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TitleAuthorGenreCommentsEndorsements (Increment by 1 if you endorse this book)LinkRecommender
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Thinking Fast and SlowDaniel KahnemanPsychologyGame-changing book on decision making & problem solving by a Nobel prize winner in Economics21https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByXsRacEHnd5aTkyb2Z5eDMwT00/editOisín Moran
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Harry Potter and the Methods of RationalityEliezer YudkowskyFictionWhat if Harry was a rationalist - a literary exposition of EA, transhumanism, rationality, and science13http://hpmor.com/Radim Lacina
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Rationality: From AI to ZombiesEliezer YudkowskyNonfictionA series of essays that blend together rationality
training, ethics, artificial intelligence, and probability
theory. There are also interludes of brief fiction,
physics, and personal anecdotes.
11https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/Tony Boyles
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Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden BraidDouglas HofstadterN/ABook on recursion. Hofstradter thinks it's about consciousness. Mathematicians think it's a math book, but Hofstradter will disagree. It deals with the interconnections between art, music, math, thinking etc.9http://smile.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=4193iI6WHqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR105%2C160_&refRID=0EWDZGF9917YVRXVP6KK&tag=s4charity-20Linch Zhang
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The Selfish GeneRichard DawkinsEvolutionary BiologyFoundational reading for understanding how natural selection acts on the level of the gene8http://smile.amazon.com/Selfish-Gene-Anniversary----Introduction/dp/0199291152/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456956193&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Selfish+Gene&tag=s4charity-20Jeff Ladish
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Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, StrategiesNick BostromNonfictionWhat happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us?8https://global.oup.com/academic/product/superintelligence-9780199678112?cc=us&lang=en&Tony Boyles
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Doing Good BetterWill MacAskillPhilosophy/Economics/Effective AltruismBook by Will MacAskill laying down the principles and practice of effective altruism. Very mildly mathy.8http://smile.amazon.com/Doing-Good-Better-Effective-Difference/dp/1592409105/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456956221&sr=8-1&keywords=Doing+Good+Better&tag=s4charity-20Linch Zhang
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Superforecasting: The Art and Science of PredictionPhil TetlockNonfictionAccurately predicting the future is a skill. Moreover, it is a learnable skill. Phil Tetlok distills a 20 year career studying expertise into a book-length instruction on the processes necessary to become a superforecaster.7http://smile.amazon.com/Superforecasting/dp/1101905565/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1456956290&sr=1-2&tag=s4charity-20Tony Boyles
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The Replacing Guilt SeriesNate SoaresPersonal Development / Philosophy"series of posts to explore a whole slew of tools for removing guilt-based motivation and replacing it with something that is both healthier and stronger."7http://mindingourway.com/guilt/ , http://readlists.com/8cb9c4fa/ for ebook exportMatthijs Maas
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Global Catastrophic RisksBostrom & CirkovicNon-Fiction, Global Catastrophic Risk"25 leading experts look at the gravest risks facing humanity in the 21st century, including asteroid impacts, gamma-ray bursts, Earth-based natural catastrophes, nuclear war, terrorism, global warming, biological weapons, totalitarianism, advanced nanotechnology, general artificial intelligence, and social collapse. The book also addresses over-arching issues - policy responses and methods for predicting and managing catastrophes."6http://www.amazon.com/Global-Catastrophic-Risks-Nick-Bostrom/dp/0199606501Matthijs Maas
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Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human SocietiesJared DiamondSociology, AnthropologyThe author argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. 6http://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel-Fates-Societies/dp/0393317552/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456769535&sr=1-3&keywords=jared+diamondSara Marín
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Sapiens: A Brief History of HumankindYuval Noah HarariAnthropology5Tony Boyles
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Why Nations FailJames Arthur Robinson, Daron AcemoğluPolitical economy, economic history4Niklas Voege
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Poor EconomicsBannerjee and DufloDevelopmental EconomicsA careful look at the lives of people who are very poor (living under $2/day), how they interact with economics and what can and cannot be done to help them3https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10245602-poor-economics?from_search=true&search_version=serviceLinch Zhang
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The Mathematical Theory of InformationShannonInformation TheoryThe founding paper/book on information theory. Learn (among other things) why 3D crosswords are impossible.3Andrew Salmon
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DataclysmChristian Rudderdata analytics, sort offounder of OkCupid talks about data trends in social media - incredible read for anyone interested in the subject3Satvika Neti
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The Signal and the NoiseNate SilverIntro StatisticsA layman's introduction to Bayesian statistics, by the whiz who founded fivethirtyeight.com3http://www.amazon.com/The-Signal-Noise-Predictions-Fail-but/dp/0143125087?tag=s4charity-20Linch Zhang
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The Better Angels of Our NatureSteven PinkerHistory/societyWhy violance has declined all over the world2Radim Lacina
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Early Retirement ExtremeJacob FiskerPersonal FinanceA book on living off a low portion of your income to achieve financial independence quickly. Relevant to Effective Altruism and working full-time on issues that may not pay well.2http://www.scribd.com/doc/156367201/Early-Retirement-Extreme#scribdAlex Appel
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Collapse: How societies choose to fail or succeedJared DiamondSociology, AnthropologyThe author explores how environmental damage, climate change, globalization, the population explosion and political discord create the conditions for the collapse of civilization2http://www.amazon.com/Collapse-Societies-Succeed-Revised-Edition/dp/0143117009Sara Marín
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The DispossessedUrsula K. Le GuinScience FictionIf you are a left-wing math/physics nerd who wants to be able to identify with the protagonist of a sci-fi story, read this book :)2http://www.amazon.com/Dispossessed-Hainish-Cycle-Ursula-Guin/dp/0061054887Mandy Nguyen
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Capital in the 21st CenturyThomas PikettyEconomics/HistoryLays out the data on how the distribution of wealth and income have evolved since the 18th century, and what lessons we can derive from that for the future2Max Daniel
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The Righteous MindJonathan HaidtMoral PyschologyA book about the evolution of moral instincts, and their variations in the modern world. Essential reading for understanding some political and values differences.2https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11324722-the-righteous-mindJonathan Wallis
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How to Measure AnythingDouglas W. HubbardStatistics, business"practical methods for measuring a variety of intangibles"2http://lesswrong.com/lw/i8n/how_to_measure_anything/Caleb Withers
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The Moral LandscapeSam HarrisPhilosophy, EthicsArgues for valuing the well-being of conscious creatures. Also proposes the possibility of making a science of well-being (and thus morality), akin to a science of health. Framework is utilitarian, but not EA.2http://www.amazon.com/The-Moral-Landscape-Science-Determine/dp/143917122XDean Fulgoni
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The Singularity is Near Ray KurzweilAI / Philosophy / Technology2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Singularity_Is_NearMatthijs Maas
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How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleDale CarnegiePsychology"The grandfather of all people-skills books"2Oisín Moran
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The Language InstinctSteven PinkerLinguisticsA layman introduction to modern linguistics1Radim Lacina
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Chaos of DisciplinesAndrew AbbottSociology/SpeculativeA fascinating and eerily plausible first chapter, like a nuanced neo-Sophism, but the historical part is quite lacking by comparison, in part due to the bounded knowledge of the author. Chapter 5 on disciplines is also quite compelling as well.1Andrew Salmon
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Bayesians versus Frequentists: a Philosophical Debate on Statistical ReasoningJordi VallverduPhilosophy/StatisticsThe history of the Bayesian/Frequentist divide told in a very no-nonsense way. The selection of studies and good storytelling (e.g. an "ants on stilts vs. ants on stumps" experiment as a way of demonstrating that ants "count" their steps) make this a surprisingly fascinating read.1Andrew Salmon
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Hive MindGarett JonesNon Fiction, Economics, Cognitive Psychology Why your nation's IQ matters more than your own IQ. Relevant, non racist discussion about IQ.1http://www.amazon.com/hive-mind-your-nation%C2%92s-matters/dp/0804785961?tag=mit-tb-20Diego Roque
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The Time Keeper Mitch AlbomFictionReally interesting and well written story about the first man to measure time and his task of trying to save two people from themselves, a young suicidal girl and an old business man who wants to live forever1http://www.amazon.com/Time-Keeper-Mitch-Albom/dp/1401312853/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456737919&sr=1-1&keywords=the+time+keeperToby McMaster
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Black Box ThinkingMatthew SyedNon-fictionA book of interesting analysis of the attitude to failure on learning. Informative, but an easy read.1http://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-Thinking-People-Mistakes--But/dp/1591848229/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456737873&sr=1-1&keywords=black+box+thinkingToby McMaster
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The Gervais PrincipleVenkatesh RaoOrganizationsA series of essays on the dinamics of an organization and workplace politics, using The Office as examples.1http://www.ribbonfarm.com/the-gervais-principle/Diego Roque
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How to lie wth statisticsDarrel HuffStatisticsA short book on the manifold ways statistics are used, abused and distorted. Not very mathsy at all, lots of diagrams and fun to read. However quite old so some non-choice words at one point in reference to race.1Toby McMaster
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A History of WarfareJohn KeeganSociology, Anthropology, MilitaryA fascinating look into the culture and economic driving forces behind war. A must-read for anyone who hopes to prevent them.1https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55196.A_History_of_WarfareJonathan Wallis
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Difficult Conversations : How to Discuss What Matters MostDouglas Stonepersonal development, psychologyhelps reader approach conversations in all aspects of life (work, family, relationships...) with more confidence and an effective problem solving mindset. It changed the way I think about conversations. This will help you become a more effective communicator in dimensions you didn't know exists1http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/0143118447/R3JWLZQS1IL651/ref=cm_cr_mdt_rvw_3?ie=UTF8&cursor=3Linh Le
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Think Like A SheEOVicki SaundersentrepreneurshipVery pertinent for anyone looking to explore the field of entrepreneurship without a previous ecosystem to cultivate that idea or foster that pathway. This was the first book that ever made me feel validated in my journey as a social entrepreneur (there were a lot of tears on the subway while I read this during my morning commute).1http://www.amazon.ca/Think-Like-SheEO-Succeeding-entrepreneurs/dp/0993765645Aniqah Zowmi
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The Second Machine AgeErik Brynjolfsson, Andrew McAfeeFuture of tecnology1Niklas Voege
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Language in Thought and ActionS.I. HayakawaLinguistics1http://smile.amazon.com/Language-Thought-Action-Fifth-Edition/dp/0156482401/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51qu88MPK5L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR106%2C160_&refRID=090NJ6ZQ1HR8JQJEKHC0&tag=s4charity-20Tony Boyles
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Bad PharmaBen GoldacreNon-Fiction A book on all manner of issues which are currently prevalent in biomedical research and how we can fix them. Contains lots of great policy recommendations on how to improve biomedical research1http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Pharma-How-Medicine-Broken/dp/000749808XGrace Natusch
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Childhood's EndArthur C. ClarkeFiction1http://smile.amazon.com/Childhoods-End-Arthur-C-Clarke/dp/0345347951/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456956757&sr=1-1&keywords=childhood%27s+end&tag=s4charity-20
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Thinking in SystemsDonella MeadowsNon-FictionGets at the more technical aspects of systems thinking (i.e. feedback loops) with motivational/values based commentary1http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/1603580557Sarah Bleiwas
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The Oxford Handbook of Free WillRobert Kane (ed.)PhilosophyIs moral responsibility compatible with determinism? Guide to the current state of the debate within analytic philosophy, with contributions from the leading scholars.1http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195399691.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195399691Max Daniel
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Psycho-CyberneticsMaxwell MaltzPsychologyUnderstanding how people always act consistently with their belief systems. Foundational reading on self-help psychology and personal image based psychotherapy.1http://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Cybernetics-New-More-Living-Life/dp/0671700758Dean Fulgoni
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The Meme MachineSusan BlackmoreEvolutionary Biology, Psychology, SociologyStrong argument for how memes (self replicating customs, ideas, and values) persist and shape our lives and society. It's The Selfish Gene for memes! 1http://www.amazon.com/The-Meme-Machine-Popular-Science/dp/019286212XDean Fulgoni
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