Every book Tim Ferriss has recommended

#1 · Awareness

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on Three Life Commandments, AI, Stoicism, & More in 2025. That episode features Kevin Rose, Investor, entrepreneur, and Tim Ferriss's longtime co-host on The Random Show. Referenced in this solo community episode rather than appearing in conversation. It has been genuinely recommended 14 times on the show.

“Developing awareness right here's the book I'm reading yet again. Anthony Dlo awareness look at meditation practice.” — Tim Ferriss 00:04:42

What it is: De Mello will takes you on a journey with his transcripts of lectures and enlightenment. This is not for the feint of heart. Dedicate time and let go ! This single book will change your life only for the better beyond what you may imagine!! Non denominational, although De Mello was a Jesuit Preist. The catholic church did not agree with the philosophies and had all literature removed! A POWERFUL READ !!! AWARENESS in every sense of the word transcends the norm of societal values to the pure and raw natural beings we truly are. Please see " THE WAY TO LOVE" also by Anthony de Mello!

#2 · Radical Acceptance

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on Tony Robbins and Jerry Colonna — The Tim Ferriss Show. That episode features Tony Robbins and Jerry Colonna, Tony Robbins is a peak-performance coach and bestselling author of Money: Master the Game, Life Force, and Awaken the Giant Within. Jerry Colonna is co-founder and CEO of executive-coaching firm Reboot, a former VC (Flatiron Partners, JP Morgan), and author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up. It has been genuinely recommended 12 times on the show.

“a book that helped me a lot with this... was Radical acceptance by Tara Brock... the book is so good” — Tim Ferriss 01:37:33

#3 · Of Wolves and Men

Tim Ferriss brought this up on Q&A with Tim — The Upcoming AI Tsunami and Building Offline Advantage (2026-03-26). Tim is Author, podcaster, and early-stage investor; solo Q&A host answering pre-submitted and live audience questions about AI, careers, creativity, and life. It has been genuinely recommended 10 times on the show.

“Of Wolves and Men is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read and it really shattered the mold” — Tim Ferriss 00:36:54

#4 · Little, Big

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on The Real Japan — Craig Mod in 2025. That episode features Craig Mod, Writer, photographer, and book designer based in Japan; runs the Special Projects membership and craigmod.com, and authored the Random House book Things Become Other Things about a 600km COVID-era walk on Japan's Kii Peninsula. It has been genuinely recommended 8 times on the show.

“John Crowley, also a poet, Little Big is the name of the book. It checks the boxes that you're talking about.” — Tim Ferriss 01:26:19

#5 · Exhalation

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on How Rich Barton Built Expedia and Zillow — Audacious Goals, Provocation Marketin. That episode features Rich Barton, Serial entrepreneur and investor who founded Expedia (incubated inside Microsoft), Zillow, Glassdoor, and Avvo, and sits on the boards of Netflix and others; known for 'provocation marketing' and building consumer-facing digital marketplaces. In total it earned 8 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“Then a second collection came out, Exhalation ... And the second is just unbelievably good.” — Tim Ferriss 02:03:25

What it is: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • Nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories—two published for the very first time—all from the mind of the incomparable author of Stories of Your Life and Others Tackling some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine, these stories will change the way you think, feel, and see the world. They are Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic, revelatory. Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine.

#6 · Don't Shoot the Dog

Tim Ferriss brought this up on Q&A with Tim — The Upcoming AI Tsunami and Building Offline Advantage (2026-03-26). Tim is Author, podcaster, and early-stage investor; solo Q&A host answering pre-submitted and live audience questions about AI, careers, creativity, and life. It has been genuinely recommended 7 times on the show.

“the books that I have found most helpful are Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. I think everybody should read that” — Tim Ferriss 00:50:57

What it is: Explains the underlying principles of behavioral training and how powerful positive reinforcement can be, whether working with pets or trying to improve humans.

#7 · How to Change Your Mind

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on Q&A with Tim — The Upcoming AI Tsunami and Building Offline Advantage in 2026. Tim is Author, podcaster, and early-stage investor; solo Q&A host answering pre-submitted and live audience questions about AI, careers, creativity, and life. In total it earned 7 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Diary of a CEO, Joe Rogan, Tim Ferriss).

“people who have been doing this since before Michael Pollan's exceptional book, How to Change Your Mind” — Tim Ferriss 00:48:18

What it is: When Michael Pollan set out to research how LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not intend to write what is undoubtedly his most personal book. But upon discovering how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third.

#8 · Bad Science

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on New Health Gadgets, How to Drink Less, AI, & More. That episode features Kevin Rose, Tech entrepreneur and investor (founder of Digg, partner at True Ventures, host of the Modern Finance/Diggnation podcasts) and Tim Ferriss's recurring co-host on The Random Show. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“There's a book called Bad Science that I actually excerpted for the 4-Hour Body at one point just to give you an idea of what matters” — Tim Ferriss 00:05:11

What it is: Full of spleen, this will be a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the world of Bad Science.When Dr Ben Goldacre saw someone on daytime TV dipping her feet in an 'Aqua Detox' footbath, releasing her toxins into the water, turning it brown, he thought he'd try the same at home. 'Like some kind of Johnny Ball cum Witchfinder General', using his girlfriend's Barbie doll, he gently passed an electrical current through the warm salt water. It turned brown.

#9 · More Money Than God

Tim Ferriss brought this up on How to Embrace Slow Productivity, Achieve Mastery, and Defend Your Time — Cal Ne (2024-02-21). That episode features Cal Newport, Georgetown computer science professor, New Yorker contributor, and bestselling author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and Slow Productivity. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“he wrote a book also called more money than God which is non-fiction encyclopedic and beautifully written romp through the world of hedge funds which blew me away” — Tim Ferriss 00:51:30

What it is: Based on unprecedented access to the industry, including three hundred hours of interviews, economist/journalist Sebastian Mallaby tells the inside story of hedge funds, from their origins in the 1960s and 1970s to their role in the financial crisis of 2007-2009. Wealthy, powerful, and potentially dangerous, hedge fund moguls have become the It Boys of 21st century capitalism.

#10 · The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on How to Launch a Million-Dollar Business This Weekend — Noah Kagan (4K) in 2024. That episode features Noah Kagan, Founder/CEO of AppSumo (about $80M/year), former employee #30 at Facebook and #4 at Mint.com, YouTuber with a million subscribers, and author of Million Dollar Weekend. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“within The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, there's one chapter called "The Law of Category," and it gives old examples.” — Tim Ferriss 02:53:28

What it is: Two world-renowned marketing consultants and bestselling authors present the definitive rules of marketing.

#11 · The 80/20 Principle

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on Q&A with Tim — The Upcoming AI Tsunami and Building Offline Advantage. Tim is Author, podcaster, and early-stage investor; solo Q&A host answering pre-submitted and live audience questions about AI, careers, creativity, and life. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“The 80/20 Principle, Richard Koch. That just gets old. Just does not get old” — Tim Ferriss 00:37:55

#12 · The Year of Living Biblically

Tim Ferriss brought this up on Daredevil Michelle Khare — How to Become a YouTube Superstar (2026-04-07). That episode features Michelle Khare, YouTube creator and host of Challenge Accepted, where she attempts the world's toughest stunts and professions. 6M+ followers, 1B+ views, Time 100 honoree, and the first creator to petition onto the prime-time Emmy ballot. Former BuzzFeed producer, Dartmouth grad. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“AJ Jacobs would be a great example for people who don't know. The year of living biblically I think is an amazing amazing book.” — Tim Ferriss 00:14:12

#13 · Essentialism

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on Building “Charisma on Command” to 10M+ Subscribers — Charlie Houpert in 2025. That episode features Charlie Houpert, Founder of Charisma on Command, a YouTube channel and online education business (Charisma University) teaching social confidence and communication; former management consultant turned solo entrepreneur. In total it earned 6 separate on-air endorsements across 2 different shows (Diary of a CEO, Tim Ferriss).

“So, you read Essentialism. Excellent book. I recommend it as well. It's so good. And I'll give a couple just key things.” — Tim Ferriss 00:49:44

What it is: Essentialism isn't about getting more done in less time. It's about getting only the right things done. Have you ever found yourself stretched too thin? Do you simultaneously feel overworked and underutilized? Are you often busy but not productive? Do you feel like your time is constantly being hijacked by other people's agendas? If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is the Way of the Essentialist. Essentialism is more than a time-management strategy or a productivity technique.

#14 · Four Thousand Weeks

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck — Mark Manson on Writing, Career Reinvention. That episode features Mark Manson, Three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (~20 million copies sold), longtime personal-development blogger at MarkManson.net, and co-author of Will Smith's memoir 'Will'. In total it earned 6 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Diary of a CEO, Joe Rogan, Tim Ferriss).

“it's Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, which I thought was a fantastic book and there are a number of chapters that really stuck out as counterintuitively helpful” — Tim Ferriss 01:46:56

What it is: The average human lifespan is absurdly, outrageously, insultingly brief: if you live to 80, you have about four thousand weeks on earth. How should we use them best? Of course, nobody needs telling that there isn't enough time. We're obsessed by our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, the struggle against distraction, and the sense that our attention spans are shrivelling. Yet we rarely make the conscious connection that these problems only trouble us in the first place thanks to the ultimate time-management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks.

#15 · 1,000 True Fans

Tim Ferriss brought this up on Q&A with Tim — The Upcoming AI Tsunami and Building Offline Advantage (2026-03-26). Tim is Author, podcaster, and early-stage investor; solo Q&A host answering pre-submitted and live audience questions about AI, careers, creativity, and life. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“one thing that never goes out of style is 1,000 true fans by Kevin Kelly. You can read it for free at kk.org” — Tim Ferriss 00:28:32

#16 · How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on Derek Sivers — Finding Paths Less Traveled, Taking Giant Leaps, and Picking the in 2023. That episode features Derek Sivers, Entrepreneur turned author who founded and sold CD Baby; minimalist writer known for books like Anything You Want, now living in New Zealand. It has been genuinely recommended 5 times on the show.

“It's a great book, by the way, folks. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie.” — Tim Ferriss 01:40:48

What it is: Stop Worrying ... Slow Down... Enjoy Life! Dale Carnegie's proven techniques have helped millions to adopt new mental attitudes leading to security and happiness, teaching them to break the worry habit —forever: • Practical, tested formulas for conquering anxiety • How to eliminate 50 percent of business worries immediately • How to reduce financial worries • How to turn criticism to your advantage • How to avoid fatigue—and keep looking young • How to add one hour a day to your waking life • Plus stories of everyday and famous people who tell in their own words how they stopped worrying and started living.

#17 · The Psychology of Money

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on David Senra — How Extreme Winners Think and Win: Lessons from 400+ of History’s . 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.

#18 · Built to Sell

Tim Ferriss brought this up on From Dad’s Basement to Selling Two Companies — 4-Hour Workweek Success Story (2026-04-16). That episode features Brian Dean, SEO entrepreneur and founder of Backlinko (acquired by SEMrush) and Exploding Topics; built both off principles from The 4-Hour Workweek. It has been genuinely recommended 4 times on the show.

“a book by John Warrillow called Built to Sell, which talks a bit about this, and I thought it was actually very good” — Tim Ferriss 00:21:16

#19 · Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on Selling 600+ Million Books, Success Principles, and More — Jack Canfield in 2025. That episode features Jack Canfield, Co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series (over 500 million copies sold) and author of The Success Principles. A former inner-city teacher turned success/human-potential trainer who introduced Tim Ferriss to his first book agent. It has been genuinely recommended 4 times on the show.

“if people want to read Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, doorways are also really helpful for some of that. People can check out Steven Leair” — Tim Ferriss 01:17:19

#20 · Getting Past No

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann Miura-Ko — The Tim Ferriss Show. That episode features Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann Miura-Ko, Arnold Schwarzenegger: Austrian-born bodybuilder, actor (Terminator, Twins, Conan), businessman, author of Be Useful, and 38th governor of California. Ann Miura-Ko: co-founding partner at Floodgate venture capital firm, Forbes Midas List investor, Stanford lecturer, and Yale trustee. It has been genuinely recommended 4 times on the show.

“there is another book which I believe was co-authored by one of the co-authors of getting TS called getting past no which I I also really really like” — Tim Ferriss 01:05:13

What it is: We all want to get to yes, but what happens when the other person keeps saying no? How can you negotiate successfully with a stubborn boss, an irate customer, or a deceitful coworker?In Getting Past No, William Ury of Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation offers a proven breakthrough strategy for turning adversaries into negotiating partners.

#21 · Gold

Tim Ferriss brought this up on The Future of AI, Bioelectric Medicine, Surviving Modern Dating, and More — The (2025-12-04). That episode features Kevin Rose, Tech investor, founder (Digg, Revision3, Dignation), and Tim Ferriss's longtime co-host on The Random Show; involved with the Way meditation app and an active early-stage AI investor. It has been genuinely recommended 4 times on the show.

“It's called gold. It's by Roomie and then the translator Hala Liza Gapori... if you read one or two of these poems before you go to bed at night, it just makes everything better.” — Tim Ferriss 01:05:41

#22 · Vagabonding

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. It has been genuinely recommended 4 times on the show.

“if anybody wants a great book on the art of long-term world travel, if that's of interest, Vagabonding by Rolf Potts.” — Tim Ferriss 02:37:50

#23 · Dune

Recommended by Tim Ferriss on Harley Finkelstein — Strategies from Shopify, the Future of Retail, and More | T. That episode features Harley Finkelstein, Entrepreneur, lawyer, and Chief Operating Officer of Shopify, which he joined around 2010. He founded his first company at 17 while a student at McGill and is an advisor to Felicis Ventures. In total it earned 6 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss).

“i want to make one fiction recommendation to you and that is dune by frank herbert and i think it will go right up there” — Tim Ferriss 00:42:56

What it is: Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the "spice" melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for... When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul's family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

#24 · Nonviolent Communication

Tim Ferriss brought this up on How to Quiet the Ruminative Mind and Avoid The Traps of Self-Help — Tim Ferriss (2026-02-24). Tim is Author of The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body, angel investor, and host of The Tim Ferriss Show, appearing solo to discuss mental health, optimization, and his in-progress book on saying no. It has been genuinely recommended 6 times on the show.

“if I had to just pull a rabbit out of a hat right now to pick a few, I'd be like, read nonviolent communication” — Tim Ferriss 00:47:55

What it is: An enlighting look at how peaceful communication can create compassionate connections with family, friends, and other acquaintances, this book uses stories, examples, and sample dialogues to provide solutions to communication problems both at home and in the workplace. Guidance is provided on identifying and articulating feelings and needs, expressing anger fully, and exploring the power of empathy in order to speak honestly without creating hostility, break patterns of thinking that lead to anger and depression, and communicate compassionately.

#25 · Open

The endorsement here comes from Tim Ferriss, on Legendary Investor Bill Gurley on Investing Rules, Insights from Jeff Bezos, Mus in 2023. That episode features Bill Gurley, General partner at Benchmark for 20+ years (eBay, Uber, OpenTable, GrubHub, Stitch Fix, Zillow); former top-ranked Wall Street sell-side analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston; trustee at the Santa Fe Institute. In total it earned 5 separate on-air endorsements across 3 different shows (Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Tim Ferriss).

“the same person who did Open, the autobiography of Agassi, which is another spectacular book.” — Tim Ferriss 00:53:28

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.