5 Books Recommended by the World’s Wealthiest and What There Is to Learn

The world’s wealthiest people understand the power of knowledge and often credit continuous learning and insightful reading for their achievements. Some even embark on ambitious reading marathons, such as Mark Zuckerberg, who tackled 23 books as part of his “A Year of Books” challenge. The selection of books was not accidental, as, according to Zuckerberg, it emphasized “learning about different cultures, beliefs, and histories.”

Such recommendations from wealthy individuals illuminate the path to valuable knowledge that becomes the fuel for their brilliant ideas. In this article, we will explore five books recommended by five of the world’s wealthiest people and uncover the key insights each has to offer.

1. Warren Buffett: “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Source: X

Warren Buffett hails Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor as “by far the best book on investing ever written.” This book provides a clear framework for evaluating opportunities and managing risk. It promotes a long-term investment approach and explains the clear difference between speculation and value investing, the importance of exhaustive research of assets, focusing on a company’s actual performance and ignoring shifting market sentiment, and many more valuable lessons.

This book inspired Warren Buffett to study under Graham at Columbia Business School and devote his life to investment activities.

Benjamin Graham, known as the “father of value investing,” emphasizes the importance of analyzing a company’s intrinsic value rather than being swayed by market fluctuations. For investors looking to develop fundamental analysis skills, this book is indispensable. Warren Buffett, often regarded as the greatest investor of our time, attributes much of his success to adhering to the principles outlined in this book.

Chapters 8 and 20 [of The Intelligent Investor] have been the bedrock of my investing activities for more than 60 years. I suggest that all investors read those chapters and reread them every time the market has been especially strong or weak.
— Warren Buffett in an interview with Forbes

2. Elon Musk: “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel

Elon Musk, co-founder of SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, xAI, The Boring Company, and owner of X (formerly Twitter)
Source: Getty Images

Elon Musk, the driving force behind SpaceX, Neuralink, xAI, and other famous companies, highly recommends Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters. Musk’s endorsement stems from Thiel’s unique approach to innovation, which aligns closely with Musk’s philosophy of business creation.

In his book, Thiel argues that creating something entirely new – going from “zero to one” – is the key to building a successful and valuable business. The book emphasizes the importance of original thinking in driving progress and creating significant value.

The most valuable businesses of coming decades will be built by entrepreneurs who seek to empower people rather than try to make them obsolete.
— Peter Thiel in his book Zero to One

This concept of vertical progress resonates deeply with Musk’s approach, as evidenced by companies like xAI and SpaceX. For investors and entrepreneurs alike, Zero to One provides a blueprint for identifying and capitalizing on unique business opportunities.

Peter Thiel has built multiple breakthrough companies, and “Zero to One” shows how.
— Elon Musk in the review of the book

3. Jeffrey Preston “Jeff” Bezos: “ReWork” by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Jeff Bezos, founder, executive chairman, and former president and CEO of Amazon
Source: X

ReWork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson offers a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship and business management. The book challenges traditional business practices and advocates for simplicity, efficiency, and a focus on core values. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, recommends ReWork as a revolutionary guide to long-term success in today’s fast-paced market.

Fried and Hansson challenge traditional business wisdom, arguing that less is often more when it comes to running a successful enterprise. The authors emphasize the importance of focusing on what truly matters, eliminating unnecessary things like unproductive meetings, and empowering employees to make decisions.

Whenever you can, swap “Let’s think about it” for “Let’s decide on it.” Commit to making decisions. Don’t wait for the perfect solution. Decide and move forward.
– Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson in their book ReWork

Moreover, they argue that multitasking is counterproductive, and they draw attention to the importance of focus and deep work to accomplish meaningful tasks. They advocate prioritizing quality over quantity and suggest embracing constraints to foster creativity and innovation. Instead of over-analyzing, the authors of this book advocate for making decisions quickly and adapting as you go.

Jeff Bezos’s endorsement highlights the book’s relevance for anyone looking to streamline their business processes and enhance productivity.

Unperturbed by conventional wisdom, Jason and David start fresh and rewrite the rules of business. Their approach turns out to be as successful as it is counter-intuitive.
— Jeff Bezos in the review of the book

4. Mark Zuckerberg: “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari

Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook)
Source: Getty Images

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari traces the evolution of Homo sapiens from hunter-gatherers to the modern era. The book explores the cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions that have shaped our world. Mark Zuckerberg values this work for its deep insights into the development and organization of human societies.

In 2019, as part of his personal challenge to learn something new, Zuckerberg had a conversation with Yuval Noah Harari. There he highlighted how Sapiens offers crucial insights for understanding the historical context and dynamics of society “going from the early days of hunter-gatherer society to now how our civilization is organized” – knowledge essential for those involved in shaping the future.

Yet to understand modern economic history, you really need to understand just a single word. The word is growth. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, the modern economy has been growing like a hormone-soused teenager. It eats up everything it can find and puts on inches faster than you can count.
– Yuval Noah Harari in his book Sapiens

Sapiens holds universal appeal, as it offers a broad perspective on the peculiarities of human nature and their origins. Harari explains that the scientific revolution, one of three major revolutions in human history, transformed Europe by shifting the focus from divine intervention to human-driven progress through science. Capitalism, viewed almost as a “religion,” champions economic growth as essential for achieving justice, freedom, and happiness.

For investors and business leaders, Sapiens provides a framework for understanding the underlying forces that determine market trends influenced by human behavior.

This book is a big history narrative of human civilization – from how we developed from hunter-gatherers early on to how we organize our society and economy today.
— Mark Zuckerberg in his post on Facebook

5. Bill Gates: “Business Adventures” by John Brooks

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
Source: Getty Images

John Brooks’s Business Adventures is a classic collection of twelve stories from the corporate world. Each one offers timeless lessons about human nature, thoughtful decision-making, leadership, and our ability to learn from mistakes. While technologies and best practices evolve, human behavior remains constant.

Brooks wrote in-depth narratives in which he framed issues, introduced compelling characters, and explored outcomes. One of the best pieces in Business Adventures is “Xerox Xerox Xerox Xerox,” which depicts the remarkable growth and equally dramatic failure of Xerox in the 1960s. The company contributed to the development of Ethernet and the first graphical user interface. However, it failed to market these breakthroughs and allowed competitors such as Apple and Microsoft to capitalize on Xerox’s research.

As Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, writes, “Many other journalists have written about Xerox, but Brooks’s article tells an important part of the company’s early story.” Bill Gates considers it one of his favorite business books, saying that it remains “the best business book I’ve ever read.”

It’s certainly true that many of the particulars of business have changed. But the fundamentals have not. Brooks’s deeper insights about business are just as relevant today as they were back then. In terms of its longevity, Business Adventures stands alongside Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor, the 1949 book that Warren says is the best book on investing that he has ever read.
— Bill Gates in his review of the book for the blog Gates Notes

For investors, Business Adventures provides an insightful look into the inner workings of corporations and an understanding of what drives them during crises. Each chapter immerses readers in a unique experience that can teach them how to cope with challenges and reach new heights.

Final Thoughts

Each of these five books provides a wealth of knowledge and insights for reflection. World-changers fearlessly apply their ideas in practice, often leading them to success.

While some of these books target business leaders, they also hold immense value for investors. They provide unique insights into the workings of modern business, enabling readers to:

• More accurately research the history of companies’ development to define those that are most attractive for value investing;
• Develop more profitable investment strategies;
• Gain deeper insights into human behavior, as well as market dynamics and trends.

By embracing the wisdom within these pages, investors can enhance their decision-making processes and potentially uncover overlooked opportunities in the market.