What book do you most often give as a gift? 📖💝

Question

I have been doing a lot of reading recently and I would love to know which books the Product Hunt community most recommends 🤗 Any genre is fair game!

Wesley Forlines · Accepted Answer

Zero to One is for anyone who wants to do things better, its told with the perspective of startups in mind, but most of the ideas Peter presents are brilliant and universal.

Pravil · Answer

Though it is not a startup specific book, this is one of my all time favorites. If you haven't read this yet, I would highly recommend. Paulo says that when you really want something, the universe always conspires in your favor. The book is a source of inspiration and will make you chase your dreams. :)

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams" - From Alchemist

Mike Coutermarsh · Answer

Everyone should read this. It's like cheating at life. Some people just get a lot of what's in it naturally. But if you struggle with people & communication - READ.

Sarah A. Downey · Answer

It's basically the bible of VR for today's generation while mixing in tons of extremely entertaining 80s nostalgia. Plus Spielberg is directing the movie and it's in production now.

Zach Dubos · Answer

i gifted this to everyone in my fam and i'm broke now

Ben Lang · Answer

I find myself giving this book as a gift more and more. It's an incredibly well written, thought provoking book.

Raj Bhatt · Answer

One of the best books on understanding how to build habit-forming products. A must read if you are an entrepreneur or building a side project or just curious about how good products work.

Answer

Dan Rummel, of Shyp, recommended this to me while I was in college and it blew my freaking mind. I've been recommending it or giving to people ever since (always with the disclaimer that, yeah, it's pretty dense). Everyone can benefit from learning how to benefit from chaos / disorder (because, spoiler alert, if you haven't figured this out, the world is f*cking messy)

Patrick Pistor · Answer

I may live in a bit of a bubble, but I give this one out to my friends at college. Most of the stuff pertains to their interests.

Kunal Bhatia · Answer

Aside from the Macbook and Facebook, this is the one I think everyone should read, even if they're not a designer. Donald Norman is a master of explaining design concepts and making them interesting for anyone. He updated the book with more current examples in the latest release, but it was originally published in 1988. You know it's a classic when people still talk about the book and the concepts in daily discussions.

Evan Wong · Answer

Neat little hacks to work more effectively and succeed

Pravil · Answer

Great book and a must read for the entrepreneurs and startup folks

Kim Døfler · Answer

It is a great book about how giving and putting others first can be a game changer for your own life. It is written as a story, which makes it easy to digest and remember.

Answer

Life is short and precious

Alena Deleña · Answer

One of the most eye opening books I've ever read. The author writes in a way that his straightforward and scientific approach to politics, consumerism, religion and society is accessible to the average person.

Lukasz Konofalski · Answer

Gave a few of these as gifts lately for friends who were dealing on a daily basis with people with ego described in Ryan's book: "an unhealthy belief in our own importance. Arrogance. Self-centered ambition"

Ayrton De Craene · Answer

I've been recommending this book for about 3 years to my friends, and all of them who've read it were absolutely fans. If you're open minded and not prude this book can be for you.

Shivam Dewan · Answer

Thank you, Susan Cain, for writing this remarkable book! As an introvert who has always been regarded as not only quiet, but also timid and weak, this book is very refreshing. It puts into words what many introverts know intuitively; strength does not have to be loud, in your face, or aggressive. Strength and conviction can present themselves quietly without sacrificing effectiveness. Through impressive research, Ms. Cain clearly demonstrates the importance of both personality types and the value of introversion. I only wish that I could have read this book when I was younger so that I would have been more confident and accepting of my own nature. After reading it now, I do feel that I can better articulate the importance of my role in society and take pride in the contributions that introverts have made throughout history.

Michael · Answer

Amazing design inspiration with lots of personality. I have given this book as a gift more than any other.

Julie Chabin · Answer

I don't often obsess over a book that isn't a novel but this one really was great, and I'd recommend it every time.

Answer

I read this a while ago. I just remember it was very inspiring and very emotional.

Abhilash Jain · Answer

Another gem, that I swear by.

Stefan Theofilos · Answer

a great short book to knock out in a weekend

Gananath Misra · Answer

When at crossroads regarding choices in life, this book is a great pick and a must recommended one. This book reflects on the challenge of facing mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both. Paul writes about science as "Science, I had come to learn, is as political, competitive, and fierce a career as you can find, full of temptation to find easy paths." On perfection his views are "Even if you're perfect, the world isn't. You can't ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving."

Emad Ibrahim · Answer

Dad gave to me as a gift when I was a teenager and it probably changed my life.

Keyul · Answer

I just completed this book yesterday. If you want to learn what it takes to create billion dollar startup from zero in 7 years, this is the book you must need to read. The story about the hustle of Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, Didi, and  how they are fighting against all the odds. It has everything about modern day entrepreneurship and startups.

Hammy Havoc · Answer

Informative yet entertaining look at modern technologies and the dangers that come with them. Always a fun gift as it's also alternate history with lots of political assassinations.

James Welch · Answer

Came here to add this, but @doefler had already done so. Must have given this and The Go-Giver Leader 40+ times in past years.

Kim Døfler · Answer

It is a great introduction to meditation and introspection, it is short, and written for engineers.

Jean-Baptiste Alarcon · Answer

100% agree, best book I've read in a while. Even got it for my dad :)

David Adamu · Answer

If s(he) loves to build stuff, I'd get her this.

Yoann Lopez · Answer

Great book that will help you improve your everyday life, deal with people and just be a better version of you. As soon as i have the opportunity, I gift this book to people I love and care for

Kunal Bhatia · Answer

This is one of my favorite books of all time and I love giving it to others. There's a lot to connect with and (1) I love Pixar, and (2) Ed Catmull is a master at managing creative endeavors. At the time of publishing, some now released movies (including Inside Out) were in the concept phase, so you get to see a midpoint snapshot of where they were. Fun fact: Inside Out originally used to be called "The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside The Mind."

Jonathan Yagel · Answer

This one is mandatory reading for all of our new hires. Each lesson / concept is just a page or two, so it's very easy to consume. So many helpful insights!

Gilbert Corrales · Answer

one of the best sources of enlightenment

Mike Montague · Answer

This book is made to be shared as a gift. It is an inspirational take on stepping up, being on the hook, and making something that matters. It is a great gift for students or anyone looking to make a career change or take a risk.

Gary Torres · Answer

I just got this book and I've been enjoying it a lot! Been thinking in giving away as a gift for loved ones. Very easy going, straight to the point book.

Britain Green · Answer

A short and simple book on dealing with change. I've given several copies away.

Girl Alex · Answer

one of my favorites i totally agree!!

Patrick Pistor · Answer

Another great book that I have received as a gift, though this one is more general and also fiction.

Alexandre Broudin · Answer

It changed my life

Kyle Hess · Answer

I think this is a great one. Really interesting story about purpose, success, and failure.

Atul Yadav · Answer

It's real, it's inspirational. Imagine your product / business is down to last dollar, everyone writes you off but you still hustle.. and you win! Not once but many times.
Remarkable journey of Ben Horowitz
This book shows one can win even when failure appears inevitable . Very important lesson coz life isn't always a rose garden.

Answer

Timeless - this book is universally enjoyable and certainly can change the way you think (if you approach it the right way)! Not sure if error in title, "Great Dialogues of Plato"

Omer Saeed · Answer

This book changed my life and how i thought of money!

joshua bradley · Answer

This has been my recent gift of choice. Historically it has been Diamond Age and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. If I was going to pick non-fiction it would be The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts and Super better by Jane McGonigal.

Duane Wilson✌️ · Answer

This is a great book that I love to give. It's clear and well written and I always find something new each time I read it and starts a lot of interesting conversations :D

sam · Answer

Before getting shit done was a thing, there was Think and Grow Rich. 1937 and it reads just as well as the day it was published. One of my all time favorites.

dosney · Answer

places the blockchain possibilities within the economic system of today. Great way to get in to the (non coding) fundamentals of blockchain.

Frank Schwarz · Answer

In The Pumpkin Plan, Mike Michalowicz, reveals how applying the same few simple methods farmers use to grow colossal prize-winning pumpkins can lead entrepreneurs to grow colossally successful businesses.

Payton Guthrie · Answer

This book clearly articulates what it's like to be in IT in the 2000s; especially as organizations make a shift in to development

Christine Ng · Answer

A new(ish) addition to the list; a book that I simply can't put down. Everything is backed by hard facts, studies and experiments - 110% recommended.

Jayme Hunt · Answer

This is my absolute favorite series.  It's got a lot of interesting characters, tons of epic battles, inner struggles, and otherworldly feel.  It's also the first of a series of 13, so if you like the first one (and it grabs you in the first 30 pages), you're set for a long time.

Kumar Arayan · Answer

This is one of best book for entrepreneur and Founders. The book is a small story which nicely covers Up and Downs of Life, Career, Business and Profession. It's a must read for Founders.

Melanie · Answer

I gave it to a girl I was mentoring to help transition into a manager and it made such an impact. Now I give it to anyone I mentor and every girl I know starting or advancing her career.

Vanessa Hunt · Answer

Given that many of my friends and peers are small business owners, trying to improve their marketing to live the lifestyle they aspire to, I share this fun, practical Facebook marketing guide with them. (Please feel free to delete if we're not allowed to share our own products!)

Juan Vaamonde · Answer

A personal journey that functions as a great introduction for westerners to a life of practicing yoga and the exploration of Hindu teachings.

Vlad Colt · Answer

Doing what this little book says will change your life for the better. There is a single exercise that is central to the entire book and it only takes 20 seconds a day.

Anshuman Chadda · Answer

Incredible guide on how to think about the world through Mental Models. Charlie Munger is a genius of our times.

Matt Warcholinski · Answer

For beginners, wantrepreneurs and actual entrepreneurs. Great stories, tools to start a business (it doesn't have to be a next unicorn startup). 
It's about starting a business.

NotVirtualEmma · Answer

The story of future AI is amazing and mind blowing. The author articulate the content very well so you get a perspective what status of AI now and where it could go. Highly suggest.

Mike Smith · Answer

It's a well laid out collection of issues entrepreneurs will face.

Sabra Rubinstein · Answer

Linchpins are the essential building blocks of great organizations. They may not be famous but they're indispensable. And in today's world, they get the best jobs and the most freedom.

As Godin writes, "Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. It's time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must.

Andy Acs · Answer

I was surprised to not see this already listed, I think this is one of the best read's for Founders or aspiring entrepreneurs. The book is a series of interviews between the authors and notable founder's ranging from Apple, to Yahoo!, to Hot Or Not, to TripAdvisor. The stories are brutally honest depictions of the companies histories, successes, and failures and you finish the book with not just an appreciation for the start-up journey, but recognition of patterns that span decades. It is a must-read for all tech entrepreneurs and a book I've gifted many times over the past several years.

Harry Raymond · Answer

Great book

Raza Shaikh · Answer

One of the great real management books!

Suraj Patel · Answer

Creates foundation for your life.

Arun Anthony · Answer

The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph. Or any book on Stoicism.

Suresh Kumar G · Answer

It's the best self-help and evergreen book. Suits for all age groups.

Deepak Srinivasan · Answer

It gives great insights and practical advice which can be applied while starting up.

Answer

Very funny book

Tejas Kinger · Answer

The sequel to Sapiens. An equally compelling read.

Paweł · Answer

This is definitely one of my favorite books I've ever read. An incredible story about finding joy no matter your circumstances. Truly emotional.

Patrick Smith · Answer

Wise words for anyone.

Mike Sanchez · Answer

Mindset by Carol Dweck provides the benefits of adopting a growth mindset (as opposed to a fixed one) and  shares simple steps on how to do so.

Robin M Koppensteiner · Answer

The Alchimist has influenced my life quite a bit, especially since I read it in my early teens for the first time. Very spiritual, but in the shape of a fairytale like novel.

Andi R. Hermawan · Answer

very easy to read

Ruben Lozano · Answer

It is an awesome book to achieve all your goals for this 2018.

Ashwin · Answer

As the name suggests, Its the most effective book I've read and it has helped me in various aspects of both seeking job and hiring good and impactful colleagues.

Answer

Always!

Braulio Valenzuela · Answer

The memoir of the creator of Nike is a great example of how the overnight success doesn't exist, but it's the result of a lot of work.

Answer

"Startup lifestyle" is becoming over-glamorized as a trendy lifestyle + easy way to "get rich". The creator of Nike gives an honest take on what it took for him to create a fortune 500 company. I usually hate memoirs but Phil's transparency on his life's work (mistakes, successes) made me quite emotional. I highly recommend this to budding entrepreneurs and fellow sneakerheads and anyone looking for a bit of inspiration in their life. :)

Here's a review from Bill Gates: https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Shoe-Dog

Dwarkesh savaliya · Answer

http://booktoreads.com/16-best-nonfiction-books-to-give-as-gift-on-this-holiday-seasons/

Vikas Jha · Answer

The Frugal Indian Way of Doing Business. Good for people who want to bootstrap and not take investment for VC or Angel.

Winson · Answer

12 Golden Nuggets for Entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders for free

Aishwarya Hariharan · Answer

Informative and entertaining!

Answer

I cried a lot when I read this one

David White · Answer

Read this just a couple of months ago, will keep it forever.  A good reminder of what a life well lived looks like, an essential kick in the pants when you think life is conspiring against you.

Casey Le · Answer

this book made me realize an appreciation for philology. it's beautifully written, good choice for the writers we know

John Egan · Answer

This book has something for everyone! A bible of tips and tracks for life hacks, tactics, routines of some world-class individuals and how you can use them for your daily life.

Atif Unaldi · Answer

Strategy, strategy, strategy

Ram Rayavarapu · Answer

What if the Book Recommendations by successful CEOs  Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and others curated at one place? FounderBooks.com helps create your Reading List or Gift pick in a minute😍

Ram Rayavarapu · Answer

The Best Books on the planet are all curated here. FounderBooks is a heaven of Business Books :)

Ajay Shanmugam · Answer

Great book, highly underrated, a must-read for everyone!!

Neelabh Singh · Answer

I just finished reading this book and it blew my mind away. Not only you get to understand why iPhone, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and others are so popular (hint: they create subtle habits), but you only get actionable steps on how to hook users to your own product.

Samuel Polat · Answer

BEST 👏🏽 BOOK 👏🏽 EVER!!!

TanyaXsara · Answer

very cool gift book

Hemant Mandaliya · Answer

Great book to learn how to get your customers hooked to your product/service.

Waldo Broodryk · Answer

An excellent read for anyone in a leadership role and for anyone working with a team.

"Manby challenges leaders to allow integrity and faith to guide leadership decisions, outlining seven time-proven principles that break down the natural walls within corporate cultures, empowering managers and employees, disarming difficulties, and cultivating an atmosphere that builds long-term success."

I've gifted this book about 10 times already.

Markus Schuette · Answer

Everyone looking to stay ahead of future trends needs to read this book

sayedrafeeq · Answer

A talk from legend, you will learn a lot from his life.

Abe Seksek · Answer

Honestly, one of the best books a has ever read.  Great for people to and especially startups on how to think differently.

Abhilash Jain · Answer

Hands down one of the best books out there. Highly recommend it to every entrepreneur.

Sooyeon Kim · Answer

best book for start-ups

Photis D. Mata · Answer

This is not just a book, it's a mindset. Ryan tries through stories in the book to communicate the message of "Ego being the enemy" on many levels. Sometimes he manages to get the message through, sometimes he doesn't because this is a topic that you have to understand for yourself. Once you do, you can see it everywhere in your life. Relationships, business, and everything human interaction is involved. Why are you doing what you do? Is it what you want or is it your Ego that wants to prove its worth? Great book.

Tejas Kinger · Answer

Start with Why. Simon Sinek's inspirational guide and leadership lessons is another book you can't go wrong with.

The Red Panda Can · Answer

Short and sweet, I think there's something in here for everyone

Elias V. · Answer

Such an awesome book that will give you so much into why the world today is the way it is.

David White · Answer

The essential guide to design for people who aren't designers - and that includes me....

Anish · Answer

It allows us to envision the future we want for ourselves

Tanushri Shukla · Answer

As an introvert, I've spent most of my life thinking I had to hide that fact and pretend to be someone I'm not. Susan Cain's simple missive -- we live in a society that favours extraversion but we don't have to follow the same rules -- totally changed how I feel about myself. The research into what it means to be an "introvert" or "extrovert" also helped me pinpoint exactly what I needed to accept, change, or work on. If you've ever felt awkward at a party or strangely quiet during a meeting, you need to read this book.

Brett T. Smith · Answer

This small book teaches practical principles in how to take personal responsibility for your own life, career, relationships etc.  QBQ! is a classic that should be on every bookshelf in America.

Abe Seksek · Answer

A great read open my eyes to allot of issue

Jose Pita · Answer

There's a lot of teachings in this book, most of them you don't even notice they're there.
Just by telling his own stories, Feynman teaches you life lessons and how to take everything in a fun way and be less serious about life.

Chris Finiksopoulos · Answer

Great insights about the correct mindset one should adopt to progress.

Ruben · Answer

Great actionable tips to build habits and improve the every day life.

Rachit Sharma · Answer

I got this book as a gift when I was in class 8. And over the years it helped me improve my language. I think it is the perfect gift to give. Spread the learning.

Robin M Koppensteiner · Answer

I got this as a present and it's by far one of the best books I've ever read and will probably keep it's place in my ever changing book shelf for a long time.

Emad Ibrahim · Answer

One of the most touching and enlightening books I ever read.  It shows man's incredible capacity for evil but also the power of love resilience.

Anton Zuienko · Answer

Very useful for designers and web developers

Steven Tartick · Answer

An invaluable workflow for “mind like water” productivity.

Shivam Dewan · Answer

This book will change the way you look, at people, yourself and the whole world! Yuval Noah Harari has some radical views but it's worth reflecting.  Most interesting part is his explanation for "Why human rule the world" and why this will definitely change in next 100 years!!

Alin Vlad · Answer

If you can only read one, pick this one. The book is so engaging and inspires me so much everytime i listen to it. And I do that every month.

Jeremy Sh · Answer

Read this cover to cover over the weekend. So much fun. Can't wait to see what Spielberg does with it for the movie.

Jamshid N Nalakath · Answer

Most if not all businesses need sales to grow. This books gives lots of insights from world famous salespersons.

Casper Ng · Answer

Amazing and insightful read on the spiritual aspect of life and how if you work for it and want something so badly, the world will help you to get there.

Prarthna Lalbhai · Answer

I wanted to read more of Sapiens after I finished reading it. And was delighted to find it's got a sequel now, Homo Deus.

Allen Dighton · Answer

This book came to me at a time when I really needed guidance and it pushed me in ways that I could only dream of. A truly powerful tale. 
💯 recommend to anyone

Photis D. Mata · Answer

Probably the best book ever written on Entrepreneurship! MJ DeMarco holds nothing back. His words will scratch your mind deep and life will not be the same after it.

Anna Gan · Answer

For you, a thousand times over.

Cuneyt M. · Answer

Awesome suggestions to prevent (statistically) leading 15 causes of death in the states.

Aayush Jain · Answer

It is an amazing book that illustrates amazing life lessons in such a beautiful way!

Marlon Parker · Answer

It's a gift that keeps on giving.

Chuck Feerick · Answer

Essential for proactively managing your relationships

Chris Brantley · Answer

Incredible insight into the benefits of seeking out opportunities to give.

Shantanu Raghav · Answer

Helps you understand yourself, your habits and teaches you to replace them with better ones. Every habit will trigger a domino effect and you will be amazed.

Shaun Burch · Answer

A visual read that delves into separating want and need.

EmbedAPI · Answer

very nice dive into the Quran if you want to learn more :)

Michael Kawula · Answer

Have always loved this book and recently bought his Daughters version: 
How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls. 
Bought it for my daughters to read and I wanted to read it first. Just as amazing and great read for Teen girls. Both my daughters  resisted at first, but loved it.

Jayme Hunt · Answer

Another series in otherworldly strange circumstances, but my favorite bit is that it explores what it really feels like to be in telepathic communication with an animal.  Robin Hobb shares some really intimate aspects of what it feels like/sounds like/tastes like and, as an Animal Communicator in this world, I can attest to the authenticity of the writing.

Digrammer · Answer

I'm addicted to travel and trying to introduce others to this

SvenLE · Answer

Great read not only about leadership, but about being a better person. Gifted this to biz partners, clients, colleagues, friends, etc.