Updates

  1. Person pages list letters, writing, profiles and links as sortable tables with filters, and show each person's companies as links; Fund letters show each letter's description in its own column.
  2. Experts show a checked job title and a short description of each person; 30 more people have photographs.
  3. Every company, fund, university and publication the experts work for has a page listing the people there.
  4. Fund letters show each letter's thesis and filter by it; 225 person pages list the essays, columns and newsletter issues the person wrote.
  5. Person pages list every essay and newsletter issue a person wrote, and their own books as a table in List view.
  6. Recommends shows the five largest kinds of book and the rest under More; browse pictures load sooner.
  7. Podcasts and talks link the original episode, filter by Audio and video or Press, and list each publisher once.
  8. Pages are wider, Recommends has List and Grid, and a filter clicked again turns off.
  9. Book cards sit in a ruled grid with Open Library and Goodreads links and each book's one-line note.
  10. Funds is now Investors; each investor's styles are buttons that filter the table.
  11. Podcasts and talks on a person's page filter by year and publisher and show as a list or a grid of pictures.
  12. Quotes show only people's own words: 472 summaries written by list sites are gone.
  13. Country pages open from Browse again, and every link on the shelf lands on a page.
  14. Subject and person pages show their sections as tabs, and each book appears once on a person's page.
  15. Book cards show the quote, who said it and the source; grids show five cards to a row.
  16. On a phone, a menu holds the sections, search, Updates, Feedback and dark mode.
  17. Feedback takes a screenshot of the page with no browser prompt, opens a screenshot full size when you click it, and clears itself once sent.
  18. Book cards are centred, search names the topic each book sits in, and any text cut short shows whole on hover.
  19. Search groups its results by kind: people, companies, geographies, subjects, topics, books, funds, fund letters and papers.
  20. The Books table lists who recommended each book by name, and the browser tab names the section you are in.
  21. Feedback can take a screenshot of the page, or one you paste or choose, and opens in the corner beside Updates.
  22. Each rail button reopens its section where you left it, and Browse, Table and People show on every book and subject page.
  23. Filters grey out choices that hold nothing instead of hiding them, and Books › People filters by authors or recommenders.
  24. Feedback takes a subject line and up to three screenshots.
  25. Biographies are grouped by the person they are about: 41 new pages, from Abraham Lincoln to Lee Kuan Yew.
  26. Sport splits into 23 sports, and Religion into one topic per faith.
  27. Book lists show as cards: the cover, one recommendation quote and every recommender by name.
  28. Seventeen subjects that had two or three pages under different names now have one page each.
  29. Every page lists its Experts as authors and recommenders, with a link to them on the Experts tab.
  30. Economics, Financial history, Financial panics and Accounting are subjects of their own, with one page per financial crisis.
  31. Book, person and subject pages open inside the app, so the tabs stay in view.
  32. 996 more book covers, and photographs or logos for 227 more people and companies.
  33. Books › Browse shows every subject as cards, and the rail holds Fund letters, Papers, Experts, Books and Funds.
  34. Every topic over 150 books splits into narrower topics, each with a page of its own.

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Artists, Writers and Musicians

Biographies

Lives of painters, designers, writers, poets and musicians, from Vasari's artists and Boswell's Johnson to Chanel, Dylan and Springsteen.

Books 64Experts 2Recommenders 39

Start here

  1. Lives of the ArtistsGiorgio Vasari, 1550
  2. Coco Chanel: An Intimate LifeLisa Chaney, 2011
  3. DuveenS. N. Behrman, 1952
  4. Chanel: A Woman of Her OwnAxel Madsen, 1990
  5. Leonardo da VinciWalter Isaacson, 2017
Lives of the ArtistsLives of the Artists
T1 Lives of the Artists
Giorgio Vasari · 1550
Open LibraryGoodreads

Lives of the painters, sculptors and architects of the Italian Renaissance.

“Vasari, Lives of the Artists” — Paul Graham

Source: Rarely-Asked Questions — paulgraham.com

Recommended by: Paul Graham

Coco Chanel: An Intimate LifeCoco Chanel: An Intimate Life
T1 Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life
Lisa Chaney · 2011
Open LibraryGoodreads

Chanel's origins, her creative work and her private suffering, from new research.

DuveenDuveen
T2 Duveen
S. N. Behrman · 1952
Open LibraryGoodreads

The dealer who sold Europe's Old Masters to rich Americans.

Chanel: A Woman of Her OwnChanel: A Woman of Her Own
T2 Chanel: A Woman of Her Own
Axel Madsen · 1990
Open LibraryGoodreads

The standard biography before Chaney and Vaughan.

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci
T2 Leonardo da Vinci
Walter Isaacson · 2017
Open LibraryGoodreads

Leonardo's life read through his notebooks, where art and science were one pursuit.

Recommended by: Bill Gates, Austen Allred, Daniel Petre and 7 others

Chanel: Her Life, Her WorldChanel: Her Life, Her World
T3 Chanel: Her Life, Her World
Edmonde Charles-Roux · 1975
Open LibraryGoodreads

The foundational biography; every later book argues with it.

The Allure of ChanelThe Allure of Chanel
T3 The Allure of Chanel
Paul Morand · 2008
Open LibraryGoodreads

As-told-to: Morand's record of her 1946 conversations, published posthumously.

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the LifeCoco Chanel: The Legend and the Life
T3 Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life
Justine Picardie · 2009
Open LibraryGoodreads

House-access biography; good on the business, softer on the war.

Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's SecreSleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War
T3 Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War
Hal Vaughan · 2011
Open LibraryGoodreads

Declassified files on her Abwehr connection; contested by the house.

Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of HMademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History
T3 Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History
Rhonda K. Garelick · 2014
Open LibraryGoodreads

Reads the brand as politics; the most intellectually serious account.

Gods and KingsGods and Kings
T3 Gods and Kings
Dana Thomas · 2015
Open LibraryGoodreads

Galliano and McQueen inside the LVMH and Kering machine.

The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin ClassicsThe Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics)
T4 The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics)
James Boswell · 1791
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

The Lives of the Poets: A SelectionThe Lives of the Poets: A Selection
T4 The Lives of the Poets: A Selection
Samuel Johnson · 1820
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

The Secret Life of Salvador DalíThe Secret Life of Salvador Dalí
T4 The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí · 1942
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Naval Ravikant

Memoirs of My LifeMemoirs of My Life
T4 Memoirs of My Life
Edward Gibbon · 1966
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Paul Graham

The Diary of Anais NinThe Diary of Anais Nin
T4 The Diary of Anais Nin
Anaïs Nin · 1966
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Eric Weinstein

The Letters of Anton ChekhovThe Letters of Anton Chekhov
T4 The Letters of Anton Chekhov
Антон Павлович Чехов, Avrahm Yarmolinsky · 1973
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

Born to RunBorn to Run
T4 Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen · 1975
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Bob Iger

Louise BourgeoisLouise Bourgeois
T4 Louise Bourgeois
Louise Bourgeois, Lawrence Rinder · 1981
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Caterina Fake

Ernest Hemingway on WritingErnest Hemingway on Writing
T4 Ernest Hemingway on Writing
Ernest Hemingway · 1984
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Matt Mullenweg

Jackson PollockJackson Pollock
T4 Jackson Pollock
Ellen G. Landau · 1989
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Self-ConsciousnessSelf-Consciousness
T4 Self-Consciousness
John Updike · 1989
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Andrew Wilkinson

Where I Was FromWhere I Was From
T4 Where I Was From
Joan Didion · 2003
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Ann Handley

The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, ScThe Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
T4 The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
Giorgio Vasari · 2005
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Ryan Holiday

My Life in My WordsMy Life in My Words
T4 My Life in My Words
Rabindranath Tagore · 2006
Open LibraryGoodreads

A poet's life told from his own writings: family, loss, school reform, East and West.

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

The Paris Review Interviews, IThe Paris Review Interviews, I
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, I
The Paris Review · 2006
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

Schulz and PeanutsSchulz and Peanuts
T4 Schulz and Peanuts
David Michaelis · 2007
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Marc Andreessen

The Evolution of a Cro-MagnonThe Evolution of a Cro-Magnon
T4 The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon
John Joseph · 2007
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: David Cancel

The Paris Review Interviews, IIThe Paris Review Interviews, II
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, II
The Paris Review · 2007
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

Samuel Johnson: A BiographySamuel Johnson: A Biography
T4 Samuel Johnson: A Biography
Peter Martin · 2008
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Samuel Johnson: The StruggleSamuel Johnson: The Struggle
T4 Samuel Johnson: The Struggle
Jeffrey Meyers · 2008
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Although of Course You End Up Becoming YoursAlthough of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself
T4 Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself
David Lipsky · 2010
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Andrew Wilkinson

DecodedDecoded
T4 Decoded
Jay-Z · 2010
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg, Sahil Lavingia

J. D. Salinger: A LifeJ. D. Salinger: A Life
T4 J. D. Salinger: A Life
Kenneth Slawenski · 2010
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter RaLess and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams
T4 Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams
Klaus Klemp, Keiko Ueki-Polet · 2011
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

Violence GirlViolence Girl
T4 Violence Girl
Alice Bag · 2011
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Audrey Gelman

​Van Gogh​Van Gogh
T4 ​Van Gogh
Steven Naifeh · 2011
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: David Kadavy

Michelangelo: His Epic LifeMichelangelo: His Epic Life
T4 Michelangelo: His Epic Life
Martin Gayford · 2013
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Essays After EightyEssays After Eighty
T4 Essays After Eighty
Donald Hall · 2014
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Safi Bahcall

The Art of AskingThe Art of Asking
T4 The Art of Asking
Amanda Palmer · 2014
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Tim Ferriss

How To
T4 How To
Michael Bierut · 2015
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Ran Segall

In ProgressIn Progress
T4 In Progress
Jessica Hische · 2015
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Jessica Hische

The Diary of John Evelyn Volume 2The Diary of John Evelyn Volume 2
T4 The Diary of John Evelyn Volume 2
Austin Dobson, John Evelyn · 2015
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
T4 An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope · 2017
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Paul Graham

Brand by Hand
T4 Brand by Hand
Jon Contino · 2018
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Zack Onisko

SharpSharp
T4 Sharp
Michelle Dean · 2018
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Sheryl Sandberg

SurrenderSurrender
T4 Surrender
Bono · 2022
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Bill Gates

John & Paul: A Love Story in SongsJohn & Paul: A Love Story in Songs
T4 John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs
Ian Leslie · 2025
Open LibraryGoodreads

“Ian Leslie's wonderful new book about the relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. If you're into The Beatles, or even just interested in how creativity happens, it's a great read.” — Andrew Wilkinson

Source: Essay

Recommended by: Andrew Wilkinson

A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005
T4 A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

An Eames Primer
T4 An Eames Primer
Eames Demetrios et al.
Goodreads

Recommended by: Yves Béhar

Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
T4 Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
Roz Chast
Goodreads

Recommended by: Ann Handley

Chronicles, Vol. 1
T4 Chronicles, Vol. 1
Bob Dylan
Goodreads

Recommended by: Bill Gurley

Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel CowardHumorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward
T4 Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward
Paul Johnson
Goodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's GreatestJony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products
T4 Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

Life Keith Richards
T4 Life Keith Richards
James Fox
Goodreads

Recommended by: Mohnish Pabrai

Made in Harlem
T4 Made in Harlem
Daniel R. Day
Goodreads

Recommended by: Ben Horowitz

On That Note
T4 On That Note
Michael Wolff
Goodreads

A jazz pianist's memoir of Tourette's, a music career and surviving a rare cancer.

Recommended by: Matt Mullenweg

The Diary of John Evelyn Volumes 1 + 2
T4 The Diary of John Evelyn Volumes 1 + 2
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

The Paris Review Interviews
T4 The Paris Review Interviews
The Paris Review
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

The Paris Review Interviews, III
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, III
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

The Paris Review Interviews, IVThe Paris Review Interviews, IV
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, IV
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick Collison

The Writing LifeThe Writing Life
T4 The Writing Life
Annie Dillard
Goodreads

Recommended by: Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Truth & Beauty
T4 Truth & Beauty
Ann Patchett
Goodreads

Recommended by: Diana Kimball

Your Own Kind of GirlYour Own Kind of Girl
T4 Your Own Kind of Girl
Clare Bowditch
Open LibraryGoodreads

Recommended by: Zoë Foster Blake

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