What books does Joe Rogan recommend?
The world's most-listened-to podcaster reads across a startlingly wide territory, and Joe Rogan's book recommendations capture the same range that fills The Joe Rogan Experience. This page collects 29 titles he has praised on the show and across his social feeds, covering history, society and politics, science, psychology, and philosophy. His top pick is S.C. Gwynne's Empire of the Summer Moon, which he calls a fantastic book, so sad and so gripping and so riveting. From there the list runs through Dan Flores's Coyote America, Tom O'Neill's Chaos, Terence McKenna's Food of the Gods, and Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, one of Rogan's favorite books about harnessing creativity and overcoming resistance. Native American history, psychedelics, consciousness, and combat sports all surface repeatedly, a reflection of the long-form curiosity his conversations are known for.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
Empire of the Summer Moon
Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
byS. C. Gwynne
2010384 Pages“It’s a fantastic book... It was so sad and so gripping and so riveting. We all know that a lot of horrific things happened in the time where the settlers started making their way across the plains and headed west, but God you just did such a fantastic job of sort of bringing it to life.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1397
Coyote America
A Natural and Supernatural History
byDan Flores
2016288 Pages“Coyote America is amazing! It’s a fascinating book about the history of the coyote in North America.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #942
Read by Peter Thiel, Quentin Tarantino, Joe Rogan and 2 others
Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties
Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties
byTom O'Neill, Dan Piepenbring
2019528 Pages“I can’t recommend this book enough. It is an insane story that took him 20 years to write.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1459
Read by Ryan Holiday, Rick Rubin, Rich Roll and 5 others
The War of Art
Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
bySteven Pressfield
2002168 Pages“One of my favorite books. It’s a great book about harnessing creativity and overcoming resistance.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #405
Food of the Gods
The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge
byTerence McKenna
1992336 Pages“This is one of my favorite books of all time. It explores the relationship between humans and psychoactive plants and how they shaped our evolution.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #946
The Book of Five Rings
The Classic Text of Samurai Sword Strategy
byMiyamoto Musashi
1645160 Pages“One of the most important books I've ever read. It increased my focus in all disciplines I pursue. It’s some undeniably inspiring shit.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1274
Sex at Dawn
The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
byChristopher Ryan, Cacilda Jethá
2010402 Pages“Sex at Dawn is incredible. It completely changed my perspective on human sexuality and relationships.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #421
Tribe
On Homecoming and Belonging
bySebastian Junger
2016192 Pages“This book by Sebastian Junger is fucking epic. I can’t recommend it enough. It explains why we feel so alienated in modern society.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #824
The Immortality Key
The Secret History of the Religion with No Name
byBrian C. Muraresku
2020464 Pages“It’s fucking sensational. A fascinating investigation into the role of psychedelics in the birth of Christianity.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1543
Read by Arianna Huffington, Rich Roll, Joe Rogan and 5 others
Breath
The New Science of a Lost Art
byJames Nestor
2020304 Pages“Fascinating shit. It changed the way I breathe and think about health.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1506
Can't Hurt Me
Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
byDavid Goggins
2018364 Pages“It’s fucking amazing. It’s the story of the hardest man alive.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1080
Read by Tim Ferriss, Barack Obama, Ray Dalio and 21 others
byYuval Noah Harari
2014443 Pages(1,100,000)
“Great book... Fucking fascinating... Very enlightening. It really puts in perspective how bizarre human beings are.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1125
Fingerprints of the Gods
The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization
byGraham Hancock
1996592 Pages“Graham Hancock is probably the one guy who has influenced my view of history more than anybody, ever.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1284
Best Evidence
Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy
byDavid S. Lifton
1980747 Pages(4,450)
“My favorite JFK book is Best Evidence by David Lifton. Probably my favorite conspiracy book ever.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #310
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross
A Study of the Nature and Origins of Christianity within the Fertility Cults of the Ancient Near East
byJohn Marco Allegro
2009416 Pages“For a really odd take on the bible read 'The Sacred Mushroom And The Cross' by John Marco Allegro. He says the bible was all about mushrooms.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan's Twitter
Going Clear
Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
byLawrence Wright
2013443 Pages“One of the weirdest books I’ve ever read. Such a bizarre view into madness and its wake.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1296
12 Rules for Life
An Antidote to Chaos
byJordan Peterson
2018448 PagesSource: Joe Rogan Experience #1070
Read by Joe Rogan, Peter Attia
The Talent Code
Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.
byDaniel Coyle
2009288 Pages“It’s an amazing book, I think, for anybody.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1159
byJoe Jackson
2016624 Pages“My obsession with Native American history books continues, and with 'Black Elk' I’ve found my favorite one yet.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1442
Blood and Thunder
An Epic of the American West
byHampton Sides
2006624 Pages“I’ve been obsessed with books on the Wild West and the conflicts Native Americans had with early settlers. This is another amazing one.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1397
Read by Charlie Munger, Jamie Dimon, Daniel Ek and 6 others
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Fates of Human Societies
byJared Diamond
1997480 Pages“Guns Germs and Steel is an amazing book.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #961
Read by Oprah Winfrey, Chip Wilson, Sir Lewis Hamilton and 5 others
The Four Agreements
A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
byDon Miguel Ruiz
1997160 Pages“This is a seriously powerful book. Especially potent for someone like me who talks for a living and often talks too much.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #971
The Happiness Hypothesis
Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
byJonathan Haidt
2006320 Pages“I really can’t recommend this book enough. It’s one of the best and most insightful books I’ve ever read.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan Experience #1221
The Terminal List
A Thriller
byJack Carr
2018416 Pages(125,000)
“Fuck this is good stuff. You want an awesome story about a navy SEAL? Get one written by an actual SEAL. There’s no substitute.”
— Joe Rogan
Source: Joe Rogan's Instagram
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Joe Rogan recommend?
His 29 picks include Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne, Coyote America by Dan Flores, Chaos by Tom O'Neill, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and Food of the Gods by Terence McKenna.
What is Joe Rogan's most recommended book?
His top pick is Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne, a history of the Comanche. Rogan calls it "a fantastic book," saying it "was so sad and so gripping and so riveting" the way it brought the era to life.
Where do Joe Rogan's book recommendations come from?
Most come from episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, where guests and tangents spark book talk, from Native American history to psychedelics, along with recommendations he has posted on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Has Joe Rogan written a book?
Yes. He co-authored one book listed here, Mastering the Twister: Jiu Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition, drawing on his long background in martial arts, jiu-jitsu, and years as a UFC color commentator.
What subjects does Joe Rogan read most?
His recommendations lean into history and society and politics, with heavy interest in science and technology, psychology, and philosophy, ranging from Native American history and psychedelics to consciousness and human performance.
All 29 Books Joe Rogan Has Recommended
- Empire of the Summer Moon · S. C. Gwynne
- Coyote America · Dan Flores
- Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties · Tom O'Neill
- The War of Art · Steven Pressfield
- Food of the Gods · Terence McKenna
- The Book of Five Rings · Miyamoto Musashi
- Sex at Dawn · Christopher Ryan
- Tribe · Sebastian Junger
- The Immortality Key · Brian C. Muraresku
- Breath · James Nestor
- Can't Hurt Me · David Goggins
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind · Yuval Noah Harari
- Fingerprints of the Gods · Graham Hancock
- Best Evidence · David S. Lifton
- The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross · John Marco Allegro
- Going Clear · Lawrence Wright
- 12 Rules for Life · Jordan Peterson
- The Talent Code · Daniel Coyle
- Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary · Joe Jackson
- Blood and Thunder · Hampton Sides
- Guns, Germs, and Steel · Jared Diamond
- The Four Agreements · Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Happiness Hypothesis · Jonathan Haidt
- The Terminal List · Jack Carr
- Meditations · Marcus Aurelius
- Magicians of the Gods · Graham Hancock
- The Case Against Sugar · Gary Taubes
- Stealing Fire · Steven Kotler
- American Buffalo · Steven Rinella