16 Books That Will Make You Smarter Than 99% of People

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide to intellectual growth, recommending 16 books across philosophy, economics, science, and business to foster critical thinking and practical knowledge. The speaker, with a background in value theory, emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded education for creativity, personal freedom, and informed decision-making. The list includes books on logic, ethics, applied ethics, decision theory, micro and macroeconomics, Austrian economics, neuroeconomics, social sciences, AI, computer science, quantum computing, cosmology, sales, marketing, cash flow management, and an overarching view of business operations.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker attended Columbia University and found that while classmates excelled in tests and grades, they often lacked introspection and critical thinking skills.
• 📚 After 15 years of experience, the speaker discovered 16 books across four categories that can foster true intelligence beyond a Columbia education.
• 🤔 The first category is philosophy, which is foundational for critical thinking and conceptual analysis, allowing individuals to expand knowledge across various fields.
• 📘 Four types of philosophy books are recommended: logic for argument structure, ethical theory for moral understanding, applied ethics for practical situations, and decision theory for understanding the process of decision-making.
• 💼 The second category is economics, which is essential for being an informed global citizen and includes microeconomics, macroeconomics, Austrian economic theory, and neuroeconomics.
• 🧠 The third category is science, with a focus on social sciences for understanding behavior, artificial intelligence for future advancements, computer science with an emphasis on quantum computing, and cosmology for a broader perspective on life.
• 🚀 The fourth and final category is business and entrepreneurship, which is crucial for applying knowledge practically and includes sales, marketing, cash flow management, and a broad understanding of business operations.
• 🛒 Sales skills are universal and important for leading people to take action, and ethical selling can be achieved without manipulation.
• 📈 Marketing is distinct from sales and is vital for attracting people, which can be the difference between securing or missing opportunities.
• 💡 Cash flow management is key for business success and personal budgeting, with understanding of income and expenses being crucial.
• 🌐 A broad understanding of business operations provides insights into creating and delivering value, which is beneficial even outside of business contexts.
• 📘 'A Personal MBA' by Josh Kaufman is highly recommended for a comprehensive overview of business and its practical applications.

Q & A

What did the speaker realize about their classmates at Columbia University?

The speaker realized that their classmates were good at taking tests and getting good grades but lacked introspection and critical thinking skills, using their knowledge superficially.

How many years of experience does the speaker have in theoretical and practical fields?

The speaker has more than 15 years of experience in theoretical fields like value theory and education, as well as in the practical field of sales.

What are the four categories of books mentioned by the speaker to make one intelligent?

The four categories of books mentioned are philosophy, economics, science, and business.

Why is philosophy considered the foundation for critical thinking and conceptual analysis according to the speaker?

Philosophy is considered the foundation because it equips individuals with critical thinking and conceptual analysis skills, which are essential for expanding knowledge into various fields.

What are the three key reasons for having knowledge in a variety of fields as stated by the speaker?

The three key reasons are to increase creativity, enhance self-efficacy leading to greater personal freedom, and to make better decisions in life.

What type of philosophy book is recommended for understanding the structure of good and bad arguments?

A book on logic is recommended, such as 'Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking' by D.Q. McInerny.

Which book is suggested for gaining a broad overview of different ethical systems?

An introduction to ethics by Jeffrey Thomas is suggested for understanding various ethical systems like utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics.

What is the importance of studying applied ethics according to the speaker?

Studying applied ethics is important as it deals with practical situations and helps in thinking through complex issues such as patient care allocation, labor union negotiations, and issues like abortion and euthanasia.

Why is understanding economics important for being an informed citizen?

Understanding economics is important because it fuels our lives, influences world events, and helps in making informed decisions in an increasingly connected world.

What is the significance of studying neuroeconomics as per the speaker's perspective?

Neuroeconomics is significant as it studies the brain processes underlying economic decisions, revealing that humans are not always rational decision-makers and providing insights into why and how we make certain decisions.

What is the role of studying business and entrepreneurship according to the speaker?

Studying business and entrepreneurship is essential as it helps in applying knowledge creatively, growing personally, and understanding how to create and deliver value in various aspects of life, not just in business.

What book is recommended for gaining a broad understanding of how businesses work?

A Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman is recommended for a broad yet detailed overview of how businesses operate.

Why should knowledge be practical according to the speaker?

Knowledge should be practical because it should help build a better life in tangible ways, make us more moral, better decision-makers, and inform our opinions on global issues.

What concept by Aristotle is emphasized by the speaker for a balanced approach to knowledge and action?

The concept of the golden mean by Aristotle is emphasized for a balanced approach to knowledge and action.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Unearthing True Intelligence Through Reading

The speaker reflects on their Columbia University experience, noting a perceived lack of critical thinking among classmates focused on career goals. They then introduce a list of 16 books categorized into philosophy, economics, science, and business that they believe can foster true intelligence. The first category, philosophy, is emphasized for its role in developing critical thinking and conceptual analysis, which are essential for expanding knowledge across various fields. Four types of philosophy books are suggested: logic for understanding argument structures, ethical theory for moral judgment, applied ethics for practical moral situations, and decision theory for understanding decision-making processes. Specific book recommendations are provided for each type.

05:00

💼 Economics and the Science of Decision Making

The script delves into the importance of economics, detailing the significance of understanding microeconomics for grasping firm and household interactions, and macroeconomics for comprehending broader economic behaviors. The Austrian economic theory is presented as a base for free market thought, despite the speaker's skepticism. Neuroeconomics, the study of brain processes in economic decisions, is introduced as a field debunking the myth of humans as purely rational decision-makers. Book recommendations are given for each economic subcategory, emphasizing the value of informed decision-making in personal and global contexts.

10:02

🌌 The Sciences: From Social Behavior to Cosmology

The speaker advocates for a broad understanding of the sciences, starting with social sciences to comprehend human behavior and its implications for societal issues. They highlight the growing influence of artificial intelligence, particularly generative intelligence, and the impending impact of quantum computing on various fields. Cosmology is presented as a means to understand our place in the universe, promoting a well-rounded perspective. Each scientific area is accompanied by a book recommendation aimed at building a foundational knowledge that extends beyond practicality to foster a comprehensive worldview.

🚀 Business and Entrepreneurship: Practical Application of Knowledge

The final paragraph emphasizes the practical application of knowledge through business and entrepreneurship. The speaker shares their personal journey from an introverted academic to a successful entrepreneur, underscoring the importance of understanding sales, marketing, cash flow management, and the broader workings of businesses. They argue that these skills are universally applicable and essential for personal growth, even if one does not intend to start a business. Each business-related topic is supported by a book recommendation, encouraging the viewer to consider the tangible benefits of business knowledge for personal and professional development.

Keywords

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It is the core of the video's theme, as it emphasizes the importance of developing this skill through the study of philosophy and other disciplines. The script mentions that critical thinking skills allow individuals to expand their knowledge into various fields, which is crucial for creativity, self-efficacy, and better decision-making.

💡Introspection

Introspection refers to the process of self-examination or self-analysis. In the context of the video, it is presented as a skill that some students at Columbia University may lack, being too focused on career goals. The speaker suggests that introspection, along with critical thinking, is essential for personal growth and understanding one's own values and beliefs.

💡Value Theory

Value Theory is a subset of philosophy that deals with the nature of values and their role in human life. The speaker's background in Value Theory is mentioned to provide credibility and to highlight the importance of philosophical inquiry in developing a well-rounded understanding of the world and making informed decisions.

💡Economics

Economics is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The video script discusses the importance of understanding economics to be an informed global citizen, with a focus on microeconomics, macroeconomics, Austrian economic theory, and neuroeconomics as key areas to explore for a comprehensive understanding of economic behavior.

💡Neuroeconomics

Neuroeconomics is an emerging field that combines economics with neuroscience to understand the neural mechanisms behind decision-making. The script points out that neuroeconomics challenges the notion of humans as purely rational decision-makers, indicating that many decisions are made against our own interests, which is crucial knowledge for understanding consumer behavior and personal financial management.

💡Social Sciences

Social sciences encompass the study of human society, social relationships, and institutions. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding social sciences to analyze and improve societal issues such as crime and poverty. It suggests that a nuanced understanding of social behavior is key to engineering better outcomes.

💡Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that can perform tasks usually requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. The script mentions generative intelligence systems like Chatbot and Gemini AI, indicating that AI will play an increasingly significant role in various aspects of life and work.

💡Quantum Computing

Quantum Computing is a technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in a fundamentally different way from classical computers. The video script suggests that quantum computing will eventually replace current microprocessors, exponentially increasing computational power and enabling advancements in various fields, including clinical research and complex problem-solving.

💡Cosmology

Cosmology is the study of the universe's origin, evolution, and eventual fate. The script argues that understanding cosmology is important for gaining a broader perspective on life and the universe, despite its apparent lack of direct practicality in everyday life. It serves as a reminder of our place in the cosmos and encourages us to think beyond our immediate surroundings.

💡Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching, and running a new business, which is typically a startup company. The video script discusses the importance of studying entrepreneurship for its transferable skills, such as sales, marketing, and cash flow management, which can be applied to various aspects of life, including personal projects and career development.

💡Sales

Sales is the process of persuading someone to buy a product or service. The script identifies sales as a universal skill that goes beyond mere transactions; it's about leading others to take action. The video emphasizes that sales skills are essential for effective communication and can be applied ethically and beneficially in various contexts.

Highlights

The speaker attended Columbia University and found that many classmates lacked introspection and critical thinking skills despite being good at tests and achieving high grades.

After 15 years of experience in theoretical and practical fields, the speaker discovered 16 books that can make one more intelligent than a Columbia University education.

The list of books is divided into four categories: philosophy, economics, science, and business, each with four types of books and a recommended beginner book for each type.

Philosophy is essential as it is the foundation of critical thinking and conceptual analysis, which are crucial for expanding knowledge across various fields.

Logic is the foundation of good thinking, and 'Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking' by D.Q. McKinney is recommended for understanding argument structures.

Ethical theory books provide a broad overview of different systems of ethics, helping to develop a well-thought-out view of morality.

Applied ethical theory books deal with practical situations, such as patient care allocation and labor union negotiations, preparing individuals for real-life ethical dilemmas.

Decision theory books help understand how decisions are made and what constitutes a good decision, with 'An Introduction to Decision Theory' by Martin Peterson recommended.

Economics is vital for understanding the world's interconnectedness, and microeconomics provides a foundation for financial literacy.

Macroeconomics is a major driver of global events, and understanding it is key to being an informed global citizen.

Austrian economic theory, despite its controversies, is important to read to gain a well-rounded perspective on economics.

Neuroeconomics challenges the idea of humans as rational decision-makers, offering insights into why we make decisions against our interests.

Social sciences are crucial for understanding human behavior and creating a better world by examining the factors behind societal issues.

Artificial intelligence, especially generative intelligence, will play an increasingly significant role in our lives and work.

Quantum computing will revolutionize our ability to solve complex problems and improve various fields, making understanding it essential for future success.

Cosmology provides a broader perspective on our place in the universe, which is important for being a well-rounded person.

Business and entrepreneurship are essential for applying knowledge creatively and growing personally, with sales being a universal skill for leading others to take action.

Marketing is crucial for attracting people and gaining opportunities, with 'Crush It!' by Gary Vaynerchuk recommended for understanding interpersonal attraction.

Cash flow management is essential for business success and personal financial organization, with 'Conquering Cash Flow' by Rob Stevens recommended.

A broad understanding of how businesses work is vital for creating and delivering value, with 'A Personal MBA' by Josh Kaufman providing a comprehensive overview.

Knowledge should be practical, helping us become more moral, better decision-makers, and informed about global issues, while also being pursued for its own sake.

Transcripts

after attending Columbia University I

realized most of my classmates weren't

actually that smart they were good at

taking tests and getting good grades but

they got so focused on their career

goals that they ended up lacking

introspection critical thinking skills

and ended up using their knowledge as if

it were a dish rag helpful for wiping up

a mess but simply to be discarded

afterward but after more than 15 years

in the theoretical worlds of value

Theory and education and the very

practical world of sales I've discovered

16 books that will make you intelligent

truly intelligent even more so than if

you had had a Columbia University

education we'll divide this list up into

four categories each containing four

types of books along with one of my

favorites or a good beginner book for

each type these categories are

philosophy economics science and

business let's start with the first

category of books philosophy now I'm

definitely biased here because my

background is in value Theory which is a

subset of philosophy however here's why

we really do need to start with

philosophy philosophy is at its heart

critical thinking and conceptual

analysis the more armed we are with

these skills the more powerful we become

as individuals because these skills

allow us to expand our knowledge into a

variety of fields and having knowledge

in a variety of fields has been shown to

be important for three key reasons one

so we can ultimately increase our

creativity and two to increase what's

called our self-efficacy which

translates into greater personal freedom

and three ultimately to make better

decisions in life that being said here

are four types of books in philosophy we

should read to create these results

along with some of my favorites the

first type of philosophy book you want

to read is something on logic just to

get familiar with how good arguments as

well as bad arguments are structured

logic is the foundation of good thinking

so it's a great place to start and DQ

McKinney's being logical a guide to good

thinking is one of my favorites for this

purpose the second type of philosophy

book we should read is something on

ethical Theory a broad overview of

different systems of Ethics such as

utilitarianism D anology virtue ethics

just so we can develop a wellth thought

out view of morality I mean I couldn't

even decide to make a video on what you

should read without making an ethical or

moral judgment right so needless to say

studying this is pretty fundamental for

understanding how to make good decisions

in life one of my favorites here is an

introduction to ethics by Jeffrey Thomas

the third type of philosophy book we

should read follows the last one a bit

namely something on applied ethical

Theory now applied ethics gets out of

the theory altogether and gets right

into practical situations how should

patient care be allocated how should

labor unions negotiate if at all how

about issues like abortion euthanasia

and the treatment of animals let's be

real isn't it a good idea to think

through these situations before being

faced with one of them one of the best

beginner books here is social ethics by

Thomas Maps and Jane Zody the last book

in this category we should read to have

some well-rounded knowledge of

conceptual analysis and critical

thinking is a book on decision Theory

this is as it sounds the theory of how

decisions are made now ironically it's

unlikely you'll actually use any of the

theories laid out in a decision Theory

Book sorry but it's kind of true but

learning some basics in decision Theory

will help you first and foremost to

understand how people make decisions

what constitutes a good decision and

help you come up with your own framework

on how to make good decisions in your

life in this category I recommend

reading an introduction to decision

Theory by Martin Peterson the next

category we want to explore is economics

needless to say economics fuels Our

Lives you've probably used dozens of

products today without even thinking

about it and someone made those sold

them to you and you allocated some of

your budget to buy them understanding

economics makes us a more informed

citizen of the world so to speak which

is especially important as the world

becomes more and more connected the

first type of book we should read in

economics is something on microeconomics

or essentially the interactions of firms

and households understanding the basics

here won't necessarily help us become

financially literate or balance a budget

but understanding microeconomics is a

great foundation for it a great book

here is microeconomics Made Simple by

Austin fra and Mike Piper the second

type of book we should read in economics

is something on on macroeconomics or

essentially an overall look at a firm

and individual behavior in aggregate

macroeconomics is a major driver of all

the world events we see today so

understanding it is key a really useful

book here is a concise guide to

microeconomics by David Moss the third

book we should read in economics is

something on Austrian economic theory

Austrian economic theory is one of the

bedrocks of modern free market and

libertarian economic thought from what I

can tell Austrian Theory doesn't really

hold up under scrutiny and in all

fairness there's no perfect economic

theory but I believe it's essential to

read all points of view on economics and

not simply ignore the ones you think you

disagree with that's the essence of

being a well-rounded thinker right a

great book to read here is an

introduction to Austrian economics by

Thomas Taylor finally the fourth book

you should read is something in the

growing field of neuroeconomics

neuroeconomics put simply is the study

of brain processes underlying economic

decisions and the more and more we learn

about this field the more and more it

makes it clear that the idea of humans

as rational decision makers is pretty

much a myth there are so many decisions

we make that are actively against our

own interests and it's important to

understand why and how we make these

decisions going back to the book on

decision theory that I mentioned back in

our philosophy category understanding

decision making in general only empowers

you to make better decisions in your own

life a great book to start with here is

neuroeconomics decisionmaking and the

Brain by Paul glimcher and that takes us

to the next category which is the

Sciences Now The Sciences are so broad

so it's hard to boil down my

recommendations to just four

subcategories but I'm basing my

recommendations here on what I believe

are some of the most urgent areas for us

to have a working knowledge of the first

type of book we should read is something

on the social sciences understanding how

people behave and what affects our

Behavior I believe is the key to helping

us create a better world it's easy to

look at crime for example and say oh

those people are bad or violent but it

takes a more nuanced mind to say okay

yes they're violent or okay yes there's

a poverty problem here and say let's

examine the factors behind this and

understand how to engineer and

incentivize better outcomes a

foundational book to read here is social

cognitive theory by the the famous

father of social cognitive theory Albert

Vandura the second type of book to read

is something on artificial intelligence

especially what's called generative

intelligence in systems we see such as

Chachi BT and Gemini AI is only going to

become more and more advanced and play a

bigger and bigger role in our work lives

our personal lives and as a way to

create income too in the not too distant

future we may all even have intelligent

robots washing our dishes and doing our

laundry for us who knows I mean I'd

really like that a great book to get

started understanding the basics here is

AI Made Simple by Rajiv kapor the third

type of book we definitely want to read

is something on computer science we

don't know exactly when but sooner or

later the field of quantum Computing

will make our current microprocessors

Obsolete and replace them with what are

called cubits exponentially increasing

our ability to do clinical research and

find cures for diseases improve our

engineering ability beyond our wildest

imaginations and find solutions to

extremely complex problems we don't

simply want to understand how things

currently work but instead how they will

work in the future that kind of attitude

ultimately positions us for future

success one of the greatest books on

this topic is quantum Supremacy by the

famous physicist mokaku last but not

least we definitely want to understand

cosmology or something about the latest

outer space discoveries understanding

cosmology doesn't seem so practical I

know and with respect to how we run our

everyday lives it's not really that

practical let's be real but I believe

knowledge is good in and of itself and

let's also be real about something else

compared to how huge the universe is

we're pretty insignificant so for that

reason alone getting outside of our

bubble and understanding the greater

context in which we live is essential

for being a well-rounded person one of

the best books for this especially for

beginners is the fabric of the cosmos by

Brian Green and finally finally we get

to the last category Business and

Entrepreneurship now before you click

off of this video because you say oh

Business and Entrepreneurship isn't

relevant to me just hear me out back in

2013 right after I published my first

peer-reviewed academic book I started my

first business as a broke introverted

nerd with no connections and no social

skills by the time I started my second

business in 2018 I had come to realize

why knowledge about Business and

Entrepreneurship is so essential

especially for us introverted nerd with

no connections and no social skills you

see too many times we find ourselves

thinking through the first three

categories I mentioned economics

philosophy science even art and history

all that stuff but that's just it we're

only sitting there thinking we never

actually interface with the real world

and instead just live in a bubble of

theory and it's way too easy to do that

trust me I've been there big time so

studying entrepreneurship forces us to

think about how we can apply our

knowledge creatively and how we can grow

personally by putting ourselves in

situations that are uncomfortable and as

we'll see the skills in entrepreneurship

are incredibly transferable to whatever

else we want to do whether or not we

want to actually start a business so the

first type of book we want to read here

is something on sales there are so many

different types of sales from

front-facing to non-front facing from B

to C and B2 B but they all share some

common principles identifying prospects

booking the appoint appointment or

exposure closing the transaction and

followup we might hear these and feel

uncomfortable and that's great because

sales skills are Universal skills we

need to know for leading other people to

take action and it does not have to be

manipulative we can do sales and selling

in the right way one of the best books

on this topic especially if you're a

beginner is the science of selling by

David huffle the second type of book we

want to read in this category is

something on marketing and this is

extremely different from sales while

learning sales helps us really

understand how to interact with people

and communicate with people to get the

results we're looking for learning

marketing helps us understand another

crucial element of interpersonal

interaction and that is how to attract

people to us in the first place and this

is an indispensable skill in fact people

liking us or disliking us really can be

the difference between getting chosen

for an opportunity we want or not one of

the absolute best books on this is day

trading attention by Gary vaynerchuk the

third type of book to read in this

category is something on cash flow

management if you ever want to start a

business then understanding how much

money is coming in and how much money is

going out is essential and a lot of

people make mistakes here but even if

you're not building a business

understanding business cash flow and how

to properly organize it and manage it

will help you gain tremendous insights

for managing your personal budget a

great book to read here is Conquering

Cash Flow by Rob Stevens and finally the

fourth type of book everyone should read

on business is simply an overall

Broadview understanding of how

businesses work understanding how

businesses work on a broad view will

really give us a more detailed

understanding of how to create and

deliver value in general even outside of

business I mean let's say we even want

to start some engineering project well

understanding sales marketing Logistics

product and service viability cash flow

and all the other aspects of business

will make us exponentially better at

managing organizing and carrying through

our project to completion and the

absolute best book I've ever read that

provides such a broad yet detailed

overview is a personal MBA by Josh

calman at the end of the day knowledge

should be practical and help us build a

better life in real tangible ways it

should help us become more moral it

should help us become better decision

makers and it should help us have better

informed opinions of important Global

issues but let's not also forget that

knowledge is good in and of itself for

its own sake just as the philosopher

Aristotle emphasized through his concept

of the golden mean we should always have

a balanced approach don't just take

action become educated but don't just

become educated make sure you take

action too if you want to keep leveling

up your critical thinking to live an

impactful life then be sure to watch

this next video