
British science writer and member of the House of Lords, former chairman of Northern Rock, writing on evolution, genomics, trade and innovation.
The Rational Optimist argues that exchange and specialisation, not individual intelligence, drive rising living standards, and assembles the long-run price and productivity evidence behind the claim. How Innovation Works applies the same method to case histories, showing invention as incremental, collective and largely detached from formal research spending.
Chosen by shared topics, the entries that hold them, and the people who recommended both.
How genes and experience interact, each shaping how the other acts.
Recommended by: Naval Ravikant
Sex evolved as a defence against parasites, and that shapes human mating.
“I really highly, highly recommend picking up Genome, The Red Queen, Origins of Virtue, The Rational Optimist, and The Evolution of Everything.” — Naval Ravikant
Source: The Tim Ferriss Show — Naval Ravikant Q&A, full transcript
Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai, Naval Ravikant, Seth Klarman and 1 other
Twenty-three chapters, one per chromosome, each using a gene to open a subject.
“I highly recommend Genome as well, to figure out the rational basis behind ethics and the origin of virtue.” — Naval Ravikant
Source: Nav.al — 'Matt Ridley: How Innovation Works, Part 2' (Naval's podcast, edited transcript)
Recommended by: Charlie Munger, Mohnish Pabrai and 2 others
How cooperation and morality evolved from self-interest, via the prisoner's dilemma.
“I really highly, highly recommend picking up Genome, The Red Queen, Origins of Virtue, The Rational Optimist, and The Evolution of Everything.” — Naval Ravikant
Source: The Tim Ferriss Show — Naval Ravikant Q&A, full transcript
Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai, Naval Ravikant, Ryan Holiday
Behavioural genetics on how much of an outcome is inherited
Recommended by: James Cameron, Michael Mauboussin
Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai
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