommendersThe Hard Thing About Hard Things
Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Ben Horowitz
Source: "[The author] has written the first true guide for protecting a startup from self-sabotage." - Peter Thiel
The Decadent Society
How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success
Ross Gregory Douthat
Source: "Sets the stakes for the most urgent public debate of the 2020s: How do we get back to the future?" - Peter Thiel
3 recommendersHoly Bible
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Source: Peter Thiel says The New Testament has influenced him more than The Old Testament.
FAQ
Did Peter Thiel recommend all these books?
While this list primarily comprises books enthusiastically recommended by Peter Thiel, it also includes a variety of titles that Peter Thiel has mentioned or suggested in various contexts. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive reading list that reflects Peter Thiel's literary influences, interests, and recommendations, though not every book on the list may be an explicit endorsement.
How do you know Peter Thiel mentioned these books?
Our team meticulously verifies each book mention attributed to Peter Thiel. This involves extensive research, including reviewing interviews, articles, podcasts, social media posts, and other public statements where Peter Thiel has discussed their reading preferences. The sources validating these mentions are linked next to each book for transparency and to provide our users with the context in which Peter Thiel referred to the book.
Did Peter Thiel actually create this list?
No, Peter Thiel did not personally compile this list. Our editorial team curates these reading lists by consolidating all verified mentions and recommendations from Peter Thiel. We ensure the authenticity of the list by providing sources for each recommendation. These lists are intended to reflect Peter Thiel's reading tastes and influences as accurately as possible.
Are these books endorsed or sponsored by Peter Thiel?
The books listed are not part of any endorsement or sponsorship agreement with Peter Thiel. They are selected based on genuine mentions and recommendations made by Peter Thiel in various public platforms. Our goal is to provide readers with an authentic insight into the reading preferences of influential individuals.
How often is the list updated?
We update these lists regularly to include new recommendations or mentions by Peter Thiel. Our team keeps a close eye on Peter Thiel's latest interviews, writings, and public statements to ensure the list remains current and comprehensive.
Can I suggest a book to add to the list?
While we primarily focus on books directly mentioned by Peter Thiel, we welcome suggestions from our readers. If you know of a book that Peter Thiel has talked about but is not featured on our list, feel free to contact us with the source of the mention, and our editorial team will review it for potential inclusion.
How can I find books recommended by other individuals?
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