Reading is Fundamental

I get asked often about the latest books I'm reading. I decided to share an updated list of reads that I really like and recommend along with some podcasts that fit the bill as well. I think there is something for everyone here.

The Book List:

Play Bigger- Al Ramasan/Dave Peterson: This book was recommended to me by a fellow angel investor friend Texas. It was a great way to start our relationship. Play Bigger focuses on how to create a category versus becoming a part of an existing category. This re-categorization allows for you to create more blue ocean with your mission.

Black Founders at Work- HBCUvc: A solid series of vignettes on the black experience in tech. From Founds to Operators to Funders this book does a great job of telling the stories through a lens most of us never see through. Regardless of your race I think this is a worthwhile read. I am looking forward to meeting one of the authors in the UK in a few days actually.

Alchemy-Rory Sutherland: Rory is a master of the dark arts of marketing and branding. Within this book he shares many of his experiences and learns along the way in a illustrious career.

The Outsiders- William Thorndike Jr: This book explores the common traits of eight highly successful CEOs. If you are a Buffet/Munger fan then you will want to read this book.

VC An American History- Tom Nicholas: A great read on the history of venture capital and how it has changed over time. Starting with the whaling trade going through the funding for the original electronics companies up to the funding of the initial Internet Age. A solid, rich and informative read.

The Knack- Norm Brodsky/Bo Burlingham: This is the quintessential read on how to have legit hustle as a founder. Norm is the master of street smarts and share that knowledge in this book. Great to be book smart but everybody needs some "street" in their game.

Finish Big- Bo Burlingham: This book helps founder think about what comes next after acquisition and how to handle the unique challenges associated with exiting. I get asked often how I was able to handle the emotion of selling my company and part of the answer is I read this book way before my exit and I was prepared for what was to come.

The Listening List:

The Acquired Podcast- I became a Ben & David listener very recently in 2022/23. I became a fan after getting 90 minutes with Ben to talk about the Seattle tech ecosystem, funding and the mystique around Madrona Ventures founder Tom Alberg. Their podcast has grown and blossomed much like the Invest Like the Best platform has.

Invest Like the Best- Patrick O'Shaughnessy is like my OG podcaster. He does breakdowns on businesses, funds and industry sectors. His interviews with leaders and experts tend to be deep and rich in content and learning.

Founders-Like me, David Senra loves to read books. He combined that passion into a podcast where he breaks down his reads into a stimulating audio review. His focus is on great leaders through time so you learn the experiences of others. Both David and Patrick are on my must meet list in 2024.

I'll be publishing some additional lists of favorites after I get moved back into my house and I can unpack ALL of the books in the new vault. Until then Read! It's good for you.