Prime Minister's Office of Japan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sam Altman

CEO, OpenAI; former head, Y Combinator

Technology founder, investor, and OpenAI CEO who helped build Y Combinator's startup network and co-founded OpenAI.

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17Verified recs

Books Sam Altman recommends, documented so far

This is the current verified catalog coverage. Every recommendation row links back to source evidence and the canonical book profile.

AI Risk Philosophy

Superintelligence

by Nick Bostrom · 2014

Author signal

Nick Bostrom · Philosopher of AI risk

Incidentally, Nick Bostrom's excellent book "Superintelligence" is the best thing I've seen on this topic. It is well worth a read.

Exact quote verified Recommended article Machine intelligence, part 1

We captured the recommendation language from the source.

Sam Altman · undated · accessed 2026-06-21

Altman's own blog post calls Bostrom's Superintelligence excellent, the best thing he has seen on the topic, and well worth a read.

Open source

Recommended · Personal blog post · article Source undated

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Startups Technology Monopoly

Zero to One

by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters · 2014

Author signal

Peter Thiel · Founder-investor

Blake Masters · Co-author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed Zero to One.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman answering a Twitter AMA question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder; Altman later confirmed the disputed Art of War in the Middle Ages title in the same thread.

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Philosophy Political Philosophy Classics

Republic

by Plato · c. 375 BCE

Author signal

Plato · Book author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed Republic.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Physics Mathematics Hard Science

The Principia

by Isaac Newton · 1687

Author signal

Isaac Newton · Book author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed The Principia.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Decision Making Psychology Behavioral Science

Thinking, Fast and Slow

by Daniel Kahneman · 2011

Author signal

Daniel Kahneman · Book author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed Thinking, Fast and Slow.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Biology Cell Biology Hard Science

Molecular Biology of the Cell

by Bruce Alberts & Alexander Johnson & Julian Lewis & Martin Raff & Keith Roberts & Peter Walter · 1983

Author signal

Bruce Alberts · Book author

Alexander Johnson · Book author

Julian Lewis · Book author

Martin Raff · Book author

Keith Roberts · Book author

Peter Walter · Book author

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Technology Computing History Innovation

Dealers of Lightning

by Michael Hiltzik · 1999

Author signal

Michael Hiltzik · Book author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed Dealers of Lightning.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Computing History Engineering Technology

The Supermen

by Charles J. Murray · 1997

Author signal

Charles J. Murray · Book author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed The Supermen.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Fiction Short Stories Literature

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

by Alice Munro · 2001

Author signal

Alice Munro · Book author

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Leadership Management Sports

The Score Takes Care of Itself

by Bill Walsh & Steve Jamison & Craig Walsh · 2009

Author signal

Bill Walsh · Book author

Steve Jamison · Book author

Craig Walsh · Book author

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Evolution Biology Hard Science

The Beak of the Finch

by Jonathan Weiner · 1994

Author signal

Jonathan Weiner · Book author

Documented citation: A Hacker News commenter transcribed Altman's Twitter AMA answer to a question about the best books he recommends for a young startup founder and listed The Beak of the Finch.

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

History Statecraft Politics

The Constitutional Convention

by James Madison · 1787

Author signal

James Madison · Book author

Documented citation Recommended comment Sam Altman AMA transcript comment on recommended books for young startup founders

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Hacker News / Algolia API · 2015-10-21 · accessed 2026-06-22

Open source

Recommended · HN transcript of Twitter AMA answer · comment Source 2015-10-21

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Military History Strategy Medieval History

These source-backed rows are useful context, but they are not counted as direct recommendations.

Physics Knowledge Progress

The Beginning of Infinity

by David Deutsch · 2011

Author signal

David Deutsch · Quantum computation physicist

Documented citation: Business Insider reported that Mathias Döpfner asked Altman about his favorite book, identifying David Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity.

Documented citation Mentioned article OpenAI's Sam Altman and the father of quantum computing just agreed on a Turing Test 2.0

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Business Insider · 2025-09-24 · accessed 2026-06-21

Business Insider reports that Döpfner asked Altman about his favorite book and identifies the book as Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity.

Open source

Mentioned · Reported event citation · article Source 2025-09-24

Amazon AudibleAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details