Books Recommended by Morgan Housel

Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike and author of the bestselling memoir Shoe Dog, is a globally renowned entrepreneur and business visionary. The book, blending autobiography with business strategy, chronicles Knight’s journey from selling shoes out of his car to building a multibillion-dollar empire, offering raw insights into perseverance, innovation, and risk-taking.

A Stanford MBA graduate, Knight transformed his graduate school paper on disrupting the athletic shoe market into Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which later became Nike. His hands-on leadership in product innovation—including the iconic “swoosh” logo and waffle sole design—redefined athletic footwear.

Shoe Dog became a New York Times bestseller, praised for its candid storytelling and lessons on grit. Translated into over 25 languages, the memoir has sold millions of copies worldwide and is frequently cited as essential reading for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. Knight, with a net worth exceeding $45 billion, remains a seminal figure in corporate history.

1. How Phil Knight built Nike through relentless perseverance and cash flow gambles
2. Why embracing "grow or die" mentality defined Nike's early survival strategy
3. How a $35 swoosh logo became history's most valuable brand symbol
4. Why Bowerman's waffle sole innovation revolutionized athletic shoe engineering forever
5. The counterintuitive power of selling shoes from car trunks to global domination
6. How near-bankruptcy forged Nike's obsession with innovation over financial safety
7. Why early struggles with Onitsuka Tiger fueled Nike's breakout independence
8. How "Buttfaces" redefined startup culture through radical loyalty and madness
9. The art of turning "four of top seven finishers" into marketing gold
10. Why mortgaging everything taught Knight to bet big on his intuition
11. How track coach Bill Bowerman became Nike's secret innovation weapon
12. Why Nike's origin story proves success begins where comfort zones end

Robert A. Iger, author of The Ride of a Lifetime, is a globally recognized media executive and transformative leader who served as CEO of The Walt Disney Company across two pivotal periods (2005–2020 and 2022–present).

This business memoir blends leadership insights with behind-the-scenes accounts of Disney’s acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, reflecting Iger’s strategic vision for creative innovation and global expansion.

A New York native and Ithaca College graduate, Iger began his career as a TV weatherman before rising through ABC’s ranks, eventually guiding its merger with Disney in 1996.

Named TIME’s Businessperson of the Year (2019) and repeatedly listed among Forbes’ “World’s Most Powerful People,” Iger’s leadership quintupled Disney’s market capitalization during his first CEO tenure. His return to Disney in 2022 to stabilize the company further cemented his legacy as a corporate turnaround architect.

The Ride of a Lifetime has become a staple in leadership curricula, praised for its pragmatic lessons on managing creativity and navigating industry disruption.

1. Optimism fuels innovation by prioritizing possibility over fear in leadership decisions
2. Decisiveness in acquisitions like Pixar redefined Disney’s creative and technological future
3. Authenticity builds trust by leading with honesty over corporate persona cultivation
4. Relentless pursuit of perfection means never settling for “good enough” outcomes
5. Strategic empathy resolves crises by treating challenges as solvable puzzles
6. Courage-driven innovation requires betting on quality brands over safe scalability
7. Thoughtful urgency balances rapid action with deliberate risk-assessment frameworks
8. Global vision demands cultural adaptation not just geographical expansion
9. Decency strengthens authority when paired with uncompromising business standards
10. Integrity means consistency in small choices as much as legacy-defining ones
11. Curiosity powers growth through constant learning from peers and industries
12. Focus separates strategic priorities from distractions using the “trombone oil” filter

Anne Lamott, bestselling author of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, is celebrated for blending razor-sharp wit with profound insights on creativity, spirituality, and the human condition. A San Francisco native and Guggenheim Fellow, Lamott draws from her experiences as a novelist, recovering alcoholic, and single mother to craft relatable narratives that resonate across genres, from memoir to faith-based reflections.

Her nonfiction works, including Traveling Mercies and Operating Instructions, explore themes of grace, resilience, and imperfect progress—topics amplified by her 30+ years teaching writing workshops.

Lamott’s candid style and practical wisdom have made Bird by Bird a cult classic among writers, earning over 350,000 ratings on Goodreads and frequent inclusion in university syllabi. The book’s enduring relevance is cemented by its adaptation into the documentary Bird by Bird with Annie and its status as a New York Times bestseller, solidifying Lamott’s reputation as a guiding voice for creatives navigating self-doubt and the messy beauty of artistic expression.

1. Embrace “shitty first drafts” to bypass perfectionism and unlock raw creativity
2. Use Anne Lamott’s “bird by bird” method to tackle overwhelming projects step-by-step
3. Mine childhood memories for sensory details that reveal universal human truths
4. Cultivate characters through their desires and flaws rather than forcing plot
5. Replace self-criticism with firm-but-friendly persistence in daily writing practice
6. Let go of outcomes by treating writing as its own spiritual reward
7. Apply the ABDCE framework (Action-Background-Development-Climax-Ending) for story structure
8. Observe real-life dialogue and mannerisms to create authentic character interactions
9. Reframe creative paralysis by telling yourself a new story about the work
10. Build resilience through radical self-acceptance of messy first attempts
11. Prioritize honesty over likability when sharing difficult personal narratives
12. Use short writing assignments to maintain momentum during creative droughts

Alfred Mark Lansing (1921–1975) was the acclaimed author of Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, a landmark work in historical non-fiction that cemented his reputation as a master storyteller of survival narratives.

A Chicago native and U.S. Navy veteran awarded the Purple Heart during World War II, Lansing studied journalism at Northwestern University before working as a journalist for United Press, Reader’s Digest, and Time, Inc.

His meticulous research for Endurance—drawing on interviews with survivors and access to their personal diaries—resulted in a gripping account of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition, hailed for its vivid portrayal of human resilience.

Lansing also co-authored Drugs (1967) in the LIFE Science Library series, blending scientific rigor with accessible prose. Endurance remains a definitive work on polar exploration, continuously celebrated for its immersive narrative and historical accuracy, and has inspired generations of readers and adventurers.

1. Shackleton prioritized team morale over personal doubts to prevent collective despair
2. Crisis leadership requires balancing authority with compassionate decision-making
3. Survival in isolation demands structured routines and shared purpose
4. Physical endurance proves secondary to psychological resilience in extreme conditions
5. Adaptive problem-solving outperforms rigid planning when environments shift unpredictably
6. Shared suffering builds unbreakable trust faster than peacetime camaraderie
7. Celebrating small victories sustains hope during prolonged adversity
8. Leaders must model calm competence even when facing certain failure
9. Resourcefulness with limited tools trumps reliance on advanced technology
10. Survival teams thrive when redistributing skills over maintaining hierarchy
11. Polar expedition culture values collective survival above individual glory
12. Hope becomes actionable strategy when paired with incremental progress

Sebastian Junger, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, is an award-winning journalist and war correspondent renowned for his incisive explorations of human resilience and community. A contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Peabody Award winner, Junger’s work blends immersive reporting with psychological insight, particularly on themes of trauma, belonging, and the societal fractures faced by veterans.

His expertise stems from firsthand experience embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, documented in his Oscar-nominated film Restrepo and its companion book War.

Junger’s other notable works include The Perfect Storm, a national bestseller adapted into a major film, and Freedom, which examines humanity’s quest for autonomy. As founder of Vets Town Hall, he fosters dialogue between veterans and civilians, reinforcing themes central to Tribe. His documentaries, such as Korengal and The Last Patrol, further cement his authority on combat trauma and reintegration.

Recognized with a National Magazine Award and Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Junger’s writing and films have shaped global conversations on war, recovery, and the primal need for connection.

1. Shared suffering strengthens communal bonds more than modern comfort ever can.
2. Tribal societies fulfill primal human needs for purpose modern life often lacks.
3. Veterans struggle with PTSD partly due to losing war’s intense group connection.
4. Historical captives often chose tribal life over returning to colonial individualism.
5. Wealthier societies see higher depression rates as prosperity weakens community interdependence.
6. Disaster zones paradoxically boost mental health by forcing cooperative survival instincts.
7. Modern individualism creates existential voids tribal-style belonging once naturally filled.
8. Soldiers miss war’s clarity of purpose more than they fear combat itself.
9. Small communities prioritize collective need over personal ambition fostering deeper fulfillment.
10. Tribal societies integrate members completely while modernity often isolates despite material abundance.
11. Courage and sacrifice lose cultural value in societies that eliminate adversity.
12. Rebuilding tribal-like support systems could address modern epidemics of loneliness and depression.

Peter Wohlleben, bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, is a German forester and pioneering advocate for understanding forest ecosystems. Born in Bonn in 1964, he spent over two decades as a government forest ranger before rejecting industrial forestry practices to promote sustainable, community-based approaches.

His groundbreaking work blends scientific insights with accessible storytelling, revealing trees’ social networks, communication methods, and familial bonds—themes rooted in his hands-on management of Hümmel’s ancient beech forest and his Forest Academy educational programs.

Wohlleben’s expertise extends to animal behavior and natural systems in acclaimed works like The Inner Life of Animals and The Secret Wisdom of Nature, along with children’s books such as Can You Hear the Trees Talking?. A frequent media commentator and TEDx speaker, his ideas have reached global audiences through translations in 50+ languages.

The Hidden Life of Trees alone has sold over 3 million copies and inspired a 2024 graphic novel adaptation. Honored with the Bavarian Nature Conservation Medal, Wohlleben reshapes how humanity perceives ecological interconnectedness.

1. Trees communicate through a "wood-wide web" of fungal networks and root systems
2. Mother trees nourish young saplings through interconnected underground sugar exchange
3. Forest networks redistribute water during droughts to sustain vulnerable member trees
4. Trees count warm days and daylight hours to time growth cycles accurately
5. Ancient tree stumps stay alive for centuries via communal nutrient sharing
6. Tree friendships involve shared resources and non-competitive branch growth patterns
7. Slow growth strategies make trees resilient to storms and disease outbreaks
8. Trees release distress chemicals to warn neighbors of pest invasions
9. Old-growth forests maintain microclimates 3°C cooler than managed woodlands
10. Human-managed forests lack natural communication networks, reducing ecosystem stability
11. Thirsty trees emit ultrasonic vibrations detectable by scientific equipment
12. Trees demonstrate sentient-like behaviors through mutual care and threat responses

Deepak Chopra, the Indian-American bestselling author of Abundance, is a pioneering figure in integrative medicine, spirituality, and mind-body healing. A board-certified physician trained in internal medicine and endocrinology, Chopra bridges Western medical expertise with Eastern philosophies, drawing from Ayurveda, quantum physics, and consciousness studies to explore themes of holistic well-being, purpose, and human potential.

His 90+ books, including The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, have sold over 20 million copies worldwide and been translated into 43 languages. A frequent Oprah Winfrey Show guest and TED speaker, Chopra co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing and holds adjunct roles at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Columbia Business School.

His work is widely cited in wellness circles and endorsed by thought leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle. Abundance builds on his signature focus on aligning physical health with spiritual fulfillment, reflecting insights from his Global Wellbeing certification programs and The Deepak Chopra Podcast. Translated into 35 languages, his books remain required reading in mindfulness and leadership courses globally.

1. True wealth flows from aligning with your dharma, not chasing money.
2. Scarcity mindset fades when consciousness drives financial decisions.
3. The Yoga of Money: Financial reality mirrors your spiritual awareness.
4. Abundance meditations rewire lack-based neural pathways in 21 days.
5. Fulfillment thrives when you define success beyond material possessions.
6. Conscious generosity activates universal flow more effectively than budgeting.
7. Your "pain-body" of financial fear dissolves through present-moment awareness.
8. Money becomes sacred when used as energy for higher purpose.
9. Seven self-inquiry questions reveal your authentic path to prosperity.
10. Ego-driven accumulation blocks the infinite possibilities of cosmic flow.

Tren Griffin, author of Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor, is a Microsoft executive and thought leader in value investing and business strategy. His book, a Columbia Business School Publishing title, explores the investment philosophy of Warren Buffett’s longtime partner, blending finance, psychology, and multidisciplinary decision-making.

Griffin’s expertise stems from decades in tech and telecommunications, including roles at Eagle River (Craig McCaw’s private equity firm) and Teledesic, a pioneering satellite venture. He distills complex ideas into actionable insights through his widely followed blog, 25iq.com, and Twitter presence (@TrenGriffin).

Griffin’s other works, including A Dozen Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Harriman’s New Book of Investing Rules, reinforce his focus on frameworks for business success. Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor has earned over 10,500 Goodreads shelves and a 3.98-star rating from 3,300+ readers, praised for making Munger’s “latticework of mental models” accessible to investors and leaders alike.

1. Munger's value investing prioritizes business quality over bargain prices for long-term gains.
2. Build "worldly wisdom" through multidisciplinary mental models to avoid cognitive biases.
3. Sustainable competitive moats matter more than short-term market volatility in stock picking.
4. Patience and independence trump emotional reactions to market fluctuations for wealth building.
5. Margin of safety requires calculating intrinsic value through rigorous fundamental analysis.
6. Successful investors embrace probabilistic thinking and bet heavily on rare mispricings.
7. Avoid permanent capital loss by recognizing psychological tendencies and herd mentality risks.
8. Charlie Munger's "latticework of mental models" integrates history, economics, and human behavior.
9. Ethical reliability and personal integrity form the foundation of enduring investment success.
10. Focus on few high-conviction opportunities rather than frequent trading for compounded returns.
11. Tren Griffin reveals Munger's counterintuitive blend of Graham principles and quality focus.
12. Permanent loss comes from irrational decisions, not temporary price drops in strong companies.

Robert Wright is a Pulitzer Prize-finalist author and journalist renowned for his exploration of evolutionary psychology and the intersection of science and philosophy. He is the mind behind The Moral Animal.

A Princeton University graduate in sociobiology, Wright’s work bridges academic rigor and public accessibility, examining how Darwinian principles shape human behavior and morality. His expertise extends to bestselling titles like Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny and The Evolution of God, a New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer finalist.

Wright’s authority is bolstered by his roles as founding editor of Bloggingheads.tv, creator of the Nonzero Newsletter, and Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary. His insights have graced pages of The New York Times, Time, and The Atlantic, and he’s been recognized among Foreign Policy’s top 100 global thinkers.

The Moral Animal, named one of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of 1994, has sold over a million copies and been translated into 12 languages, cementing its status as essential reading in evolutionary psychology courses worldwide.

1. Moral behavior evolved as a tool for social cooperation and genetic survival.
2. Jealousy differs by gender: men fear sexual betrayal women fear emotional abandonment.
3. Altruism often serves self-interest through reciprocal exchange and reputation management.
4. Conscience adapts to environmental rewards making morality context-dependent not absolute.
5. Self-deception evolved to maintain social standing while hiding selfish motives.
6. Sibling rivalry stems from Darwinian competition for limited parental resources.
7. Social hierarchies reduce conflict through established dominance patterns benefiting group stability.
8. Victorian monogamy clashed with ancestral polygamous instincts creating modern relationship tensions.
9. Wright argues moral codes mask evolutionary drives for status and reproduction.
10. Anonymous modern societies reward cynical behaviors over cooperative Tit-for-Tat strategies.
11. Parental investment strategies shape gender preferences: resources vs fertility optimization.
12. Evolutionary psychology reveals office politics as primal status competitions in suits.

Hanif Abdurraqib, the National Book Award-longlisted author of There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, is a celebrated poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio.

Blending memoir with incisive social commentary, this genre-defying work explores themes of belonging, mortality, and Black identity through the lens of basketball—a passion rooted in his upbringing in a city shaped by the sport.

A 2021 MacArthur Fellow, Abdurraqib is renowned for award-winning works like A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance (winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal) and the bestselling Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest (National Book Award longlist).

His essays and criticism regularly appear in The New Yorker and The New York Times, cementing his status as a leading voice on music, race, and American culture. They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and A Fortune for Your Disaster—both critical darlings and reader favorites—further showcase his lyrical precision and emotional depth.

There’s Always This Year continues his streak of literary acclaim, earning praise for its innovative structure and profound reflections on community and legacy.

1. Basketball game structure mirrors life’s urgency and fleeting moments
2. Black excellence as a counter-narrative to systemic limitations
3. Personal and collective memory shape identity through basketball lore
4. Fragmented prose mirrors the rhythms of hip-hop and slam poetry
5. Ascension requires balancing individual ambition with communal belonging
6. Grief transformed into resilience through sports and cultural rituals
7. Home is both a physical place and a state of witness
8. Time’s passage measured in buzzer-beaters and personal reckonings
9. Witnessing as an act of survival and celebration in Black life
10. Basketball as metaphor for navigating loss and triumph
11. Cultural criticism rooted in personal narrative and voracious reading