The Investor's Shelf — one person
DP

David Perell

Recommendations

12 books they recommend

Books they recommend 12

Perell publishes a curated reading page (perell.com/reading) listing all-time favorites, current reads, and books "on the radar," and writes full reviews of books that shaped him. His taste centers on writing craft, philosophy/religion, history, media theory (McLuhan), and complexity — and he's a notable advocate for reading the Bible.

Superbook reading list 12

Philosophy 3

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Nassim Nicholas Taleb · not in an entry yet
source
“Listed among Perell's all-time favorites; he repeatedly cites Taleb's ideas on disorder and optionality in his writing.”
12 Rules for Life
12 Rules for Life
Jordan Peterson · not in an entry yet
source
“An all-time favorite he wrote a full review of (titled "Meaningful").”
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Robert Pirsig
source
“A recommended favorite on quality, craft, and philosophy.”

Not yet given a topic 3

Understanding Media
Understanding Media
Marshall McLuhan · not in an entry yet
source
“An all-time favorite; McLuhan's media theory underpins much of Perell's thinking on the internet and writing.”
The Bible
The Bible
Various · not in an entry yet
source
“Perell argues reading the Bible is "a contrarian activity that shouldn't be contrarian," and recommends it as a foundational text.”
Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
Laozi · not in an entry yet
source
“A recommended favorite among his philosophy reads.”

Art and Design 2

The Timeless Way of Building
The Timeless Way of Building
Christopher Alexander · not in an entry yet
source
“A recommended favorite; Alexander's pattern thinking strongly influences Perell.”
The War of Art
The War of Art
Steven Pressfield · not in an entry yet
source
“A recommended read on overcoming creative resistance, frequently cited by Perell for writers.”

General History 1

The Lessons of History
The Lessons of History
Will Durant, Ariel Durant
source
“An all-time favorite with a dedicated review, distilling patterns across civilizations.”

Finance and Markets 1

The Psychology of Money
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
source
“A recommended title (Housel is a friend and frequent collaborator).”

Sales and Marketing 1

The Boron Letters
The Boron Letters
Gary Halbert · not in an entry yet
source
“A recommended read on persuasive writing and copywriting.”

Religion and Spirituality 1

The Power of Myth
The Power of Myth
Joseph Campbell
source
“On his reading radar, on myth and narrative structure.”

Where they publish 3