Bookshelf
Here, you’ll find the books I’ve read since 2016. I’m making notes about all of them so I don’t forget what I’ve learned. These notes are not meant to be summaries or reviews, but I figured there are maybe some other people who would find it interesting what I took away.
My Favorite Books and Top Recommendations
-
John Green
The Anthropocene Reviewed -
Derek Sivers
How to Live -
Ed Winters
This Is Vegan Propaganda -
Bill Gates
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster -
James Clear
Atomic Habits -
Hans Rosling
Factfulness -
Michael Easter
The Comfort Crisis -
Morgan Housel
The Psychology of Money -
Rutger Bregman
Utopia for Realists -
Viktor E. Frankl
Man’s Search for Meaning -
David Epstein
Range -
Yuval Noah Harari
Sapiens
2025
-
John Green
The Anthropocene ReviewedThe Anthropocene ReviewedEssays on a Human-Centered Planet
A truly wonderful book celebrating what it means to be a human being in our current times. With all the ups and downs and quirks that life has to offer, with lots of emotional depth and beautiful writing, John Green has again outdone himself.
-
Ryan Holiday
The Daily DadThe Daily Dad366 Meditations on Parenting, Love and Raising Great Kids
A fun little book written with the best of intentions, containing stories and anecdotes about parenthood. But it fell short of its promise to fill each day of the year with enough wisdom. The ideas were spread too thin.
-
Eliezer Yudkowsky
If Anyone Builds It, Everyone DiesIf Anyone Builds It, Everyone DiesWhy Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All
And important book that couldn’t have been any more timely. A rogue AI killing everyone for its strange alien goals seems so silly I wanted to understand the argument and see if the threat has any real merit. The book helped, but I’m still not convinced.
-
Annie Jacobsen
Nuclear War: A ScenarioNuclear War: A ScenarioRarely has a book opened my eyes to human reality like this one. It’s easy to ignore the devastating possibility of nuclear war. This book shows how it could unfold, full of horrifying surprises that leave you grateful to be alive right now.
-
Jim Krane
DubaiDubaiThe Story of the World’s Fastest City
Rarely has a book changed so much about what I thought I knew about a country. It deepened my understanding of the city’s culture and made me want to visit Dubai and explore all of it myself a lot more than before. Prejudices are almost always wrong.
-
Josefine Gauck
Mal guckenMal guckenWie unsere Tochter uns half, die Welt mit neuen Augen zu sehen
[GERMAN] Die Geschichte einer einjährigen Weltreise als Familie mit drei Kindern, eins davon sehbehindert
-
Johann Scheerer
PlayPlayZwischen Work-Life-Balance und Exzesse: Kriegt man Kunst und Kinder zusammen?
[GERMAN] Dieser Roman von Scheerer handelt von etwas Neuem. Es ist eine Autofiktion über das Leben als selbstständiger Musikproduzent mit vier kleinen Kindern. Dem Gerechtwerden sämtlicher um sich herum eskalierenden Bedürfnisse – abgesehen der eigenen.
-
Nikola Tesla
My InventionsMy InventionsThe Autobiography of Nikola Tesla
He might have been one of the greatest inventors and biggest geniuses in history, but his autobiography reads like that of a person with ADHD. It’s full of humor though, and it works well at giving you a bit of an impression of what he was like.
-
John Walsh
UAE – Culture Smart!UAE – Culture Smart!The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Do you think the UAE and Dubai are horrible and should not exist? Do you plan on visiting this place? Do you just feel like getting rid of some prejudices? Read this book.
-
David McRaney
You are Not So SmartYou are Not So SmartWhy Your Memory is Mostly Fiction, Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook and 46 Other Ways You’re Deluding Yourself
A clear recommendation for anyone. We all are victims to our brains’ stupidness, even the smartest of us. Knowing about how we lie to ourselves is the first step to improvement. This sounds tough but the author keeps it very light and funny.
-
Tahsim Durgun
Mama, bitte lern DeutschMama, bitte lern DeutschUnser Eingliederungsversuch in eine geschlossene Gesellschaft
Racism mostly stems from misunderstanding intentions and a lack of communication. Tahsim Durgun is a young social media personality who cleverly fights for reducing racism by using humor and education. His first book explains his heritage.
-
Brandon Sanderson
MistbornMistbornBook One: The Final Empire
This work of fiction was suggested to me often over the years, and I’ve finally read it. No regrets — a fun ride. The author’s eccentricity was the final trigger, and it’s been entertaining to watch this calculated story unfold.
-
John Green
Everything Is TuberculosisEverything Is TuberculosisThe History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection
‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ is a gripping, poetic blend of history, science, and personal storytelling that exposes how the world’s deadliest curable disease still thrives due to global indifference—and makes you care deeply about changing that.
-
Jonathan Haidt
The Happiness HypothesisThe Happiness HypothesisPutting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science
Jonathan Haidt's exploration of happiness isn't self-help—it's a fascinating journey through psychology, philosophy, and world religions. He brilliantly connects ancient wisdom with modern science, making you rethink what truly brings fulfillment.
-
Michiko Kakutani
The Death of TruthThe Death of TruthLies have played a big role in politics forever, but in recent times that problem has seemingly gotten out of control. How did this happen and what circumstances led to it becoming a viable strategy and not getting chased away by the people?
-
Timothy Snyder
On TyrannyOn TyrannyTwenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
A concise guide to recognizing the warning signs of emerging tyranny in government and the practical steps individuals can take to prevent it.
-
Angela Merkel
FreiheitFreiheitErinnerungen 1954-2021
Reliving a not-so-long ago historical era of German politics told by the former most powerful woman in the world herself is a treat. Despite its over 700 pages, the book left me wanting more, even. What a life, what a person. Recommended reading.
2024
-
Alain de Botton
A Therapeutic JourneyA Therapeutic JourneyLessons from the School of Life
This might be the best way I have seen advice for improving one’s life’s quality being presented. The most fundamental thing in life is the mental wellbeing and it’s a struggle for many. Here’s non-pretentious but very calming and practical guidance.
-
Rutger Bregman
Utopia for RealistsUtopia for RealistsAnd How We Can Get There
The idea of implementing a universal basic income has been floating around for a long time. But does it have merit? What did the experiments conclude? What’s the history of it? Or have we maybe lost our will to change and improve society?
-
Marton Kovacs
How to Run the European ParliamentHow to Run the European ParliamentGain Power, Steer the Legislative Process, Dominate the Media, Get Renominated
Politics is a tricky business. The EU parliament with people from 27 different countries who speak 24 different languages and try to make decisions might be the masterclass. Insider author Kovacs tells it as it is to become successful. No time wasted.
-
Val N. Tine
Nothing & EverythingNothing & EverythingHow to Stop Fearing Nihilism and Embrace the Void
What exactly is “nihilism” and does it make sense? Will it lead to depression to realize there’s no inherent meaning or purpose to anything? That nothing is even real? It might, but it should not. And that’s what this book explains.
-
Rebecca Boyle
Our MoonOur MoonHow Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are
It’s just been there in the sky for as long as humans can remember, but what exactly is our Moon and how did it influence life on Earth? The book explains thousands of years of human history with our closest companion in space.
-
David Graeber
Bullshit JobsBullshit JobsThe Rise of Pointless Work, and What We Can Do About It
Why are so many people convinced that their jobs are totally pointless and wouldn’t be missed by anyone were they to disappear? The book tries to explain how we got here, but has its lengths. Still it’s important for us to realize what’s happening here.
-
Sharon Kaye
Philosophy: A Complete IntroductionPhilosophy: A Complete IntroductionIt is what it says on the cover, but it’s way more fun and enjoyable than that suggests. A chronologic journey through the history of philosophy to show us what humans have been pondering over the centuries. With anecdotes, summaries, and quizzes!
-
Chris Helder
Useful BeliefUseful BeliefBecause it’s Better than Positive Thinking
A short book about a single idea, written with an awkward stylistic choice and some delusions on the side. There’s still something in it we can take away and use for our benefit!
-
Alexi Pappas
BraveyBraveyChasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas r
Alexi Pappas is an Olympic 10,000 meters runner who has experienced many different lives. From a tough event in her childhood to working relentlessly for her dream, facing setbacks after achieving it, and rising again, her story is a true rollercoaster.
-
Eckart Tolle
The Power of NowThe Power of NowA Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
The past and future are imaginary products within our brains and all we’ll ever have is the present moment. So far, so good. But what else is there in this bestseller book? How can its wisdom be applied and is it wisdom, even?
-
Yuval Noah Harari
Homo DeusHomo DeusA Brief History of Tomorrow
In what feels like a follow-up to his breakout success, Sapiens, Harari now discusses humankind’s current focus and possible trajectory towards becoming a data-reliant species, merged with technology and maybe losing our humanism along the way.
-
Derek Sivers
Useful Not TrueUseful Not TrueSivers has done it again and wrote another short and concise book about basically one single idea. That idea is so powerful it has the ability to change many lives for the better. Therefore, this book should be read by everyone.
-
Martin Sonneborn
Herr Sonneborn bleibt in BrüsselHerr Sonneborn bleibt in BrüsselNeue Abenteuer im Europaparlament
[GERMAN] Hat der Satiriker nach seiner zweiten Amtszeit im EU-Parlament seinen Humor verloren? Fast. Dennoch ist das Buch sehr wichtig und interessant. Es zeigt die groben Missstände und Korruption auf und verursacht trotzdem einige Lacher.
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsHarry Potter and the Deathly HallowsAn energetic finale to a wonderful book series. Fast-paced action, a complex narrative, and strong character developments. Rowling’s ability to create hopelessness and despair, conjure up a big plot twist, and leave us with a warm feeling is unparalleled.
-
Sonja von Opel, Martin Grüning
Marathon kann jede*rMarathon kann jede*rDer Einstieg in die Langstrecke
A German language book written by two of the most experienced and knowledgeable figures in the national running community. The book has everything you need and want to know about getting into running and working towards the goal of finishing a marathon.
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceHarry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceThe penultimate book serves as the setup for the final showdown. We have stretches of nothing happening, some more slow exposition, some heartwarming teenage quarrels, and a Hollywood-style “no one believes the guy who understands the danger” situation.
-
Seth Godin
The PracticeThe PracticeShipping Creative Work
A hugely successful and prolific creative writes his twentieth bestseller book, this time about how to overcome feeling stuck in a project. Beautiful sentences in short chapters, but is there enough substance to the simple advice to just get going?
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixHarry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixHarry suffers the consequences of people abusing their power, spreading misinformation out of fear and for personal gain, but takes matters into his own hands to make it through another year alive, suffering another big loss.
-
Ali Abdaal
Feel-Good ProductivityFeel-Good ProductivityHow to Do More of What Matters to You
Productivity advice YouTuber Ali Abdaal has jumped many hurdles to become a bestselling book author. He is well versed in the topic of the book, but doesn’t bring much new to the table if you’ve followed his videos. There’s good advice in it, though.
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireHarry Potter and the Goblet of FireThis fourth book of the series goes from lighthearted moments to dark revelations. It’s taking a long time to build up momentum but doesn’t fail to captivate with unexpected twists and a powerful ending. It’s going to get a lot darker, apparently.
2023
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanHarry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanHarry Potter faces dark and ominous threats once more, but this book is a clear departure from the style of the first two. We have three well-connected acts and a huge plot twist with a subsequent page turner finale you can’t put away.
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsBook Two in the series largely follows the same story structure of the first one and is another addictive read. The story develops late into the book after a lot of exposition, then the escalation levels are high, but the finale is even more satisfying.
-
J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s StoneHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s StoneEveryone knows these stories and I’m twenty-five years late to the party. But because my daughters are into it right now, I finally picked it up and have to admit: Yes, it’s so much fun to read! A real feel-good vacation for the mind. I’ll keep going.
-
Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
FreakonomicsFreakonomicsA Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
A modern classic in the popular economy book section, this one doesn’t disappoint. A highly curious pair of authors explores a diverse range of topics and resurfaces with unexpected learnings which teach us to look twice in every area life.
-
Chris Zehetleitner
RunhundredRunhundredHeart versus Heat at Western States 100
The oldest 100-mile foot race takes place annually in California and is called Western States Endurance Run. The author has been selected to run even though he felt majorly unprepared for it. This makes for a compelling story about suffering and meaning.
-
David Epstein
RangeRangeWhy Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
Epstein shows us how people with a wide range of interests and curiosity who find a profession matching their skillsets perfectly will produce better results and move humankind forward by citing many studies and telling entertaining anecdotes.
-
Michael Easter
The Comfort CrisisThe Comfort CrisisEmbrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self
Former Men’s Health author goes on a month-long trip to remote Alaska in order to find out why all of the comforts of modern life are in fact making us miserable. He returns and consults a huge amount of experts and studies to make a tight case for it.
-
Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the GalaxyThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the GalaxyRarely does a book grab the attention of and inspire millions of people like this one has. Phrases like “Don’t panic!” or the frequent use of the number 42 are in the vocabulary of a certain large subset of humans. But what made the book successful?
-
Walter Isaacson
Elon MuskElon MuskOne of the most accomplished, controversial, and interesting people who are currently alive on this planet. A biography written by one of the best biographers of the recent years. A recipe for success.
-
Dr. Caroline Leaf
How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental MessHow to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental MessEvery Parent’s Guide to Supporting Their Child’s Mental Health
This book feels like marketing for app subscriptions & Brain-ee dolls, yet offers unique parenting advice. What are those insights beyond 'spend more time with your kids'?
-
Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
The Courage to Be DislikedThe Courage to Be DislikedHow to free yourself, change your life and achieve real happiness
Authors Kishimi and Koga use the ancient Greek dialogue form to explain Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler’s ideas on ‘individual psychology’, bridging cultures and time. Some radical ideas question the way we think and bring ideas of empowerment forward.
-
Daniel Gilbert
Stumbling on HappinessStumbling on HappinessA Harvard professor of psychology explains in a funny and entertaining way how much we get wrong when we imagine our future emotional states. You have to derive your own conclusions from this, but it raises a lot of awareness for our weird brains.
-
Jack Daniels
Daniels’ Running FormulaDaniels’ Running FormulaOne of the most well known books about running training. The author is a highly educated and successful running coach with a number-focused approach and lots of interesting and proven ideas to further the fitness levels of a huge variety of athletes.
-
Greg McKeown
EffortlessEffortlessMake It Easier to Do What Matters Most
The ”Essentialism” follow-up called “Effortless” advocates working smarter, prioritizing, and recovering adequately. Reading, learning, teaching all have high returns. Removing decisions and taking the direct route towards our goals helps.
-
Kevin Kelly
Excellent Advice for LivingExcellent Advice for LivingWisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier
Kevin Kelly, the WIRED magazine co-founder and longtime executive editor, put his two most popular blog posts into a small book full of byte-sized advice, ranging from short and sweet to funny to helpful and thought-provoking.
-
Robert M. Pirsig
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceZen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceAn Inquiry into Values
A difficult one. Although it was hugely successful, I can’t find many positives about this self-indulgent autobiographical narration which shows no regard for the humans around the author. It made me want to learn more about classic philosophy, though.
-
Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson
Illuminatus! LeviathanIlluminatus! LeviathanAfter lots of build-up in the first and second book, this one promises a showdown. But the Zombie Nazis appear to be hallucinations in the end. And the sea monster Leviathan doesn’t do much except fall in love with the protagonist’s AI. Not worth it.
-
Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson
Illuminatus! The Golden AppleIlluminatus! The Golden AppleAs the second book of the trilogy, it doesn’t do much to further the storyline if you could even call it that. It reads like an LSD trip the authors had and that’s maybe even true. There are some slight hints at a sort of showdown coming up in next book.
-
Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson
Illuminatus! The Eye in the PyramidIlluminatus! The Eye in the PyramidA highly confusing book. Combining politics, satire, science fiction, conspiracy theories, and a detective novel, you still never completely understand what’s going on. It is challenging your perception of reality and has rightfully become a cult classic.
-
Tim Urban
What’s Our ProblemWhat’s Our ProblemA Self-Help Book for Societies
Author Tim Urban, who runs the popular comic blog “Wait But Why” has published a book about our current societal problems which took him six years to write, because the world changed so much during that time. An important read for everyone.
-
Atul Gawande
The Checklist ManifestoThe Checklist ManifestoComplex tasks increase the likelihood of critical mistakes. Checklists are the remedy. 'The Checklist Manifesto' chronicles the journey of introducing checklists into critical fields, like medicine, to reduce errors and enhance communication.
-
Oliver Burkeman
Four Thousand WeeksFour Thousand WeeksTime Management for Mortals
This is a book that urges readers to be intentional about how they use their limited time on Earth, focusing on what truly matters to them and finding fulfillment in the time they have, rather than chasing endless productivity and success.
-
Cal Newport
So Good They Can’t Ignore YouSo Good They Can’t Ignore YouWhy Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
Don't follow your passion, it often leads to disappointment. Instead, master a valuable skill for more control. Successful people have a mission based on experience and knowledge. Deliberate practice and skill development create more opportunities.
-
Mark Manson
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckA Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
It’s a concise book of the self-help category, full with little bits of advice on how to view and interpret our current individual situations within modern society. With its profanity, it drives home its many actionable points in an easy-going way.
-
Daniel Priestley
Scorecard MarketingScorecard MarketingThe four-step playbook for getting better leads and bigger profits
Learn how collecting data is crucial for sales success. Use an online Scorecard, a fun quiz, to gather information about interested customers non-intrusively. Target those customers in order to get cost-effective marketing results.
-
Rick Rubin
The Creative Act: A Way of BeingThe Creative Act: A Way of BeingWith aesthetically pleasing outer form, the content is thinly spread out over 400 pages and superficial/obvious at times. It’s lacking humor, but there are valuable insights and it gets you thinking. The book is worth reading for creative individuals.
-
Al Ries
The 22 Immutable Laws of MarketingThe 22 Immutable Laws of MarketingViolate Them at Your Own Risk!
This book tried to find unchanging laws of marketing, but it has clearly failed and possibly not even worked during the period of its publication in 1993. Many of the laws have been proven incorrect and certain examples like Microsoft’s certain doom are laughable.
-
Ryan Holiday
Trust Me, I’m LyingTrust Me, I’m LyingConfessions of a Media Manipulator
Ryan Holiday explains from his own practical knowledge as an online marketer how entities with commercial or political interests abuse the fast news cycle in the age of Twitter, blogging, and other social media by inserting untrue information into the public, disguised as facts.
-
Christopher McDougall & Eric Orton
Born to Run 2Born to Run 2The Ultimate Training Guide
After the hugely successful first book, the author now focuses on explaining training methods and related aspects from the minimalist runner’s angle. While those are interesting and supplemented with fun follow-up and anecdotes from book #1, it could have been a short blog post.
2022
-
David Goggins
Never FinishedNever FinishedUnshackle Yourself and Win the War Within
David Goggins, considered by many to be the hardest motherfucker living on the planet, uses this second book of his to dive deeper into his own psychology. It’s back to the roots of his ultra running, Leadville 100 and Moab 240, but then it centers around humility and service.
-
Napoleon Hill
Think And Grow RichThink And Grow RichThis book from 1937 is partly historical document, partly a self-help business book. It revolves around building a positive mindset for achieving success, here defined simply as getting rich. Values such as desire, persistence, and determination are at the core.
-
Stephen R. Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleThe business book of business books: published in 1989, it popularized terms and phrases such as synergy, thinking win-win, proactivity, or paradigm shifts. The twist is that it unites business and family life. Many lessons can be applied to both areas.
-
Ross Edgley
The World’s Fittest BookThe World’s Fittest BookHow to Train for Anything & Everything, Anywhere & Everywhere
Ross Edgley is looking like one of the fittest people on the planet and that’s not a mask. From world records to traveling the world to researching what the world has to offer, this guy explains physical fitness well. It’s funny and full with side stories and anecdotes.
-
David Kushner
Masters of DoomMasters of DoomHow Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture
John Romero and John Carmack created the video games Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake together. It made them millions and left a huge cultural footprint. The two and their small team were hugely driven and passionate, but in the end exactly that led to the split.
-
Yuval Noah Harari
SapiensSapiensA Brief History of Humankind
This book tells you everything you need to know about humankind’s evolutionary success. It’s not pretty and it will mess with your worldview, but in a good way. It’s about time to get realistic and understand how we arrived at this point in order to shape our path forward.
-
Dale Carnegie
How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleHow to Win Friends and Influence PeopleWritten in 1936, this is the comprehensive guide to learning to behave in a way that makes other people respond more positively towards you. Yes, some people will make us angry, but showing that anger makes it worse, always. Bad title, great message. Be kinder, practice empathy.
-
Derek Sivers
How to LiveHow to Live27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion
The book’s filled to the rim with smart ideas. It’s funny to go through them and realize that many of the imperatives contradict each other, so in the end you have the same amount of freedom to decide as you did before. There is a lot of deep inspiration in these short chapters.
-
Derek Sivers
Anything You WantAnything You Want40 Lessons For a New Kind of Entrepreneur
What is the common purpose of every company every founded? Provide people with some kind of value. Give them what they want or need. If that should change, the company must, too. You company is a playground, it can be made into anything you want it to be.
-
Richard P. Feynman
“Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!”“Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!”Adventures of a Curious Character
A Nobel Prize winner who is embarrassed by that fact, but has lived a uniquely interesting and varied life which he seemingly loved a lot. The book is a string of short stories from his adventures all over the world: humorous, unusual, inspiring.
-
Nicolas Cole
The Art and Business of Online WritingThe Art and Business of Online WritingHow to Beat the Game of Capturing and Keeping Attention
This book is an introduction to what captures human attention in written form. How to structure content, how to phrase it, when to use different style elements, how to formulate headlines. If your target is to grow your audience, this is the book.
-
James Clear
Atomic HabitsAtomic HabitsAn Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
In order to improve anything about yourself, you need to realize that tiny but regular steps towards it are the best way to reach your goals. Consistency is the key and no good habit can be too small to work for you using the compounding effect.
-
Ed Winters
This Is Vegan PropagandaThis Is Vegan Propaganda(And Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You)
The animal industry is horrible and should be destroyed. But why exactly? Everyone kind of knows, but many of us choose to ignore the situation. Lets face it, learn about it, and change the world for the better. This book is a good start to get informed.
-
Ward Farnsworth
The Practicing StoicThe Practicing StoicA Philosophical User’s Manual
The basic concepts of the Stoic philosophy are explained in this book, easily accessible via a division into separate topics or areas of life. Stoicism is a simple way of living for the greater good which has stood the test of time.
-
Eric Jorgenson
The Almanack of Naval RavikantThe Almanack of Naval RavikantA Guide to Wealth and Happiness
You are most useful to society when you spend your time doing something which comes easily to you, because your motivation will be higher. You are responsible for your own happiness – and increasing your own wealth will solve at least all your money problems.
-
Rou Reynolds
A Treatise on PossibilityA Treatise on PossibilityPerspectives on Humanity Hereafter
We should be realistic when we think about the future of our species. While it’s clearly getting better for most of us, it’s not looking good. For many reasons, societies are fragile and full of problems we need to address. The books says which those are and how to start.
-
Hans Rosling
FactfulnessFactfulnessTen Reasons We're Wrong About The World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Humankind should regain its main focus: making the world better for everyone. We must work together and not against each other. And we need to acknowledge we’ve come a long way so far – there’s improvement everywhere. Let’s get rid of our prejudices.
-
Viktor E. Frankl
Man’s Search for MeaningMan’s Search for MeaningThe classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust
Half autobiography, half analysis of the human psyche. Suffering plays a big role in every person’s life and we need to learn to live with it well. Viktor Frankl was interned at Auschwitz during WW2 and lived to tell the story. We all can learn from him.
-
Mike Monteiro
Ruined By DesignRuined By DesignHow Designers Destroyed the World, and What We Can Do to Fix It
Everything which has been built, has been built by humans who are designers. Here, Mike Monteiro takes a look at the ethics of it all and encourages us all to take action and be part of creating a better future.
-
Morgan Housel
The Psychology of MoneyThe Psychology of MoneyTimeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
If you want to become wealthy, here is your guide. Spoiler alert, spend less than you earn and need. There is never any certainty, you always have to take calculated risks. Learn what makes sense and what doesn’t.
-
Patrick Lange
Becoming IronmanBecoming IronmanMein Weg zum Weltmeister im Triathlon
An interesting, entertaining (and German) story about the life of professional triathlete Patrick Lange, who won the IRONMAN World Championships twice. How does a life look like that leads a person to become the best in the world?
-
Jared Beasley
In Search of Al HowieIn Search of Al HowieAl Howie was one of the most remarkable endurance runners in the world. His whole life was all over the place, though. A biography about an exceptionally interesting person who pushed the limits of what most people thought possible every day.
-
Robert B. Cialdini
InfluenceInfluenceThe Psychology of Persuasion
How do humans make decisions? We are all influenced by a variety of things we can’t control and don’t know our subconscious thinks are important. Cialdini explains how our behaviors work and why that is the case. This helps us understand ourselves better.
-
Matze Hielscher
Die Schule meines LebensDie Schule meines LebensWeisheiten und Lebenstricks von ziemlich außergewöhnlichen Menschen
The book is a collection of the main take-aways which Matze Hielscher got out of countless interviews on his podcast. What can we learn from the decisions and lives of these public figures?
-
Vicki Robin
Your Money or Your LifeYour Money or Your LifeTransforming Your Relationship With Money and Achieving Financial Independence
Money equals life energy, yes. But what does that really mean and how can we use our knowledge to our own advantage? This book helped me understand and change how I use money.
2021
-
Hermann Hesse
Siddhartha -
Cal Newport
Digital Minimalism -
Austin Kleon
Show Your Work -
Dan Price
Worth ItWorth ItHow a Million-Dollar Pay Cut and a $70,000 Minimum Wage Revealed a Better Way of Doing Business
-
Austin Kleon
Steal Like an Artist -
Krystal Higgins
Better OnboardingBetter Onboarding★★★★★
-
Bill Gates
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster -
Meg Jay
The Defining Decade -
Alfie Kohn
Unconditional Parenting -
Michael Collins
Carrying the Fire -
The Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
The Art of Happiness -
Julie Zhou
The Making of a Manager -
Tom Greenwood
Sustainable Web DesignSustainable Web Design★★★★☆
-
J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hobbit -
Evan Ratliff
The Mastermind -
Nick Butter
Running The World -
Johann Scheerer
Unheimlich nahUnheimlich nah★★★★☆
-
Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Who Not How
2020
-
Jason Robillard
Never Wipe Your Ass with a SquirrelNever Wipe Your Ass with a SquirrelA trail running, ultramarathon, and wilderness survival guide for weird folks
★★★☆☆
-
Alice Hasters
Was weiße Menschen nicht über Rassismus hören wollen -
Michael E. Gerber
The E-Myth Revisited -
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations -
Daniel Coyle
The Culture Code -
Jim Collins
Good to Great -
David Heinemeier Hansson & Jason Fried
Remote -
Steven Levy
Facebook: The Inside Story -
Janette Benaddi, Helen Butters, Frances Davies, Niki Doeg
Vier Freundinnen, ein Boot -
Ian McEwan
SaturdaySaturday★★★★★
-
Barry Brickell
Rails Toward the Sky -
Haruki Murakami
Wovon ich rede, wenn ich vom Laufen rede -
Nils Wittrock
Wer jetzt noch umblättert ist selber schuld
2019
-
Edward Snowden
Permanent RecordPermanent Record★★★★★
-
Shahak Shapira
Holyge Bimbel -
Peter Greif
Greif – for running lifeGreif – for running life★★★★★
-
Randall Munroe
How To -
Sidy Diallo
Running Human -
Diverse
Deutscher Buchpreis 2019, Die Nominierten, Leseproben -
Ronan Farrow
War on Peace -
Peter Maxwill
Die Reise zum Riss -
David Goggins
Can’t Hurt Me -
Jesse Itzler
Living with a SEAL -
Martin Sonneborn
Herr Sonneborn geht nach Brüssel -
David Eagleman
The Brain -
Ed Catmull
Creativity, Inc. -
Hal Elrod
The Miracle Morning -
Ken Bob Saxton
Barefoot Running Step by Step -
Jared Diamond
Guns, Germs, and Steel -
Stuart Diamond
Getting More -
Marshall Goldsmith
Triggers -
Simon Hooper
Forever Outnumbered
2018
-
Alan Sillitoe
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner -
Cal Newport
Deep Work -
Ulrich Blohm
Unbeholfen GolfenUnbeholfen Golfen★★★☆☆
-
Scott Jurek
Eat and Run -
Scott Jurek
North -
Norbert Madry
Der Ultralauf-KompassDer Ultralauf-Kompass★★★★☆
-
Jan Frodeno
Eine Frage der Leidenschaft -
Jan Philipp Reemtsma
Im KellerIm Keller★★★★★
-
Johann Scheerer
Wir sind dann wohl die Angehörigen -
Sebastian Junger
Tribe
2016
-
Rich Roll
Finding UltraFinding UltraRejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
★★★★★
-
Wigald Boning
Im Zelt -
Christopher McDougall
Born to Run -
Timothy Ferriss
The 4-Hour Workweek -
Andy Magness
UltraMentalUltraMentalAn unconventional approach to training for endurance events on a few hours a week (or less)
★★★☆☆
-
Dean Karnazes
Ultramarathon Man -
Marie Kondo
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying -
David Allen
Getting Things Done
2014
2013
2012
-
Richard Branson
Losing My Virginity -
George W. Bush
Decision PointsDecision Points★★★☆☆
-
Walther Isaacson
Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography
