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Every book Patrick Collison recommended on podcasts
Across 2 podcasts. Every show Patrick Collison appears on, in one place — not just one.
Patrick Collison appeared on multiple podcasts to share insights and recommendations regarding literature on military strategy, scientific mentorship, and business competition. During an appearance on All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg, he recommended the biography Boyd by Robert Coram, which details the life of Air Force Colonel John Boyd and his involvement in the military reform movement. Collison noted that while almost everyone in Silicon Valley seems to keep this book on their shelf, very few have actually read it. Later, while speaking on the Dwarkesh Podcast, Collison discussed several other notable titles. He brought up Apprentice to Genius by Robert Kanigel to illustrate how high standards and scientific mentorship are successfully passed down across generations among accomplished scientists. Additionally, during the same podcast conversation, Collison mentioned Seven Powers by Hamilton Helmer, highlighting the author as a leading scholar on various sources of business defensibility and market power. Through these recommendations, Collison frequently points listeners toward works that explore institutional reform, intellectual legacy, and strategic advantage in competitive environments, drawing on examples from both history and modern enterprise to illustrate his points.
Books recommended by Patrick Collison
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Boyd
Boyd by Robert Coram is a biography of Air Force Colonel John Boyd, a prominent military strategist whose ideas profoundly influenced fighter design, maneuver warfare, and organizational reform.
Recommended“and if I can just give a quick book recommendation this book Boyd by Robert korm about John Boyd the Air Force Colonel who you know was part of the reformist movement I feel like everyone in Silicon Valley has that book on their shelf and no one's actually read it”
Where to get it
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7 Powers
7 Powers by Hamilton Helmer is a seminal business strategy book that outlines the foundational economic frameworks companies use to build enduring competitive moats and secure persistent differential returns.
Discussed“Hamilton Helmer is probably the leading scholar on various sources of defensibility for businesses. He has this niche, but very well known in the niche, book called Seven Powers.”
Where to get it
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Apprentice to Genius
Discussed“There's an interesting book, Apprentice to Genius, that follows three generations of scientists. So someone who mentored somebody else, who in turn mentored another scientist. And they're all extremely successful.”
Where to get it
