I haven’t read Hemingway in more than a decade, but this specific nonfiction book was recommended to me by one of the smartest people I know. The writing, and commentary on writers and writing itself, is outstanding. It helps if you have some familiarity with hunting, but it’s not required. Before reading, I would suggest taking a few minutes to glance at 1–2 pictures of a few recurring animals: kudu, sable antelope, oryx, wildebeest, white rhino, and water buffalo. Be forewarned that the original publication date was 1935, and some of the language is dated and will be offensive to most. From the description: “His second major venture into nonfiction (after Death in the Afternoon, 1932), Green Hills of Africa is Ernest Hemingway’s lyrical journal of a month on safari in the great game country of East Africa, where he and his wife, Pauline, journeyed in December of 1933. Hemingway’s well-known interest in—and fascination with—big-game hunting is magnificently captured in this evocative account of his trip. In examining the poetic grace of the chase, and the ferocity of the kill, Hemingway also looks inward, seeking to explain the lure of the hunt and the primal undercurrent that comes alive on the plains of Africa. Yet Green Hills of Africa is also an impassioned portrait of the glory of the African landscape and of the beauty of a wilderness that was, even then, being threatened by the incursions of man.”

This is a treasure. Deep bow to Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson, Sam Witwer, Dungeons & Dragons, and Ten Speed Press for what I can only assume was a Herculean task. Remember Anton Ego, when he took his hyper-speed trip down memory lane in Ratatouille? No? Well, here you go. This tome of visual delights did that for me.

So far, this is a great, blended story of cross-cultural myth, field biology, and American history. I’ve taken notes on everything from Teddy Roosevelt to incredible animal adaptations. Humans and coyotes bear some striking similarities as species. Here’s part of the official description: “Despite campaigns of annihilation employing poisons, gases, helicopters, and engineered epidemics, coyotes didn’t just survive, they thrived, expanding across the continent from Anchorage, Alaska, to New York’s Central Park. … An illuminating biography of this extraordinary animal, Coyote America isn’t just the story of an animal’s survival; it is one of the great epics of our time.”

From the description: “Derek DelGaudio believed he was a decent, honest man. But when irrefutable evidence to the contrary is found in an old journal, his memories are reawakened and Derek is forced to confront—and try to understand—his role in a significant act of deception from his past.” Hat tip to Dr. Mark Plotkin for recommending this book to me. I’ve previously mentioned Derek in 5BF for his amazing one-man show, In & Of Itself.

I have fallen in love with Barry Lopez’s writing. If you’re new to his work, I would suggest reading Of Wolves and Men or Arctic Dreams first, as they are nonfiction at its best. About This Life is a mostly autobiographical collection of essays. In descending order, my favorites thus far are: “Learning to See,” “Orchids on the Volcanoes,” and “Apologia.”

Very, very well-done. And you can find it online.

 I fell in love with the Black Swan. I thought that was a spectacular book . . . Black Swan was introduced to me by Matt Mullenweg, developer of WordPress. Now, I guess, CEO of Automatic. And really, really had a huge impact. via Ep 24: Kevin Rose - Gut Bacteria, Meditation, Startups, and More [Matt Mullenweg's] the one who introduced me to the Black Swan, actually. That was in Greece . . . I love the Black Swan. via Ep 61: The Benevolent Dictator of the Internet, Matt Mullenweg The Black Swan, amazing book, Antifragile, great book; both of them have enormous implications for life but also finance, of course, since Taleb was in a former life, though he might still have some participation in derivatives trading, which is a whole, separate subject.

Superintelligence explores the human brain and its superiority in the animal kingdom. Recommended by 3 guests including Will MacAskill, an associate professor of philosophy at Lincoln College, University of Oxford. Just 29 years old, he is likely the youngest associate (i.e., tenured) professor of philosophy in the world.

One of my favorites. This is a how-to book. An excellent how-to book

I was given the excerpts by a tour guide while trekking through the Negev not long ago.

I really felt like I got to know [Rolf Potts] through [his] book Vagabonding, which was one of two books – many people do not know this – that I took with me around the world for about a year and a half, starting in late 2004, early 2005. It must have been 2004. And it is one of my most heavily underlined books, and really acted as my guide and my companion for all of the various travels, adventures, misadventures during that time. . . . So, you know, money that provides you with freedom basically takes away your freedom when it reaches a certain point. It starts to reduce your freedom; the idea that so-called freedom fighters in excess, you know, given too much power become tyrants, right, so things tend to flip when they get to a certain point of excess. And also, just because I’m such a die-hard fan boy of Vagabonding, correct me if I’m wrong, but the example that I think you gave in Vagabonding of sort of Hollywood nonsense related to overseas travel was from Wall Street. Wasn’t it from Wall Street where Charlie Sheen’s big goal was to save up enough money, you know, one day when he strikes it big, to get a motorcycle and drive across China, I think. And you pointed out that you could scrub toilets in China – not even in the US – for a month or two, and probably figure out a way financially to make that possible. So certainly, I mean when I was traveling, and ultimately putting together the notes and observations that became The Four Hour Work Week, I saved tens of thousands of dollars compared to simply staying in the Bay Area in California. Yeah, anyway South America or the Middle East, than you would just be paying your bills and paying your rent and buying your groceries at home. You’re traveling in a completely different economic zone, which was sort of the point of pointing out this Wall Street example. via Ep 41: Rolf Potts on Travel Tactics, Creating Time Wealth, and Lateral Thinking It reminds me of conversations I've had with Rolf Potts and also his book, Vagabonding, which I just absolutely love. It was that book and Walden that I took with me traveling when I had my own two year or so walkabout. He points out, in the beginning of Vagabonding, that many people subscribe to the belief along the lines of Charlie Sheen's in the movie Wall Street, when he's asked what he's going to do when he makes his millions and he says, "I'm going to get a motorcycle and ride across China." Rolf of course points out that you could clean toilets in the US and save enough money to ride a motorcycle across China. via Ep 25: Kevin Kelly - WIRED Co-Founder, Polymath, Most Interesting Man In The World This is one two books that I took with me around the world in 2004. The other book was Walden by Thoreau. This is arguably the most practical manual of life philosophies that I've found. It has a focus on the uncommon guide or rather the uncommon art of long term world travel. But it is an outstanding book for those people who feel trapped in any situation, any business, any career. Or if you simply want to experience more of life. Really really really outstanding. via Random w/ Tim and Kevin - Ep3 This post is a dream come true. Starting in college, I’ve fantasized about somehow driving fantastic but under-appreciated books into the limelight. I have a soft spot for out-of-print tomes and niche publications. Flash forward, nearly 15 years later… After three #1 bestsellers, I’ve finally pulled the trigger. For the last several months, I’ve been quietly buying audiobook and e-book rights to books that have changed my life, and producing audiobooks in professional studios. Fun! This post launches the Tim Ferriss Book Club, and the first book is incredible: Vagabonding. Why a Book Club? There are several reasons… I was greatly influenced by books recommended by Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club (e.g. Love in the Time of Cholera), despite the fact that I wasn’t her demographic. I could never find a book club for 20-40-year old males, or a curator for that demo. I’m now in a position to give it a shot myself (and extend it to women, of course). Based on recent experiments (BitTorrent and elsewhere), I think I can at least double an author’s print sales with my marketing of their audio/e-book. I like helping good writers. This blog’s community is incredible…and we like books (see comparison to TV and NYT Op-Ed impact). The idea of having thousands of people read the same book each month, all interacting with one another and the book’s author, is thrilling to me. And, last but not least… You’ve asked me to start a book club for years! The time has come. This leads us to Rolf Potts and a little tome with a huge impact…

I read [Tribe] in about a day and a half. I just ingested it rapid fire.

This was originally given to me by my dear mom, who knows I’ve fantasized for ages about a countrywide road trip with my pooch, Molly. The book was published in 1962, the same year Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work. It’s beautiful and surprisingly hilarious at points. Here is a brief description: “With Charley, his French poodle, Steinbeck drives the interstates and the country roads, dines with truckers, encounters bears at Yellowstone and old friends in San Francisco. Along the way, he reflects on the American character, racial hostility, the particular form of American loneliness he finds almost everywhere, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.

I love The Moth (@themoth), and you get a snapshot of pure genius and pure emotion in this collection of short stories (i.e., hit talks). I’ve been reading 1–3 chapters per night, right before bed. Here’s the description: “Carefully selected by the creative minds at storytelling phenomenon The Moth, and adapted to the page to preserve the raw energy of stories told live, onstage and without notes, Occasional Magic features voices familiar and new. Inside, storytellers from around the world share times when, in the face of seemingly impossible situations, they found moments of beauty, wonder, and clarity that shed light on their lives and helped them find a path forward. From a fifteen-year-old saving a life in Chicago to a mother of triplets trekking to the North Pole to a ninety-year-old Russian man recalling his standoff with the KGB, these storytellers attest to the variety and richness of the human experience, and the shared threads that connect us all. With honesty and humor, they stare down their fear, embrace uncertainty, and encourage us all to be more authentic, vulnerable, and alive.”

This book is awe-inspiring and shows the depth of world-creation that makes Miyazaki a legend.

Please enjoy this transcript of my interview with Yuval Noah Harari (@harari_yuval), a historian and bestselling author who is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. His popular books—Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century— have sold 27.5 million copies in 60 languages. They have been recommended by Barack Obama, Chris Evans, Janelle Monáe, Bill Gates, and many others. The Guardian has credited Sapiens with revolutionizing the nonfiction market and popularizing “brainy books.” He is also behind Sapiens: A Graphic History, a new graphic novel series in collaboration with comics artists David Vandermeulen (co-writer) and Daniel Casanave (illustrator). This beautifully illustrated series is a radical reworking of his book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. The series will be published in four volumes starting in fall 2020 with Volume 1, The Birth of Humankind, which is out now.

This is probably my favorite nonfiction book of the last five years. I received it as a Christmas gift, I devoured it in one week, and nearly every page is covered in highlighter. It’s truly that phenomenal. Barry’s mastery of structure and the written word echoes of John McPhee, and the beauty of his prose reminds me of Mary Oliver. Repeatedly, I found myself saying aloud, “Wow. How does someone DO this?” Here’s the description, edited for length: “Humankind’s relationship with the wolf is the sum of a spectrum of responses ranging from fear to admiration and affection. Lopez’s classic, careful study won praise from a wide range of reviewers, became a finalist for the National Book award, and forever improved the way books on wild animals are written. Of Wolves and Men explores the uneasy interaction between wolves and civilization over the centuries, and the wolf’s prominence in our thoughts about wild creatures. Drawing upon an impressive array of literature, history, science, and mythology as well as extensive personal experience with captive and free-ranging wolves, Lopez… immerses the reader in its sensory world, creating a compelling portrait of the wolf both as a real animal and as imagined by different kinds of men. A scientist might perceive the wolf as defined by research data, while an Eskimo hunter sees a family provider much like himself. For many Native Americans the wolf is also a spiritual symbol, a respected animal that can strengthen the individual and the community. With irresistible charm and elegance, Of Wolves and Men celebrates careful scientific fieldwork, dispels folklore… explains myths, and honors indigenous traditions, allowing us to understand how this remarkable animal has become so prominent for so long in the human heart.”

It’s a great book.

It is a strange, strange book.

A great book.

This is a much-needed book. Ben Goldacre shows us--with hysterical wit--how to separate the scam artists from real science. In a world of misinformation, this is a rare gem.

Already the title of a very on-point book by Glenn Reynolds (@glennhreynolds)

Recommended on the Tim Ferriss Show podcast episode How to Say No | Kevin Rose - Part 4

This is a sumptuous dive back into the most gorgeous art I met through Heavy Metal magazine, fantasy nerdom, and everything in between. I think of it as a buffet of creative inspiration, as the styles vary widely. From the official description: “Fantasy art, that colorful blend of myth, muscle and sexy maidens, took off in 1923 with the launch of Weird Tales magazine, was reinvigorated in the 1960s with The Lord of the Rings, Conan the Barbarian paperbacks with Frank Frazetta covers, and the late ’60s emergence of fantasy psychedelia. This book features original paintings, contextualized by preparatory sketches, sculptures, calendars, magazines, and paperback books, for an immersive dive into this dynamic, fanciful genre.”

I find the Lonely Planet language guides do a great job of summarizing the most important grammar fundamentals in 10–20 pages. I purchase the guides just for that section.

This book was mentioned quite a few times by podcast guests before I picked it up as an audiobook, in part because I learned so much from Sebastian’s earlier book, More Money Than God. I expected to know most of the venture history, but there were a ton of behind-the-scenes stories and details that I hadn’t heard before. It was also fun to get more background on at least a dozen game-changers who have been on the podcast (Bill Gurley, Patrick Collison, Roelof Botha, etc.). Even if you don’t have time for the entire book, I strongly recommend everyone listen to the concluding chapter portions on how countries can foster innovation and the geopolitical implications of tech investing, which are vast. The next few years will see a lot of this come to the forefront.

I must confess with great shame that I have never finished The Power Broker, the legendary Pulitzer Prize winner by Robert Caro. Dozens of my most brilliant friends have recommended it, and I’ve tried valiantly, but I somehow fall short. The book chronicles the life of Robert Moses, a city planner who became the most powerful man in New York, shaping the city’s politics and infrastructure. ​ A three-part podcast (99% Invisible, hosted by Roman Mars and Elliott Kalan) allowed me to salvage my self-respect and dive back into what I knew to be an incredible story worth exploring. It also reignited my desire to finish the book.

This was introduced to me by one of the most thoughtful, present, and playful couples I know. They have also infused the raising of their daughters with a similar ethos. From the book description: “The Well of Being, from Jean-Pierre Weill, is an illustrated inquiry into the art of happiness and what it means to be radically alive in our daily moments. Images and a graceful philosophic text invite us to awaken from our constructed stories that we may return to this world and live in the present. The book opens with a perennial account of life’s ultimate purpose and concludes with a unique retelling of the puzzle we call ‘growing up.’ Through art, philosophy, and poetry, we are offered a refreshing and empowering way to rethink ourselves.”