16 Books That Will Make You Smarter Than 99% of People
Summary
TLDRThis 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
- π The speaker attended Columbia University and found that while classmates excelled in tests and grades, they often lacked introspection and critical thinking skills.
- π After 15 years of experience, the speaker discovered 16 books across four categories that can foster true intelligence beyond a Columbia education.
- π€ The first category is philosophy, which is foundational for critical thinking and conceptual analysis, allowing individuals to expand knowledge across various fields.
- π 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.
- πΌ The second category is economics, which is essential for being an informed global citizen and includes microeconomics, macroeconomics, Austrian economic theory, and neuroeconomics.
- π§ 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.
- π 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.
- π Sales skills are universal and important for leading people to take action, and ethical selling can be achieved without manipulation.
- π Marketing is distinct from sales and is vital for attracting people, which can be the difference between securing or missing opportunities.
- π‘ Cash flow management is key for business success and personal budgeting, with understanding of income and expenses being crucial.
- π A broad understanding of business operations provides insights into creating and delivering value, which is beneficial even outside of business contexts.
- π '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
π 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.
πΌ 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.
π 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.
π 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Critical Thinking
π‘Introspection
π‘Value Theory
π‘Economics
π‘Neuroeconomics
π‘Social Sciences
π‘Artificial Intelligence
π‘Quantum Computing
π‘Cosmology
π‘Entrepreneurship
π‘Sales
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
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