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Max Levchin

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Max Levchin is a Ukrainian-born American software engineer. In 1998, soon after graduating from college, he co-founded the company that eventually became PayPal.
22 books on the list
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Artemis book cover
Artemis
A Novel
Andy Weir - 2017-11-14
Goodreads Rating
Follow Jazz Bashara, a young criminal living on the only city on the moon, who risks everything to commit the perfect crime. But when she becomes tangled in a conspiracy for control of the city, survival seems out of reach. From the author of a beloved science-fiction classic, this thrilling novel is packed with danger, wit, and heart.
Max Levchin
2019-05-02T00:00:00.000Z
This is another work by Andy Weir (author of The Martian), and it’s a very fun read that I would classify as part of the guilty pleasure section of my personal library      source
The Power of Habit book cover
The Power of Habit
Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Charles Duhigg - 2012-02-28
Goodreads Rating
Discover the fascinating science behind our habits and how they can be changed in this bestselling book. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charles Duhigg takes us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the civil rights movement, presenting a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit provides an exhilarating argument: understanding how habits work is the key to achieving success in life, business, and beyond. With captivating storytelling and practical advice, this book has been hailed by critics as essential reading.
Max Levchin
2019-05-02T00:00:00.000Z
This month I finally got to reading The Power of Habit, a book published a few years ago that compiles a bunch of great academic neuroscience and applied psychology research on habit formation. It includes clear reporting and interviewing work by its author, Charles Duhigg, whose day job is reporting for The New York Times. The book uses the now-standard formula of beginning each chapter with an anecdote that’s later substantiated by research, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting (or useful). Plus, the bits detailing Paul O’Neill’s transformation of Alcoa are priceless reading for a CEO trying to build a mission-driven company.      source
Thinking in Bets book cover
Thinking in Bets
Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts
Annie Duke - 2018-02-06
Goodreads Rating
"Thinking in Bets" by Annie Duke is a guide to making better decisions in an uncertain world. Using examples from business, sports, politics, and poker, Duke shows how embracing uncertainty and thinking in probabilities can lead to long-term success. Learn how to assess what you know and don't know, avoid knee-jerk reactions and biases, and become more confident and successful in decision-making.
Max Levchin
2019-03-20T00:00:00.000Z
This book definitely falls in the category I loosely refer to as, “self-help,” which I typically skim more than dive into, but I read this book all the way through because I found the premise so intriguing.      source
Lake Success book cover
Lake Success
A Novel
Gary Shteyngart - 2018-09-04
Goodreads Rating
Explore the complexities and shortcomings of the 0.1 percent with a hilarious yet poignant tale of a hedge-fund manager's journey to find a simpler life amidst an SEC investigation and his son's autism diagnosis. His wife, a first-generation American, also grapples with her own demons. Follow their journey through the chaos of their own making in a piercing and unsentimental ode to American greatness.
Max Levchin
2019-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
Lake Success is pretty outrageous too, but also extremely funny, and terribly sad, and very human      source
Black Edge book cover
Black Edge
Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street
Sheelah Kolhatkar - 2017-02-07
Goodreads Rating
Black Edge is a riveting non-fiction book about the story of billionaire trader Steven Cohen and the largest insider trading investigation in history. The book offers a revelatory look at the gray zone in which so much of Wall Street functions and raises urgent and troubling questions about the power and wealth of those who sit at the pinnacle of modern Wall Street. With a tour de force of groundbreaking reporting and brilliant storytelling, Black Edge is an essential expose of our times that everyone should read.
Max Levchin
2019-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
Black Edge reads more outrageous and fictional, such is the hubris of the many characters portrayed in it      source
Crucial Conversations book cover
Crucial Conversations
Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition
Kerry Patterson - 2002-06-18
Goodreads Rating
Learn how to communicate effectively during high-stakes conversations with this life-changing book that has sold over 4 million copies. The authors provide practical advice on how to transform unpleasant emotions into powerful dialogue, be persuasive without being abrasive, and achieve relationships that are real and productive. With new case studies, research findings, and video links, this bestselling classic is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and enhance their personal and professional relationships.
Max Levchin
2019-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
Last month I read Crucial Conversations, a now-venerable guide to having tough conversations in a way that engages the debaters. By defining a common goal through constantly trying to genuinely understand the needs and viewpoints of others, the conversations become less heated, and more productive. In a high-growth startup, such conversations can often be very stressful, and it is easy to lose track of your shared end goal when emotions flare up. Crucial Conversations covers many of the useful tactics in making sure these conversations are productive, and offers advice on improving relationships with your coworkers.      source
Zero to One book cover
Zero to One
Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Peter Thiel - 2014-09-16
Goodreads Rating
Discover uncharted frontiers and create new inventions - this is the main topic of Zero to One. Peter Thiel, the legendary entrepreneur and investor, believes that progress should not be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. In fact, he argues that progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. Thiel's book presents an optimistic view of the future of progress in America and provides a new way of thinking about innovation, starting with learning to ask the right questions to find value in unexpected places. If you want to build a better future, this book is a must-read.
Max Levchin
2015-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
Q. - What's your favourite business book you'd advise to young entrepreneurs and why? M.L. -Some good ones from the "pure business" category: Zero to One, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, The Innovator's Dilemma, Good to Great, etc. Personally, I prefer less advice, more history. From my favorite business segment: Too Big To Fail, Ascent of Money, When Genius Failed, etc. Books on applied psychology (Influence, Predictably Irrational, etc) are another way to round out primarily technological education :)      source
The Hard Thing About Hard Things book cover
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Ben Horowitz - 2014-03-04
Goodreads Rating
Learn the unfiltered truth about the challenges of running a business from Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Ben Horowitz. Drawing from his own experiences founding, managing, and investing in technology companies, Horowitz offers essential advice for navigating the toughest problems business schools don't cover. Using anecdotes from his own rise to success, he covers everything from firing friends to poaching competitors, and managing your own psychology while leading a company. With humor and candidness, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is a must-read for both veteran entrepreneurs and those aspiring to start their own ventures.
Max Levchin
2015-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
Q. - What's your favourite business book you'd advise to young entrepreneurs and why? M.L. -Some good ones from the "pure business" category: Zero to One, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, The Innovator's Dilemma, Good to Great, etc. Personally, I prefer less advice, more history. From my favorite business segment: Too Big To Fail, Ascent of Money, When Genius Failed, etc. Books on applied psychology (Influence, Predictably Irrational, etc) are another way to round out primarily technological education :)      source
Too Big to Fail book cover
Too Big to Fail
The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves
Andrew Ross Sorkin - 2009-10-20
Goodreads Rating
A thrilling and unprecedented look behind the scenes of the financial crisis on Wall Street and in Washington. This brilliantly reported true-life tale by a respected financial reporter delivers the first definitive account of the historic economic crisis that came dangerously close to collapsing the world's economy. With exclusive access to the decision makers, this gripping financial narrative reveals the ego, greed, fear, and self-preservation that motivated the most powerful individuals in finance and politics as they determined the fate of the global economy.
Max Levchin
2015-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
Q. - What's your favourite business book you'd advise to young entrepreneurs and why? M.L. -Some good ones from the "pure business" category: Zero to One, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, The Innovator's Dilemma, Good to Great, etc. Personally, I prefer less advice, more history. From my favorite business segment: Too Big To Fail, Ascent of Money, When Genius Failed, etc. Books on applied psychology (Influence, Predictably Irrational, etc) are another way to round out primarily technological education :)      source
The Ascent of Money book cover
The Ascent of Money
A Financial History of the World
Niall Ferguson - 2008-11-13 (first published in 2007)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the fascinating origins of money and its impact on civilization in this thought-provoking and insightful book. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day finance, Niall Ferguson delves into the human story behind our financial system and its pivotal role in shaping history. Discover how the evolution of credit and debt has played a critical role in the rise and fall of nations, and gain bold new insights into the connections between money and power.
Max Levchin
2015-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
Q. - What's your favourite business book you'd advise to young entrepreneurs and why? M.L. -Some good ones from the "pure business" category: Zero to One, The Hard Thing About Hard Things, The Innovator's Dilemma, Good to Great, etc. Personally, I prefer less advice, more history. From my favorite business segment: Too Big To Fail, Ascent of Money, When Genius Failed, etc. Books on applied psychology (Influence, Predictably Irrational, etc) are another way to round out primarily technological education :)      source
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Middleman by Olen Steinhauer
High Growth Handbook by Elad Gil
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
Good To Great by Jim Collins
When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein
The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 1 by Donald E. Knuth
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Harold Abelson
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Complete Stories by Isaac Asimov