The Nine Books Sam Altman Recommends Everyone Should Read
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shares the nine books he thinks will change your life. Get insights from the world’s best minds - in 15 Minutes or less.
by The Blinkist Team | 2025-03-04
Reading is one of the most powerful ways to increase your knowledge and grow as a person. Sam Altman – CEO of the much-talked-about OpenAI tool – knows this. He has long professed admiration for books and believes that reading isn’t just a great way to relax after a long day — it also can help you understand some of life’s bigger questions.
From historical nonfiction examining Einsteins’ personal struggles to philosophical reads about exploring current-day societal themes surrounding the usage of artificial intelligence, his personal reading list is packed with incredible reads sure to open minds while posing thought-provoking questions about what lies ahead for humanity in a world shaped by technology.
Blinkist, the knowledge app that Apple ranks as one of the top apps for lifelong learning, has compiled a comprehensive overview of his all-time favorite books after carrying out an in-depth exploration of Sam Altman’s most beloved reads through interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles. Let’s take a look at what these nine books can do for you.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl is a psychological classic that examines the idea of finding meaning in life despite suffering unimaginable grief. Through his own experiences in the Holocaust, Frankl demonstrates how we can find our own unique purpose in any situation. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 17 minutes.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman explores how our brains think and make decisions. Kahneman draws on his Nobel Prize-winning research to explain how we process information and why intuition is sometimes less reliable than thought-out analysis. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 28 minutes.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel takes an unconventional approach to innovation. Thiel argues that it’s more important to create something new than it is to improve upon something that already exists. This book will change the way you think about innovation and creativity. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 22 minutes.
In Brave New World Aldous Huxley presents a future where happiness is manufactured, and individuality is lost. Follow the path of a man who dares to question this system, inviting you to reflect on this fascinating, complex narrative and its implications for our own society.Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 29 minutes.
The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch: This book is about the power of human reason and imagination. Deutsch argues that there are no limits to what we can achieve if we use our minds to their full potential. This book will change the way you think about your own potential and what’s possible in the world around us. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 20 minutes.
Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman explains how startups can rapidly accelerate their growth without sacrificing quality or long-term sustainability. Hoffman provides case studies of some of the most successful companies in history—including Airbnb, Facebook, and Google—to show how they achieved their massive growth. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 31 minutes.
Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom looks at the implications of artificial intelligence on humanity’s future – both positive and negative – and what we can do about it today. Ever wondered what happens when machines become smarter than humans? Bostrom explores the implications of this scenario and offers ways to ensure that AI remains under human control. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 15 minutes.
Winning by Jack Welch offers practical advice from one of the most successful CEOs in history on how to create an innovative organization that everyone wants to be part of. He provides insights into what it takes to build a winning team and culture within an organization. This is a challenging book that will make you rethink your assumptions about leadership and management. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 24 minutes.
Lastly, Secrets of Sand Hill Road takes us behind the scenes of Silicon Valley’s most famous address—Sand Hill Road—to give us an inside look at how VCs operate and what they’re looking for in startups seeking funding. It provides a perspective from some of the top investors and will change the way you think about raising capital and pitching investors. Get the key ideas on Blinkist in just 19 minutes.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0