Episode · a16z Podcast · 2016-02-02
Books mentioned on a16z Podcast: How to Be Original and Make Big Ideas Happen
From Aaron Sorkin to Steve Jobs to Meredith Perry and Elon Musk, "original" thinkers -- such as entrepreneurs -- do a lot of different things to move the world to their visions. And many of those things (and traits) are counterintuitive, such as ...
Adam Grant discussed The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling. Sonal Chokshi recommended How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant, and discussed Pollyanna by Eleanor Hodgman Porter and others, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Divergent by Veronica Roth.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
The Last Supper
Discussed“Leonardo da Vinci for example who spent roughly 15 years trying to finish up the Last Supper and kept putting it off”
Where to get it
-
Pollyanna
Discussed“in reality Pollyanna is actually a story about overcoming hardship the reality of the movie is and I hope I'm not giving spoilers”
Where to get it
-
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr.
Discussed“and more recently oh the places you'll go I think was the most popular children's book of the 90s which was all about choosing your own path”
Where to get it
-
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R.
Discussed“if you ask Peter Thiel and Elon Musk to name their favorite childhood books they both pick Lord of the Rings”
Where to get it
-
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle's beloved children's science fantasy classic, A Wrinkle in Time, follows young Meg Murry as she journeys across space and time using a tesseract to rescue her scientist father from a malevolent cosmic entity.
Discussed“Jeff Bezos and Sheryl Sandberg boasted a wrinkle in time”
Where to get it
-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K.
Discussed“I really think Harry Potter's gonna have this impact I probably put my money on JK Rowling as the most influential original life”
Where to get it
-
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian young adult novel set in a ruined nation where impoverished districts are forced to send youths to participate in a televised death match controlled by a wealthy Capitol.
Discussed“you know like obvious examples include The Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen the divergent series by Veronica Roth”
Where to get it
-
Divergent
Discussed“include The Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen the divergent series by Veronica Roth”
Where to get it
-
How Non-Conformists Move the World
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant is a popular nonfiction book exploring how individuals can champion new ideas, foster originality, and spark positive change without conforming to traditional expectations.
Recommended“but I think people just go ahead read your book originals how non conformist move the world which is out now”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“and he has a new book out originals how non conformist moved the world”
“was the era where doctors like published Cat in the Hat like super high on patents”