What I read in 2024
My goal for 2024 was to increase the number of books I read (or listen to) to 16 (four books a quarter). I continued my journey of disciplined reading, diving into books that challenged my thinking, inspired new ideas, and taught me new topics. I wanted to learn more about sales, organizational psychology, and more technical on scrum and trading. I read 16 new books and re-read some personal favourites.
Here’s a summary of the books I read in 2024, along with what I learned from each:
Books I Re-Read in 2024
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
In my opinion, any entrepreneur should read this book once a year. Every down you go through, this book reminds you that you are not alone and how to figure things out.
This book is a masterclass on leadership in difficult times. Horowitz’s candid approach to decision-making and navigating chaos strikes a chord with me every time. There are no easy answers — just the best decision you can make at the moment with the information you have, and you will make a mistake. Just know that.
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Sincero’s humour and actionable advice on shifting your mindset around money always resonate with me. I come from a mindset that making money is hard and wanting money is taboo. The biggest takeaway is to challenge limiting beliefs about wealth and confidently ask for what I want — whether it’s in negotiations or life goals.
New Books I Read in 2024
- Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD
Attia explores how to optimize your healthspan and live a longer, healthier life. The key lesson was that investing in your physical and mental well-being isn’t just about adding years to your life but adding life to your years. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn about health span and factors that affect your health span. - The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind by Jonah Berger
This book delves into the psychology of persuasion and influence. The biggest takeaway for me was the importance of reducing resistance instead of pushing harder — a subtle yet powerful shift when trying to inspire change. This book is one of my favourites. - Measure What Matters by John Doerr
A definitive guide to using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to achieve focus and drive progress. The biggest lesson I learned was the power of clarity in goal-setting — how aligning around measurable objectives can help teams and individuals achieve extraordinary outcomes. - Only the Paranoid Survive by Andrew S. Grove
This is one Ben Horowitz suggests in his book to read. Grove’s insights on navigating strategic inflection points and staying competitive are timeless. Some sections about what the internet is made me giggle tough. The biggest lesson was how staying paranoid — not complacent — can help leaders anticipate and respond to pivotal changes in business and life.
5. Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution by Uri Levine
Levine emphasizes the importance of focusing on solving meaningful problems rather than becoming attached to specific solutions. This book reminded me to always ask, “What problem am I really solving?” and stay open to pivoting when necessary. Listen to Uri’s podcast with Lenny here if you want to listen to an amazing episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj4ORGGEJcA&ab_channel=Lenny%27sPodcast
6. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell explores the power of intuition and split-second decision-making. The biggest lesson I took away was to trust my instincts more often, especially in situations where overanalyzing can lead to hesitation. Definitely go with the audio book option on this one, its a piece of art.
7. Drive by Daniel H. Pink
Pink explores the science of motivation, focusing on autonomy, mastery, and purpose as the key drivers of human behaviour. I learned that tapping into intrinsic motivation — rather than external rewards — leads to more sustained success. This is super important for any leader to understand. It's not just about the salary when you hire someone.
8. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
Pink dives into the science of timing and how it affects our decisions and outcomes. The lesson I applied most was understanding how to structure my day to align with my natural energy peaks and troughs for maximum efficiency.
9. The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
A practical guide to overcoming cognitive biases and making better decisions. The lesson I found most valuable was recognizing the impact of confirmation bias and learning to seek out opposing viewpoints. I loved how the book goes through famous biases like the sunk cost fallacy, confirmation bias, and paradox of choice.
10. Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence by Daniel Goleman
Goleman examines the role of attention and mindfulness in achieving success. The biggest takeaway was how cultivating focus — whether on immediate tasks or long-term goals — can be a game-changer in productivity and overall performance. I am known for being a high-level thinker and someone who loves to do multiple things simultaneously.
11. The Founder’s Dilemma by Noam Wasserman
A deep dive into the challenges faced by founders when starting and scaling businesses. The most significant lesson I learned was the importance of choosing the right co-founders and understanding the trade-offs between control and success in a startup’s growth. I recommend it to first-time founders who are thinking of entrepreneurship.
12. The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
Coyle explores what makes high-performing teams thrive. The key lesson for me was the importance of fostering safety, vulnerability, and a shared purpose to build strong team dynamics. This book has helped me refine my approach to collaboration and communication.
13. 12 Months to $1 Million by Ryan Daniel Moran
Moran provides a roadmap for building a million-dollar business in a year. The biggest insight for me was the importance of focusing on just one niche product or idea and iterating quickly to meet customer needs. Otherwise, the book is more focused on B2C products and how to succeed at building a shop, which is not why I read it.
14. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
A thought-provoking book on the importance of rethinking assumptions and embracing a flexible mindset. The key takeaway was the value of intellectual humility — acknowledging when you’re wrong and being open to new ideas. This is important for investors, especially as we all think VCs are contrarians, while contrary to our self-beliefs, we see comfort in following.
15. Best Loser Wins by Tom Hougaard
A unique take on failure, persistence, and resilience, particularly in high-stakes situations. The most valuable lesson was to embrace losses as part of the journey and use them as stepping stones for growth and eventual success. I hate losing, and this just reminds me that those who don’t lose never try anything new.
16. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland
A practical guide to improving efficiency and productivity through Scrum methodology. This is by the guy himself, one of the founders of Scrum. My key learning was how breaking work into smaller, iterative cycles can lead to faster, higher-quality results and that quality should be considered the top priority to produce the best possible results. I am trying to apply this in different aspects of my life. You cannot sacrifice quality and claim you are working fast. I recommend this book if you want to learn about Agile methodology, where it came from, and how it is used.
My Recommendation
The top four books that really resonated with me, and I will read them again, are these:
- How to Change Anyone’s Mind
- Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
- Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution
- The Art of Thinking Clearly
Reflection
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m excited to continue exploring new ideas and revisiting old favourites. I think 16 books a year is probably the maximum I can read. Let me know if you have strategies to read more and also learn the content as you read since I realized I forgot some of the books I read. If you have any book recommendations, let me know — I’m always eager to add to my reading list.
Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and great books!
