Read by Dylan Field
What books does Dylan Field recommend?
Dylan Field's book recommendations mix design theory, spy history, and science fiction, an eclectic map of a founder's mind. The co-founder and CEO of Figma, a Thiel Fellow who moved interface design into the browser, reads for creative insight as much as for entertainment. This list of 6 titles is drawn from appearances on Lenny's Podcast, 20VC, and The Prof G Pod, with themes of philosophy, fiction and literature, and creativity and design. His top picks include Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, Ben Macintyre's The Spy and the Traitor, and Luigi Serafini's enigmatic Codex Seraphinianus. He describes revisiting Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash as "a reread for me," one he appreciated "even more in 2020," calling it "the quintessential 2020 book." His nod to Bill Walsh's The Score Takes Care of Itself carries a leadership lesson in its title alone.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
Understanding Comics
The Invisible Art
byScott McCloud
1993215 Pages(132,077)
Source: Lenny's Podcast with Dylan Field, October 2025
Read by Dylan Field
The Spy and the Traitor
The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
byBen Macintyre
2018384 PagesSource: Lenny's Podcast with Dylan Field, October 2025
Read by Dylan Field
byLuigi Serafini
2021416 PagesSource: Lenny's Podcast with Dylan Field, October 2025
Read by Dylan Field
byArwen Elys Dayton
2018384 PagesSource: 20VC Podcast, April 2019
byNeal Stephenson
1992576 Pages“A recent book that I read, again, this is a reread for me, which I really appreciate even more in 2020 because I think it's like the quintessential 2020 book is Snow Crash.”
— Dylan Field
Source: 20VC Podcast, August 2020
The Score Takes Care of Itself
My Philosophy of Leadership
byBill Walsh, Steve Jamison, Craig Walsh
2009288 Pages“The score takes care of itself.”
— Dylan Field
Source: The Prof G Pod, December 2025
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Dylan Field recommend?
His 6 recommendations include Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre, the Codex Seraphinianus, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, and The Score Takes Care of Itself.
What is Dylan Field's top book recommendation?
Among his top picks is Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, shared on Lenny's Podcast, alongside The Spy and the Traitor and the Codex Seraphinianus, reflecting his interests in design and visual storytelling.
Where do Dylan Field's book recommendations come from?
They come from Lenny's Podcast, the 20VC podcast, and The Prof G Pod, appearances spanning 2019 through 2025 where he discussed design, fiction, and leadership.
Why does Dylan Field recommend Snow Crash?
He calls it "a reread for me" that he appreciated "even more in 2020," describing Neal Stephenson's novel as "the quintessential 2020 book" for how it anticipated the era.
What genres does Dylan Field read most?
His list favors philosophy and fiction and literature, especially science fiction, alongside creativity and design and history, matching his background in interface design.