Top Summer 2024 Book Recommendations from a16z Crypto Team

The
a16z
crypto
team
has
curated
an
extensive
list
of
book
recommendations
for
summer
2024,
featuring
a
diverse
array
of
genres
from
fantasy
and
seafaring
adventures
to
deep
dives
into
economic
theory
and
the
intricacies
of
modern
finance.
According
to
a16z
crypto,
the
list
aims
to
cater
to
varied
tastes,
ensuring
every
reader
finds
something
of
interest.

Fantasy
and
Fiction
Picks

Brittney
Burrows
from
the
events
team
recommends

Babel
by
R.F.
Kuang,
describing
it
as
a
beautifully
written
mix
of
fantasy
and
heartbreak.
She
also
highlights

A
Memory
of
Light
by
Robert
Jordan
and
Brandon
Sanderson,
the
final
book
in
the

Wheel
of
Time
series,
for
its
epic
storytelling
and
emotional
depth.

Meanwhile,
Michael
Blau
from
the
deal
team
suggests

The
Cat
Who
Saved
Books
by
Sōsuke
Natsukawa,
a
cozy
and
heartwarming
read
that
resonates
with
book
lovers.
Additionally,
Chris
Dixon,
a
founding
general
partner,
recommends

The
Creative
Act:
A
Way
of
Being
by
Rick
Rubin
and

The
Great
Bridge
by
David
McCullough
for
their
insightful
narratives
on
creativity
and
engineering
marvels.

Non-Fiction
and
Thought-Provoking
Reads

Joseph
Bonneau
from
the
research
team
praises

Flying
Blind
by
Peter
Robison,
while
Sam
Broner
from
the
deal
team
delves
into

Seeing
Like
a
State
by
James
C.
Scott,
which
offers
a
critical
perspective
on
organizational
operations
and
decentralization.

For
those
interested
in
finance
and
economics,
Michael
Blau
also
recommends

Broken
Money:
Why
Our
Financial
System
is
Failing
Us
and
How
We
Can
Make
it
Better
by
Lyn
Alden
and

Payments
Systems
in
the
U.S.:
A
Guide
for
the
Payments
Professional
by
Carol
Coye
Benson,
Scott
Loftesness,
and
Russ
Jones.
These
books
provide
a
comprehensive
understanding
of
current
financial
systems
and
the
potential
of
decentralized
digital
currencies.

Memoirs
and
Personal
Development

Shari
Doherty
from
the
marketing
team
shares
her
fascination
with

Endure:
Mind,
Body,
and
the
Curiously
Elastic
Limits
of
Human
Performance
by
Alex
Hutchinson,
a
book
exploring
the
science
and
psychology
of
endurance.
She
also
recommends

How
Bad
Do
You
Want
It?:
Mastering
the
Psychology
of
Mind
over
Muscle
by
Matt
Fitzgerald,
which
features
interviews
with
elite
athletes.

Chris
Dixon
also
highlights

What
I
Talk
About
When
I
Talk
About
Running
by
Haruki
Murakami,
a
memoir
that
intertwines
reflections
on
running
and
writing,
while
Jay
Drain,
Jr.
from
the
deal
team
echoes
this
sentiment,
emphasizing
its
introspective
nature.

Historical
and
Contemporary
Analysis

Eddy
Lazzarin
from
the
engineering
team
recommends

Against
the
Grain
by
James
C.
Scott
for
its
unconventional
take
on
the
history
of
civilization,
and

The
Ancient
City
by
Numa
Denis
Fustel
de
Coulanges
for
its
exploration
of
the
beliefs
of
Proto-Indo-European
peoples.

For
a
gripping
historical
narrative,
Bill
Hinman
from
the
policy
team
suggests

Small
Mercies
by
Dennis
Lehane
and

The
CIA:
An
Imperial
History
by
Hugh
Wilford,
offering
fresh
perspectives
on
the
CIA’s
history.

Science
and
Technology

Andy
Hall
from
the
research
team
recommends

Blight:
Fungi
and
the
Coming
Pandemic
by
Emily
Monosson,
which
explores
evolutionary
competition
and
strategic
battles
between
organisms.
Mason
Hall
from
the
deal
team
suggests

Children
of
Time
by
Adrian
Tchaikovsky,
a
science
fiction
novel
that
balances
intellectual
stimulation
with
emotional
engagement.

For
technology
enthusiasts,
Scott
Duke
Kominers
from
the
research
team
highlights

Sid
Meier’s
MEMOIR!:
A
Life
in
Computer
Games
by
Sid
Meier,
a
memoir
filled
with
game
design
history
and
entrepreneurial
advice.

For
more
detailed
recommendations,
visit
the
original

a16z
crypto
post.

Image
source:
Shutterstock