What books does Chris Williamson recommend?
Chris Williamson turned a former club promoter's curiosity into Modern Wisdom, one of the most-downloaded podcasts in the world, and his book recommendations mirror the show's search for insights on human nature. Gathered here are 29 titles from the Modern Wisdom Reading List and his appearances on the Tim Ferriss Show and other podcasts, weighted toward psychology, philosophy, self-improvement, and biography, with fiction he pushes hard on listeners. His top pick is Eric Jorgenson's The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, which he calls probably the best book he has read; he tells everyone that if you are going to read three books in the world, it belongs alongside Essentialism and The Psychology of Money. On the fiction side he is evangelical about Pierce Brown's Red Rising, his most recommended book, which he jokes should come with a warning label. Practicality, focus, and existential questions all run through his choices.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
byEric Jorgenson
2020242 Pages“I haven't highlighted or made as many notes in a book in a very long time as I did with this one. It's probably the best book I've read... I tell everybody that I speak to that if you're going to read three books in the world, Essentialism, The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, and The Psychology of Money... those are the three books that you need.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Changpeng Zhao, Chris Williamson, Steven Bartlett and 4 others
Essentialism
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
byGreg McKeown
2014272 Pages“If you're going to read three books in the world... [this is one of them]. Start here before reading any other personal development book. Essentialism forces you to strip away everything which is non-essential and gets you back on track focusing on the only things that genuinely matter.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Peter Attia, Changpeng Zhao, Chris Williamson and 4 others
The Psychology of Money
Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
byMorgan Housel
2020256 Pages“One of the greatest books ever written on money... In my mind, that makes the book a modern-day classic and a must-read! ... If you're going to read three books in the world... [this is one of them].”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Chris Williamson
byPierce Brown
2014382 Pages“My most recommended book... honestly it should come with a warning label. I think I'm at 100% hit rate for this. Everyone I've told to read Red Rising has become addicted. This is a late-night killer.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Tim Ferriss Show Appearance
Turning Pro
Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work
bySteven Pressfield
2012131 Pages“This book hit me so hard and got me so fired up it's untrue. It gave me a much-needed kick up the ass to become the best version of myself I possibly can be.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Chris Williamson
The Ape that Understood the Universe
How the Mind and Culture Evolve
bySteve Stewart-Williams
2018386 Pages“It is the best overview of evolutionary psychology... it's so accessible. As far as I'm concerned it's the closest you're ever going to get at peering under the hood of your own behaviour and discovering why you do the things you do.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Tim Ferriss Show Appearance
Read by Chris Williamson
The Forgotten Highlander
My Incredible Story of Survival During the War in the Far East
byAlistair Urquhart
2010320 Pages“Probably the most extreme story that I've ever read. A Scottish soldier is captured by the Japanese in Singapore and spends three and a half years surviving the most brutal conditions.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
The Precipice
Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity
byToby Ord
2020480 Pages“Potentially the most important book on this list. The best insight into Existential Risk I've ever found. A complete breakdown of how humanity could go extinct... from asteroids to artificial intelligence.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Conspiracy
Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue
byRyan Holiday
2018336 Pages“Ryan Holiday's least known, but as far as I'm concerned, best book. A breakdown of how Peter Thiel rekt Gawker after they revealed private information about him... Must have listened to this 3 times at least. So so good.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Little, Big
or, The Fairies' Parliament
byJohn Crowley
1981538 Pages“The closest thing to a fever dream or a psychedelic experience that I've ever found in terms of literature. 9 out of 10 people are going to hate this book... but 10% are going to have their minds blown wide open.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Tim Ferriss Show Appearance
Awareness
The Perils and Opportunities of Reality
byAnthony de Mello
1990192 Pages“I have a full shelf of this book in my guest bedroom... it's all the same book. Fantastic... tough love book... good medicine for the right people at the right time.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Tim Ferriss Show Appearance
Read by Mark Manson, Ryan Holiday, Rich Roll and 9 others
Atomic Habits
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
byJames Clear
2018320 Pages“Given that habits are the foundation of everything we do, I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from this. This book really is worth the hype.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Red Notice
A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice
byBill Browder
2015416 Pages“A spectacular retelling of Bill Browder's journey to become Putin's number one enemy... Filled with financial back-biting, political intrigue and mortal danger. Fun and quick paced.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Chris Williamson
Happy
Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine
byDerren Brown
2016576 Pages“Everyone says they want to be happy. But that's much more easily said than done... Derren Brown shows how many of self-help's suggested routes to happiness and success... can be disastrous to follow.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Chris Williamson
Hardwiring Happiness
The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence
byRick Hanson
2013304 Pages“The best evidence-based guide to becoming a happier person. A very simple breakdown of how happiness manifests within the brain and a straightforward set of instructions.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Same as Ever
A Guide to What Never Changes
byMorgan Housel
2023240 Pages“Will help you to be more broad-sighted and focus on what is permanently true. Outstanding.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Peter Attia, Chris Williamson, Ali Abdaal and 1 others
Four Thousand Weeks
Time Management for Mortals
byOliver Burkeman
2021288 Pages“The ultimate reminder that you're going to die and not complete your To Do List from my favourite productivity writer. Simple, philosophically insightful, realistic. Outstanding.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Chris Williamson
Everybody Lies
Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are
bySeth Stephens-Davidowitz
2017338 Pages“A fascinating insight into what big data tells us about ourselves. We Google search things we daren't even tell our partner or ourselves.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Gold
Poems
byRumi
2022112 Pages“Outstanding collection. Also very easy to read not intended to be read front to back. It's just like a little night cap.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Tim Ferriss Show Appearance
Read by Chris Williamson
byMilan Kundera
1979320 Pages“Incredible incredible... will really take you through a whole kaleidoscope of emotions.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Tim Ferriss Show Appearance
Read by Chris Williamson
byJames Islington
2023640 Pages“I recommend this book to literally anybody especially people that like science in any way... very very good.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Fit, Healthy And Happy Podcast
Read by Ryan Holiday, Kobe Bryant, Changpeng Zhao and 3 others
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
byDavid Epstein
2019352 Pages“A great insight into the advantages of being a generalist rather than a specialist. For high performers, knowledge workers, entrepreneurs and athletes.”
— Chris Williamson
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Can't Hurt Me
Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
byDavid Goggins
2018364 PagesSource: Modern Wisdom Reading List
Read by Sam Altman, Ray Dalio, Ryan Holiday and 4 others
byAlfred Lansing
1959416 PagesSource: Modern Wisdom Reading List
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Chris Williamson recommend?
His 29 picks include The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, and Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield.
What is Chris Williamson's most recommended book?
He points to The Almanack of Naval Ravikant as "probably the best book I've read," and names Red Rising by Pierce Brown as his "most recommended book," joking that it "should come with a warning label."
Where do Chris Williamson's book recommendations come from?
They are drawn from the Modern Wisdom Reading List and from his guest appearances on shows like the Tim Ferriss Show and the Fit, Healthy And Happy Podcast, where he shares the books that shaped his thinking.
What three books does Chris Williamson recommend most?
He repeatedly tells people that if they read only three books, they should be Essentialism, The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, and The Psychology of Money, calling Essentialism the place to start before any other personal development book.
What genres does Chris Williamson read most?
His recommendations focus on psychology and human behavior, philosophy, and self-improvement, with a steady stream of biography and memoir and fiction, from evolutionary psychology to existential risk to epic sci-fi.
All 29 Books Chris Williamson Has Recommended
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant · Eric Jorgenson
- Essentialism · Greg McKeown
- The Psychology of Money · Morgan Housel
- Red Rising · Pierce Brown
- Turning Pro · Steven Pressfield
- The Ape that Understood the Universe · Steve Stewart-Williams
- The Forgotten Highlander · Alistair Urquhart
- The Precipice · Toby Ord
- Conspiracy · Ryan Holiday
- Little, Big · John Crowley
- Awareness · Anthony de Mello
- Atomic Habits · James Clear
- Red Notice · Bill Browder
- Happy · Derren Brown
- Hardwiring Happiness · Rick Hanson
- Same as Ever · Morgan Housel
- Four Thousand Weeks · Oliver Burkeman
- Everybody Lies · Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
- Gold · Rumi
- The Book of Laughter and Forgetting · Milan Kundera
- The Will of the Many · James Islington
- Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World · David Epstein
- Can't Hurt Me · David Goggins
- Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage · Alfred Lansing
- Man's Search for Meaning · Viktor E. Frankl
- Into the Wild · Jon Krakauer
- Angels & Demons · Dan Brown
- Why We Sleep · Matthew Walker
- Lying · Sam Harris