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Shaan Puri's book recommendations
Shaan Puri co-hosts My First Million, where he discusses business trends, emerging technologies, marketing tactics, and entrepreneurial ideas. As a startup founder and commentator, Puri frequently references popular books and cultural phenomena to illustrate human psychology, creative processes, and social dynamics. Reflecting on his youth, Puri brings up Neil Strauss's bestselling book The Game to describe how young men during that era consumed literature about pickup artistry and social engineering. In discussions about creativity and output, he mentions Austin Kleon's book Steal Like an Artist to examine the mechanics of borrowing and innovating upon existing creative concepts. Additionally, Puri frequently cites Ed Yong's nonfiction book An Immense World to explore fascinating scientific concepts regarding how different animals perceive reality through diverse sensory adaptations. Across these episodes, Puri utilizes literature not as traditional academic reading, but as practical shorthand for explaining consumer behavior, biological wonders, and the quirks of human communication.
Books Shaan Puri recommends
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An Immense World
Discussed“It was called like the five senses or what's the the the animal? It's called an immense world. An immense world. You have heard me give this spiel so many times”
Where to get it
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Steal like an artist
Discussed“You didn't even know it was the guy's last name. I know the book cover. What's Isn't it like a what's it called? Great artist steal. Yeah.”
Where to get it
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The Game
The Game by Neil Strauss is a memoir and investigative dive into the secretive subculture of professional pickup artists and social manipulation techniques.
Discussed“When Sean and I were 14, the game the book came out and like every 14-year-old read this book called The Game. It was about pickup artists and it like it took a whole bunch of internet nerds like us.”
Where to get it
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The Game Design Reader
Discussed“I'm talking about pre-reading the book the game once I read the book the game then it was uh hey you got to you guys got to settle an argument here and I just literally ripped the line from the book”
Where to get it
Appearances
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Michael Bur, one of my favorite movies is The Big Short, and Michael Bur is this kind of mis mysterious character.”