Books That Shifted My Thinking in 2024

Hey there,

Remember last week’s rant about “advice porn”? How those candy-coated soundbites flood our feeds, give us a quick dopamine hit, and then vanish without leaving anything real behind? Consider this email the opposite of that junk food. This is the real meal—something you chew on, wrestle with, and maybe even spit out if it doesn’t sit right. Because that’s how you grow a sharper mind.

Before the smartphone, before the internet, before we were all hooked on endless scrolling, there were books. And when Gutenberg Press kicked open that door in the 1400s, knowledge went from locked-up whispers to street-level ideas anyone could grab.

The effect? Total game-changer. Fast-forward to now, and we’re not just drowning in info—we’re buried alive. More data doesn’t mean more clarity; it’s just more noise. Without a filter, your brain’s a junk drawer stuffed with half-baked takes. That’s why I keep turning pages. Books are my mental software updates—they force me to hit “refresh” on what I think I know, and they’ll do the same for you.

I didn’t even start reading for real until 20. Now I’m 47, with over 2,000 titles behind me, and I’m still hungry. The smartest people I’ve met don’t just soak up info, they question it, fight with it, fall in love with it, break up, and start over. Books slow you down and push you to pick a stance or discover a nuance you never saw coming. That’s how you get better ideas, not just more of them.

So here’s the deal: I’ve pulled together the 12 books that set my mind on fire this year. From philosophy to psychedelics, from ancient scripts to modern power shifts—these titles made me ask, “Am I missing something massive here?” They’re going to challenge you, maybe even piss you off, but they’ll definitely make you think harder and bigger.

1. Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari Harari (yep, the Sapiens guy) goes all-in on how information moves societies. Ancient gossip to modern data streams, it’s all connected. This explains why we think the way we do, and how that shapes our future.

2. Heartwood by Barbara Becker If you liked Tuesdays with Morrie, you’ll get this. Becker shows how loss can carve out a core of strength inside you, like the heartwood of a tree. Sad, yes, but weirdly empowering, too.

3. We Who Wrestle with God by Jordan B. Peterson Peterson puts biblical stories on the analyst’s couch. It’s about moral compasses in a world that often tosses them aside. Not light reading, but it’ll make you rethink what you believe and why.

4. Oneness by Jeffrey Moses Turn on the news, and it’s division city. Moses reminds us that underneath all the noise, major religions share deep common ground. A slap-in-the-face reminder that we’re not as different as we seem.

5. Psychonauts by Mike Jay My favorite this year. Humans have always looked for ways to break through the ordinary mind - hello psychedelics. Jay’s dive into how these substances sparked creativity, art, science - just about every edge of innovation.

6. The Revolt of the Public by Martin Gurri The internet flipped authority on its head. Gurri shows that old-school hierarchies are crumbling under the weight of too many voices. Leaders, pay attention: adapt or watch your influence evaporate.

7. Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday Holiday keeps resurrecting ancient wisdom for the modern age. Integrity, patience, long-term thinking - it’s all here, and it’s all stuff you need if you want to keep your head screwed on tight.

8. Going Infinite by Michael Lewis Lewis chronicles the Sam Bankman-Fried/FTX saga, reminding us that big ideas can crash hard when humans forget their own limitations. A must-read for anyone who thinks the future will solve itself.

9. The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad Saad’s on a mission against bad ideas that spread like mental parasites. He’s blunt, controversial, and insists on critical thinking. In a world of spin, that’s refreshing, even if it stings.

10. LSD and the Mind of the Universe by Christopher M. Bache Bache took 73 high-dose LSD sessions over 20 years (73!) and documented the journey. He pushes the boundaries of consciousness, exploring unified fields of awareness and what might lie beyond everyday reality. It’s not just a psychedelic diary, it’s a mind-bender that challenges how you think about existence itself.

11. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Haidt dissects the mental health crisis hitting our kids. From outdoor play to phone-based childhood, he maps the damage and how we might turn this ship around. Essential if you care about tomorrow’s adults.

12. Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz We’re all drowning in words. The Axios team shows how to say more by saying less. Not about dumbing down - just respecting attention spans and delivering real value, fast. Perfect for anyone who talks, writes, or leads.

A Quick Personal Note:

After all these books, let me slip something in that’s close to my heart. I wrote a book called Who Says? It’s about questioning the rules we inherit. The invisible scripts. The old stories that hold us back. Maybe the biggest mental upgrade is learning to spot those stories and decide if you’re done with them. Reading all these books sharpened that belief: you can’t change your world if you don’t question the script you were handed.

Bottom Line: We’ve got too many inputs and not enough real insight. You can’t afford to coast on assumptions. Crack open any of these, and let them push you. Let’s see what new edges you find. So, what’s shaping your thinking this year?

And more importantly, what are you gonna do about it?

Forward,

Joe

P.S. If one of these books (or Who Says?) messes with your head in a good way, leave a review. Think of it as giving the author a digital fist bump—or a well-placed elbow to the ribs. Either way, it’s a real thank-you to the creator who just rewired your brain.