The business & startups books recommended on Andrew Huberman’s podcast

#1 · The War of Art

The endorsement here comes from Joe Rogan, on Joe Rogan Experience #2496 - Julia Mossbridge in 2026. That episode features Julia Mossbridge, Cognitive neuroscientist and AI/computer scientist (PhD Northwestern) who studies precognition, presentiment, and telepathy. Founder of nonprofit Applied Love Labs and author of 'Have a Nice Disclosure.'. In total it earned 17 separate on-air endorsements across 4 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“Pressfield wrote a great book about it called The War of Art... I have a stack of them and I give them to comedians. Just read this” — Joe Rogan 02:17:25

#2 · Meditations

Recommended by Ivanka Trump on Ivanka Trump: Most People Can’t Tell Signal From Noise. Ivanka is Businesswoman, former real estate and fashion executive, and ex-White House senior advisor. Daughter of Donald Trump, she built a fashion line doing close to $800M in annual sales before shutting it down to serve in government. In total it earned 16 separate on-air endorsements across 5 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman).

“I think like Marcus Aurelius's meditations is so informative on so many levels.” — Ivanka Trump 00:26:38

What it is: Meditations is a collection of personal reflections and notes by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161 to 180 AD), offering a profound look into the philosophy of Stoicism. It was never intended for publication, making it a raw and intimate self-help manual for the emperor during his campaigns and rule. The central theme revolves around living a good, rational, and virtuous life in harmony with nature and the cosmos. Aurelius continually reminds himself that everything in the universe is constantly changing and fleeting, urging the reader to accept the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death.

#3 · Why We Sleep

Andrew Huberman brought this up on How to Heal From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Dr. Victor Carrión (2024-09-23). That episode features Dr. Victor Carrion, Professor and vice chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford and director of the Stanford Early Life Stress and Resilience Program. A leading expert on childhood PTSD and the developer of Cue-Centered Therapy. In total it earned 13 separate on-air endorsements across 4 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“I really have to tip my hat to Dr Matthew Walker from UC Berkeley for writing the book why we sleep ... he deserves such a token of praise” — Andrew Huberman 00:51:52

What it is: "The first sleep book by a leading scientific expert--Professor Matthew Walker, Director of UC Berkeley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab--reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep, explaining how we can harness its transformative power to change our lives for the better. Sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life, wellness, and longevity. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why we suffer such devastating health consequences when we don't sleep.

#4 · The Coddling of the American Mind

The endorsement here comes from Joe Rogan, on Joe Rogan Experience #2450 - Tommy Wood in 2026. That episode features Tommy Wood, Physician and neuroscientist who studies brain development, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive decline. He is head of scientist for motorsport at Hintsa Performance, working with Formula 1 drivers, and author of the book The Stimulated Mind. In total it earned 8 separate on-air endorsements across 4 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“Jonathan Haidt wrote a great book about it called The Coddling of the American Mind about the impact of social media and particularly on young girls.” — Joe Rogan 01:53:08

What it is: "Something is going wrong on many college campuses in the last few years. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide are rising. Speakers are shouted down. Students and professors say they are walking on eggshells and afraid to speak honestly. How did this happen? First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt show how the new problems on campus have their origins in three terrible ideas that have become increasingly woven into American childhood and education: what doesn't kill you makes you weaker; always trust your feelings; and life is a battle between good people and evil people.

#5 · The Denial of Death

Recommended by Andrew Huberman on How to Find & Be a Great Romantic Partner | Lori Gottlieb. That episode features Lori Gottlieb, Psychotherapist and best-selling author of "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone," widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on relationships. She also writes the "Ask the Therapist" advice column (formerly at The Atlantic, now The New York Times). In total it earned 7 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Lex Fridman).

“I'm reading Erns Becker's the denial of death highly recommend it to everyone a Pulitzer after all” — Andrew Huberman 00:36:54

#6 · Deep Work

Lex Fridman brought this up on Charan Ranganath: Human Memory, Imagination, Deja Vu, and False Memories | Lex F (2024-05-25). That episode features Charan Ranganath, A psychologist and neuroscientist at UC Davis specializing in human memory, where he runs a lab using fMRI and other methods to study how the brain encodes and retrieves events. He is the author of 'Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold On to What Matters.'. In total it earned 6 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“I'm very much with kort on this he wrote deep work and a lot of other amazing books he talks about task switching as a sort of the thing that really destroys productivity” — Lex Fridman 02:52:58

What it is: One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy.

#7 · The Psychology of Money

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on David Senra — How Extreme Winners Think and Win: Lessons from 400+ of History’s in 2025. That episode features David Senra, Host of the Founders podcast, who reads and breaks down biographies of history's greatest entrepreneurs; launching a new interview show on Patrick O'Shaughnessy's Colossus network. In total it earned 5 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Tim Ferriss).

“Psychology of money. Great book. Won't stop selling. I know man. Got lightning in a bottle in that one. Earned it.” — Tim Ferriss 02:25:52

What it is: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people. How to manage money, invest it, and make business decisions are typically considered to involve a lot of mathematical calculations, where data and formulae tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world, people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together.

#8 · Mastery

Recommended by Andrew Huberman on A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose | Robert Greene. That episode features Robert Greene, Bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Laws of Human Nature, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery. Trained at UC Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin-Madison; writes about psychology, strategy, and human nature rooted in history. In total it earned 5 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Tim Ferriss).

“I first learned about Robert's work from reading the book Mastery which to my mind is a brilliant exploration and a practical tool for how to think about and pursue one's purpose” — Andrew Huberman 00:00:30

What it is: Robert Greene, the "modern Machiavelli" debunks the prevailing mythology of success and presents a radical new way to greatness.

#9 · The Obstacle Is the Way

Tim Ferriss brought this up on From Stocking Groceries to Reading Philosophy for a Living — Stephen West of Phi (2025-04-23). That episode features Stephen West, Creator and host of the Philosophize This! podcast, a self-taught philosopher who went from a high-school dropout stocking groceries to running one of the most respected independent philosophy shows; 225 episodes in over 12 years, with a book deal coming in 2026. In total it earned 5 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Tim Ferriss).

“An example of that for stoicism would be certainly Ryan Holiday's work. He's right here nearby. Obstacle is the way and so on.” — Tim Ferriss 01:17:27

What it is: 1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller The Obstacle is the Way has become a cult classic, beloved by men and women around the world who apply its wisdom to become more successful at whatever they do. Its many fans include a former governor and movie star (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a hip hop icon (LL Cool J), an Irish tennis pro (James McGee), an NBC sportscaster (Michele Tafoya), and the coaches and players of winning teams like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Cubs, and University of Texas men’s basketball team.

#10 · Open

The endorsement here comes from Andrew Huberman, on How to Set & Achieve Massive Goals | Alex Honnold in 2025. That episode features Alex Honnold, Professional rock climber best known for free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite (no ropes), the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary 'Free Solo'. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and innovative athletes in history. In total it earned 5 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Tim Ferriss).

“I read Andre Agassi's book, "Open," which is basically a story of his dad pushing him to play a game he did not want to play.” — Andrew Huberman 01:05:50

What it is: From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography. Agassi's incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. By the age of thirteen, he is banished to a Florida tennis camp that feels like a prison camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. He dyes his hair, pierces his ears, dresses like a punk rocker. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning-fast return.

#11 · Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

Recommended by Andrew Huberman on Using Play to Rewire & Improve Your Brain | Huberman Lab Essentials. That episode features Andrew Huberman (solo), Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast. This is a solo Essentials episode. In total it earned 5 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Tim Ferriss).

“if you read any of the books about Fineman or by Fineman, surely you're joking, Mr. Fineman or what do you care what other people think? These are wonderful short stories” — Andrew Huberman 00:21:53

What it is: The biography of the physicist and Nobel prize winner Richard P. Feynman - a collection of short stories, chapters told to and written down by Ralph Leighton. Feynman tells of his childhood and youth and goes into his adult life, both personally and professionally.

#12 · The 4-Hour Body

Andrew Huberman brought this up on Journal Club with Dr. Peter Attia | Metformin for Longevity & The Power of Belie (2023-09-11). That episode features Peter Attia, Physician and longevity expert, author of the bestselling book Outlive and host of The Drive podcast. He focuses on healthspan, lifespan, and metabolic health. In total it earned 3 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Tim Ferriss).

“I still am a big fan of Tim ferriss's uh slow carbohydrate diet because I like to eat meat and vegetables and starches” — Andrew Huberman 01:18:03

What it is: The 4-Hour Body is the result of an obsessive quest, spanning more than a decade, to hack the human body. It contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of jaw-dropping personal experimentation. From Olympic training centers to black-market laboratories, from Silicon Valley to South Africa, Tim Ferriss, the 1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, fixated on one life-changing question: For all things physical, what are the tiniest changes that produce the biggest results? Thousands of tests later, this book contains the answers for both men and women.

#13 · The 4-Hour Chef

The endorsement here comes from Andrew Huberman, on Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges | Dr. Paul Conti in 2022. That episode features Dr. Paul Conti, A psychiatrist trained at Stanford and chief resident at Harvard who runs the Pacific Premier Group treating complex trauma, addiction, and psychiatric disorders. He is the author of 'Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic.'. In total it earned 3 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Tim Ferriss).

“Tim Ferris's "The 4-Hour Body" or Tim Ferris's The 4-Hour Chef book, both of which are excellent” — Andrew Huberman 00:06:14

What it is: Building upon Timothy Ferriss's internationally successful "4-hour" franchise, "The 4-Hour Chef" transforms the way we cook, eat, and learn. Featuring recipes and cooking tricks from world-renowned chefs, and interspersed with the radically counterintuitive advice Ferriss's fans have come to expect, "The 4-Hour Chef" is a practical but unusual guide to mastering food and cooking, whether you are a seasoned pro or a blank-slate novice.

#14 · Atomic Habits

Recommended by Chris Williamson on Chris Williamson: Fix This One Habit And 2026 Will Be Your Best Year!. Chris is British podcaster and host of Modern Wisdom, one of the world's biggest podcasts and a former nightclub promoter turned personal-development thinker now based in the US. In total it earned 3 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Tim Ferriss).

“James Cle has been on my show. I think he's been on your show too. Uh best habit book of all time, Atomic Habits.” — Chris Williamson 00:44:37

What it is: No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Atomic Habits pdf

#15 · The Anxious Generation

Chris Sacca brought this up on Chris Sacca — How to Succeed by Living on Your Own Terms (2025-01-23). Chris is Billionaire venture capitalist, early backer of Twitter and Uber, founder of climate fund Lower Carbon Capital, and former Shark Tank investor. In total it earned 3 separate on-air endorsements across 4 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Joe Rogan, Tim Ferriss).

“ready book list yeah you didn't ask me well I did for your syllabus but you dodged and gave me poetry anxious generation and coddling of American mind” — Chris Sacca 02:35:05

What it is: After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on many measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt (pronounced "height") lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults.

#16 · The Art of Learning

The endorsement here comes from Derek Sivers, on Derek Sivers — Finding Paths Less Traveled, Taking Giant Leaps, and Picking the in 2023. Derek is Entrepreneur turned author who founded and sold CD Baby; minimalist writer known for books like Anything You Want, now living in New Zealand. In total it earned 3 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Tim Ferriss).

“I loved his book, The Art of Learning. And I've listened to his interviews, and I really admire him.” — Derek Sivers 02:29:01

#17 · On the Move

Recommended by Andrew Huberman on How to Achieve Inner Peace & Healing | Dr. Richard Schwartz. That episode features Dr. Richard Schwartz, Founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a peer-reviewed model that treats the mind as a system of distinct 'parts' (managers, firefighters, exiles) led by a core Self. He developed it 40+ years ago after his family-therapy work with bulimic patients. In total it earned 3 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Lex Fridman).

“I highly recommend reading uh Oliver Sax's book on the Move um he was an obviously neurologist and writer” — Andrew Huberman 02:01:04

What it is: When Oliver Sacks was twelve, a perceptive schoolmaster wrote: "Sacks will go far, if he does not go too far." With unbridled honesty and humor, he now shows us the restless energy that drives both his physical and his cerebral passions.

#18 · Extreme Ownership

Tim Ferriss brought this up on David Senra — How Extreme Winners Think and Win: Lessons from 400+ of History’s (2025-09-24). That episode features David Senra, Host of the Founders podcast, who reads and breaks down biographies of history's greatest entrepreneurs; launching a new interview show on Patrick O'Shaughnessy's Colossus network. In total it earned 2 separate on-air endorsements across 4 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“He yells at me. You can just get I'm like extreme ownership still highly highly highly recommend to everyone.” — Tim Ferriss 00:37:39

What it is: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin served together in SEAL Task Unit Bruiser, the most highly decorated Special Operations unit from the war in Iraq. Through difficult months of sustained combat, Jocko, Leif and their SEAL brothers learned that leadership -- at every level -- is the most important thing on the battlefield. They started Echelon Front to teach these same leadership principles to companies across industries throughout the business world that want to build their own high-performance, winning teams.

#19 · Can't Hurt Me

The endorsement here comes from Mark Greaney, on Joe Rogan Experience #1942 - Mark Greaney in 2024. Mark is Bestselling thriller novelist behind the Gray Man series and the continuation of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels. In total it earned 2 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman).

“I love his book or his first book He's a his second book's even better he's amazing” — Mark Greaney 02:18:48

What it is: For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare--poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force tactical air controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him the Fittest (Real) Man in America.

#20 · Steve Jobs

Recommended by Andrew Huberman on How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfield. That episode features Steven Pressfield, Bestselling author of "The War of Art," "Gates of Fire," and other historical fiction and nonfiction. A former Marine, advertising copywriter, and screenwriter who published his first book at 52 and is still writing daily at 82. In total it earned 2 separate on-air endorsements across 4 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“I've listened to and read Steve Jobs' biography. I think it's spectacular. It's a phenomenal bio.” — Andrew Huberman 01:09:23

What it is: Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years -- as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues -- Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.

#21 · Season of the Witch

Nathan Lambert brought this up on State of AI in 2026: LLMs, Coding, Scaling Laws, China, Agents, GPUs, AGI | Lex (2026-01-31). That episode features Sebastian Raschka and Nathan Lambert, Sebastian Raschka is a machine learning researcher and author of 'Build a Large Language Model from Scratch' and 'Build a Reasoning Model from Scratch.' Nathan Lambert is the post-training lead at the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) and author of a definitive book on Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback. In total it earned 2 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Lex Fridman).

“It's a great book, Season of the Witch. I recommend it. A bunch of my SF friends who get out recommended it to me.” — Nathan Lambert 02:28:01

What it is: Salon founder David Talbot chronicles the cultural history of San Francisco and from the late 1960s to the early 1980s when figures such as Harvey Milk, Janis Joplin, Jim Jones, and Bill Walsh helped usher from backwater city to thriving metropolis.

#22 · The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The endorsement here comes from Ray Dalio, on Ray Dalio: We’re Heading Into Very, Very Dark Times! America & The UK’s Decline in 2025. Ray is Billionaire investor who founded Bridgewater Associates, which he built into the world's largest hedge fund managing about $150 billion. He is known for studying 500 years of history to predict economic and geopolitical cycles, and for his books on principles. In total it earned 2 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Diary of a CEO).

“Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey. Is it the the hero with a thousand faces? Yes, that's it. Hero with a thousand faces.” — Ray Dalio 01:29:37

What it is: Originally written by Campbell in the '40s-- in his pre-Bill Moyers days -- and famous as George Lucas' inspiration for "Star Wars," this book will likewise inspire any writer or reader in its well considered assertion that while all stories have already been told, this is not a bad thing, since the retelling is still necessary. And while our own life's journey must always be ended alone, the travel is undertaken in the company not only of immediate loved ones and primal passion, but of the heroes and heroines -- and myth-cycles -- that have preceded us. ([Amazon.com review][1].) [1]:

#23 · When Reason Goes on Holiday

Recommended by Marc Andreessen on How Risk Taking, Innovation & Artificial Intelligence Transform Human Experience. Marc is Software engineer and venture capitalist who co-created the Mosaic and Netscape web browsers and co-founded the Silicon Valley firm Andreessen Horowitz. He is one of the most influential technology innovators and investors of his generation. In total it earned 2 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Lex Fridman).

“I gave Andrew a book on the way in here with this, my favorite new book. The title of it is When Reason Goes on Holiday.” — Marc Andreessen 02:10:58

#24 · A World Without Email

Andrew Huberman brought this up on ADHD & How Anyone Can Improve Their Focus (2021-09-13). Andrew is Professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast. This is a solo episode with no guest.

“He's also written an excellent book, "A world without Email." I've never met him, but I'm a huge admirer of his work” — Andrew Huberman 02:12:28

#25 · Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life

The endorsement here comes from Arthur Brooks, on Arthur Brooks — Finding The Meaning of Your Life in 2025. Arthur is Harvard professor, behavioral scientist, and bestselling author of 15 books on happiness, including 'Build the Life You Want' (with Oprah), 'From Strength to Strength,' and 'The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.'.

“he has a book called awe, A W E. It's a great book” — Arthur Brooks 01:10:58