Person
Every book Ali Ghodsi recommended on podcasts
Ali Ghodsi appeared on the a16z Podcast to discuss enterprise software, artificial intelligence, and leadership, recommending and discussing several influential books. Ghodsi recommended Frank Slootman's Amp It Up as a valuable resource for establishing a high-performance execution culture. He also expressed high praise for Ben Horowitz's The Hard Thing About Hard Things, calling it the best business book he had ever read and noting that he read it before starting Databricks, where it heavily influenced his approach. During a later discussion on enterprise technology, Ghodsi referenced Nick Bostrom's 2014 book Superintelligence to explore the theoretical foundations and risks surrounding existential superintelligence concerns. Additionally, he mentioned Kim Malone Scott's Radical Candor during a conversation about feedback and management styles, noting how people sometimes misunderstand and take its principles too far in corporate settings.
Books recommended by Ali Ghodsi
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Amp It Up
Amp It Up by Frank Slootman is a business leadership book that outlines strategies for scaling companies, enforcing accountability, and driving high-performance execution cultures within organizations.
Recommended“you know, one of my competitors, Frank Slutman, wrote a book called Amp It Up.”
Where to get it
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The Hard Thing About Hard Things
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz is a candid entrepreneurship and management guide that addresses the brutal realities of running a business, making difficult decisions, and leading through crisis.
Recommended“I mean especially you know this the story you had in heart about heart things which is probably the best business book I've read which I read by the way before starting data bricks and influenced us a lot”
Where to get it
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Radical Candor
Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott is a management guide that teaches leaders how to care personally while challenging directly, offering practical frameworks for giving effective workplace feedback.
Discussed“So like you know I think that's a you know there's this book called radical cander and I think people take it too far and they misunderstand it and so on.”
Where to get it
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Superintelligence
Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom is a foundational book exploring the future of artificial intelligence and the existential risks posed by the creation of superintelligent systems.
Discussed“There is the super intelligence problem. Yeah. You know, and I think a lot of this comes from like Bodstrom 2014 super intelligence book.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Databricks CEO on AI Pacing, Cyber Risk, and the Enterprise | a16z Podcast | 2026-09-18 | 1 |
| Ben Horowitz and Ali Ghodsi: How to Run a Billion-Dollar Business | a16z Podcast | 2025-10-15 | 3 |