Books Recommended By Billionaires: Learn What They Read
What do some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors actually read? Their reading lists often go far beyond business manuals. The Books Recommended By Billionaires include novels, history, psychology, economics, science fiction, investing classics, and books about human behaviour.
That variety is worth noticing.
Warren Buffett has often talked about the significance of reading and learning, while Bill Gates often makes thorough suggestions for books. Elon Musk has talked about the effect of sci-fi on his thought process, and Mark Zuckerberg’s 2015 project “A Year of Books” has made millions of readers familiar with books from history to geopolitics.
However, the important thing to understand here is that reading books suggested by a billionaire does not guarantee that you will replicate their success. It is the value that a book adds in terms of questions, thoughts, perspectives, and skills.
In this book guide, we will discuss 10 famous billionaires’ book recommendations along with discussing how each one of them can add value to you as a reader, writer, poet, or a prospective author.
10 Books Recommended By Billionaires
1. Business Adventures by John Brooks
Recommended by: Warren Buffett and Bill Gates
Genre: Business, journalism, corporate history
No other book illustrates how a recommendation works among influential people better than Business Adventures.
Bill Gates in 1991 asked Warren Buffett about his favorite business book. Buffett recommended him to read John Brooks’ “Business Adventures” and even sent Gates his own copy of the book. The latter then called it the best business book he had ever read.
The book consists of articles published by The New Yorker on the business matters.
2. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
Recommended by: Warren Buffett
Genre: Investing, finance
For someone searching for good books for the investing genre written by billionaires, there is really no way that you would miss The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham.
Buffett has acknowledged multiple times how the writings of Graham have affected his own investment strategy. In his 2013 letter to shareholders for Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett talks about purchasing Graham’s book in 1949.
Some concepts discussed in the book include value investing, intrinsic value, emotional control, and margin of safety.
3. The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
Recommended by: Bill Gates
Genre: History, psychology, social science
Gates has also written much on Steven Pinker’s book entitled “The Better Angels of Our Nature.” In his writing, Gates states that it is one of those books he recommends to people who wish to learn about the history of violence among humans and societies.
This book examines the history of violence and claims that several types of violence have decreased over time and examines the social institutions behind this trend.
4. How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff
Recommended by: Bill Gates
Genre: Statistics, critical thinking
Statistics may still have an air of authority, despite the way they are misrepresented. This is the essence of Darrell Huff’s famous book How to Lie with Statistics.
Bill Gates has recommended the book as a user-friendly guide to statistics and stressed the point about how graphs, comparisons, and figures can mislead our perception.
5. The End of Power by Moisés Naím
Recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg
Genre: Politics, economics, society
Zuckerberg started the “Year of Books” project in 2015, which was aimed at reading one book every two weeks.
The first book chosen by Zuckerberg was the book called “The End of Power” by Moisés Naím.
This book is devoted to discussing how the power changes within different countries, organizations, and societies and how new players can challenge existing organizations.
6. The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun
Recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg
Genre: History, sociology, philosophy
Ibn Khaldun’s The Muqaddimah is an old book in this list; however, its presence in the reading list curated by Zuckerberg speaks volumes about the benefits of going out of the bounds of contemporary business books.
In fact, this 14th-century book analyses issues relating to history, sociology, economics, politics, civilization, and the factors responsible for the rise and fall of societies.
The Muqaddimah was picked up by Zuckerberg during his “A Year of Books” reading initiative.
7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Recommended by: Jeff Bezos
Genre: Literary fiction, historical fiction
It does not necessarily mean that every suggestion made by a billionaire will be in business.
According to Jeff Bezos, his favorite literary piece is Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day”. This is especially important for both readers and writers since it shows how necessary fiction is in a world of business and technological books.
This book is about Stevens – an English butler contemplating his life and choices.
8. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Recommended by: Elon Musk
Genre: Science fiction
Elon Musk has talked about the impact that science fiction has had on him, and he has even recommended reading Isaac Asimov’s book series, Foundation.
This book series touches upon civilization, politics, technology, history, and the future of mankind.
9. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Recommended by: Elon Musk
Genre: Fantasy
Elon Musk has talked about his love for The Lord of the Rings series before.
The works of Tolkien are not just a tale of adventure. They show how mythology, language, geography, history, friendships, sacrifice, and worldbuilding can be brought together to create a convincing fictional world.
10. The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant
Recommended by: Ray Dalio
Genre: History, philosophy
Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, has constantly recommended the Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant.
This short book tries to uncover the patterns that recur throughout centuries of human history, including issues such as war, economy, politics, changes in society, civilization, and so on.
How to Use Billionaire Book Recommendations as a Reading Strategy
Simply collecting a list of famous people’s favourite books isn’t enough.
Try turning the recommendations into a personal reading system.
Step 1: Choose books outside your comfort zone
If you normally read fiction, try economics.
If you usually read business books, try literary fiction.
If you’re an author, explore history and psychology.
Step 2: Read with a question
Before opening a book, ask:
What do I want this book to help me understand?
Your answer gives your reading a purpose.
Step 3: Keep a reading journal
Write down:
- One important idea
- One surprising fact
- One question
- One passage you want to revisit
- One idea you can apply
Step 4: Read like a writer
Don’t only ask, “Did I enjoy this?”
Ask:
- How did the author structure the argument?
- How were characters introduced?
- What created tension?
- How was information revealed?
- What made me continue reading?
This turns reading into a form of writing education.
For more practical advice, see our guide on how to read like a writer.
Step 5: Build your own reading list
The goal shouldn’t be to copy someone else’s bookshelf.
Instead, use billionaire book recommendations as a starting point and gradually develop a reading list based on your own interests.
Conclusion
The most interesting thing about the Books Recommended By Billionaires isn’t that wealthy entrepreneurs happen to read books. It is what they read.
The list stretches from medieval history and investing theory to literary fiction and science fiction. That range demonstrates why a strong reading life shouldn’t be restricted to one genre or profession.
For readers, these books can open new subjects.For authors, they can provide new perspectives on character, society, conflict, and storytelling.
For poets, they can offer unfamiliar images, historical contexts, and ideas.
And for anyone who simply loves books, they provide ten fascinating places to begin.
Don’t try to imitate another person’s bookshelf. Build one that expands the way you think.
Choose one title from this list, read it with curiosity, take notes, question its ideas, and then follow the references that interest you. Over time, those individual books can become something more valuable than a reading list: your own intellectual library.
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