Books I have read — or listened to, often repeatedly — over the past few years. If we share an interest, I’d love to compare notes.
Lingering astigmatism after a corneal transplant in both eyes has made paper books harder over time, so most of my reading is now by audiobook. The real downside of audio is that when something catches your attention, you can’t stop and sit with it the way you can on the page — so for many of the titles below I’ve listened to certain chapters again and again.
Most cover images and one-line summaries are auto-generated. If you spot a mistranslated title or an off-the-mark take, please write in.
Thinking About Life#
Tuesdays with Morrie
相约星期二
Mitch Albom
✦A dying professor shares life lessons on love, work, and death with a former student during their weekly Tuesday meetings.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
你在天堂里遇见的五个人
Mitch Albom
✦After dying in a tragic accident, an old amusement park maintenance man encounters five individuals in heaven whose lives he unknowingly touched, revealing the profound interconnectedness of all lives.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
心流：最优体验心理学
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
✦Explores how engaging in focused activities leads to a state of effortless concentration and enjoyment, ultimately enhancing overall life satisfaction and personal fulfillment.
Get Some Headspace
十分钟冥想
Andy Puddicombe
✦A beginner-friendly guide that introduces simple ten-minute daily meditation practices to reduce stress, improve focus, and cultivate mindfulness.
The Courage to Be Disliked
被讨厌的勇气
Ichiro Kishimi
✦Drawing on Adlerian psychology, a philosopher engages a youth in dialogue to reveal how letting go of the need for others' approval and accepting personal responsibility can lead to true freedom and happiness.
The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems
第三选择：解决所有难题的关键思维
Stephen R. Covey
✦Presents a mindset for resolving conflicts and solving complex problems by moving beyond either/or thinking to find synergistic, win-win solutions in personal and professional life.
The Miracle of Mindfulness
正念的奇迹
Thich Nhat Hanh
✦Provides guidance on incorporating mindfulness into daily actions, from washing dishes to breathing, to diminish stress and sharpen one's concentration on the here and now.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
禅与摩托车维修艺术
Robert M. Pirsig
✦A philosophical memoir recounting a cross-country motorcycle journey that explores the concept of Quality and the reconciliation of rational and romantic thought in modern life.
Walden
瓦尔登湖
Henry David Thoreau
✦An account of Thoreau's two-year retreat in a cabin near Walden Pond, where he explores simplicity, self-reliance, and the restorative power of nature as an antidote to the complexities of modern life.
孤独哲学
Zhou Guoping
✦Delving into the essence and significance of solitude, this work offers insights on how embracing alone time can lead to inner peace and deeper self-understanding.
Siddhartha
悉达多
Hermann Hesse
✦Set in ancient India, the story follows a man's spiritual quest for self-realization as he explores extremes of asceticism and worldly life, ultimately finding enlightenment through inner peace and the wisdom of a river.
Meet the Unknown Self
遇见未知的自己
Zhang Defen
✦A contemporary urban woman navigates life's challenges by turning inward through deep self-reflection and spiritual practice, ultimately discovering her true identity and achieving lasting personal growth.
遇见全新的自己
Zhang Defen
✦This self-help guide delves into practices for self-understanding and inner growth, guiding readers to overcome limiting beliefs and embrace a more authentic version of themselves.
The Power of Now
当下的力量
Eckhart Tolle
✦A spiritual guide that teaches how to quiet the mind, alleviate anxiety, and embrace the present moment to cultivate lasting inner peace and heightened awareness.
A New Earth
新世界
Eckhart Tolle
✦A spiritual guide that teaches readers to transcend the ego, awaken to a deeper sense of self, and find lasting inner peace and life purpose.
A Happy Pocket Full of Money
富裕，属于口袋装满快乐的人
David Cameron Gikandi
✦Explores the intrinsic link between wealth and happiness, teaching how to shift from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance, ultimately leading to both inner fulfillment and material prosperity.
The Surrender Experiment
臣服实验
Michael A. Singer
✦A personal account of discovering inner peace and life's perfection by relinquishing the illusion of control and accepting whatever life presents.
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
清醒地活（不羁的灵魂）· 迈克·辛格
Michael A. Singer
✦A guide to freeing oneself from inner limitations by observing thoughts and emotions, leading to spiritual awakening and lasting peace.
The Tree of Yoga
瑜伽之树
B.K.S. Iyengar
✦In this insightful work, renowned yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar elucidates the philosophical underpinnings and practical techniques of yoga, offering timeless wisdom suitable for practitioners of all levels seeking to deepen their understanding.
Light on Yoga
瑜伽之光
B.K.S. Iyengar
✦A comprehensive guide to yoga postures and breathing techniques, offering detailed instructions and illustrations for practitioners of all levels to deepen their practice.
The Heart of Yoga
瑜伽之心
T.K.V. Desikachar
✦A renowned yoga teacher presents the philosophical foundations and practical techniques of classical yoga, including breathwork and meditation, to help practitioners develop a deeply personal and transformative practice.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
帕坦加利的瑜伽经
Patanjali
✦This ancient Indian scripture systematically expounds the eight limbs of yoga and the path to self-realization, serving as an essential guide for serious yoga students seeking a deep theoretical foundation.
Raja Yoga
胜王瑜伽
Swami Vivekananda
✦A comprehensive guide to Raja Yoga, explaining the eight limbs and meditation techniques essential for mastering the mind and advancing on the spiritual path.
Meditation and Its Practice
冥想
Swami Rama
✦A comprehensive manual that systematically details the principles and methods of meditation, guiding practitioners through techniques to quiet the mind and attain a state of deep inner stillness.
Same Soul, Many Bodies
轮回：前世今生来生缘
Brian L. Weiss
✦Explores how future-life progression therapy can be used for healing and spiritual growth, drawing on case studies to demonstrate the interconnectedness of past, present, and future lives.
The Monk and the Philosopher
僧侣与哲学家
Jean-François Revel and Matthieu Ricard
✦A philosopher and his Buddhist monk son engage in a profound dialogue comparing Western and Eastern views on wisdom, happiness, and the meaning of life.
Hundred: What You Will Learn in Life
你想过怎样的一生
Heike Faller
✦A poetic exploration of the wisdom gained at each stage of life, from childhood to old age, encouraging readers to reflect on their own journey and future.
Chasing Daylight
追逐日光
Eugene O'Kelly
✦A memoir recounting the final months of a former KPMG CEO diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, sharing profound reflections on mortality, purpose, and the importance of embracing each moment fully.
The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life
能断金刚
Geshe Michael Roach
✦Offers a practical guide to integrating Tibetan Buddhist teachings into daily business operations, showing how to achieve prosperity while maintaining spiritual well-being and ethical integrity.
Zorba the Greek
希腊人佐巴
Nikos Kazantzakis
✦A vibrant, uneducated man named Zorba embodies a passionate embrace of life's pleasures and hardships, profoundly influencing a reserved narrator to seek freedom and authenticity.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
纳瓦尔宝典
Eric Jorgenson
✦A curated collection of investor Naval Ravikant's insights on building wealth and achieving happiness through actionable principles and mental models.
Balaji's Prophecy
巴拉吉预言
Eric Jorgenson
✦This compilation of insights from Balaji Srinivasan delves into the potential of emerging technologies to reshape social structures, economic systems, and the very trajectory of human civilization.
Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much
稀缺
Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir
✦This behavioral economics classic explores how a scarcity mindset impairs cognitive function and decision-making, offering insights to avoid the tunnel vision it creates and improve life outcomes.
Lifelong Career#
Principles
原则
Ray Dalio
✦Outlines a set of practical principles for making systematic decisions in both investing and life, emphasizing the use of rational thinking to tackle complex challenges.
The Artist's Way
唤醒创作力
Julia Cameron
✦A comprehensive twelve-week program that employs morning pages, artist dates, and other reflective practices to guide individuals in overcoming creative blocks and unlocking their full creative potential.
This Strange Life
奇特的一生
Daniil Granin
✦This biographical work recounts how Soviet scientist Alexander Lyubishchev meticulously tracked his time, enabling immense intellectual output and a deeply intentional life over five decades. The narrative explores his methods, philosophy, and legacy, offering insights into disciplined living.
Seven Years Is a Lifetime
七年就是一辈子
Li Xiaolai
✦Presents a personal development framework that treats each seven-year period as a complete lifetime, emphasizing iterative self-improvement through deliberate cognitive upgrades and mindset shifts.
Time as a Friend
把时间当作朋友
Li Xiaolai
✦This book centers on mental growth, offering practical methods and thought-provoking perspectives on time management to help readers build self-discipline and achieve long-term personal development.
一年顶十年
Piaohan Yizhi Mao
✦A personal development and time management guide offering practical strategies to enhance efficiency, build influence, and achieve rapid growth in one year.
极简力
Xiao Ye
✦This book provides practical strategies for adopting a minimalist lifestyle to reduce stress, clear distractions, and rediscover what truly matters, enabling a more intentional and liberated existence.
Deep Work
深度工作
Cal Newport
✦Explores the value of deep, concentrated work in an age of constant distraction, presenting actionable strategies to cultivate focus and leverage it for greater productivity and professional success.
The 4-Hour Workweek
每周工作四小时
Tim Ferriss
✦This book teaches readers to redesign their lives around efficiency, outsourcing, and automation, aiming for a four-hour workweek to focus on what truly matters.
Slash: How to Live a Multi-Hyphenate Life
斜杠青年
Susan Kuang
✦A guide to cultivating a multi-career lifestyle, balancing primary and side pursuits to achieve personal fulfillment and financial independence.
成为自控者
Susan Kuang
✦Offering evidence-based techniques, this psychology guide on self-management helps readers cultivate lasting self-discipline and structured routines, enabling them to overcome procrastination and reach their goals.
Leap
跃迁
Gu Dian
✦This book provides a personal growth methodology that teaches readers how to capitalize on trends to achieve significant leaps in their abilities and social status.
Who Moved My Cheese?
谁动了我的奶酪
Spencer Johnson
✦Through a simple parable of mice and little people in a maze, it illustrates the necessity of adapting to change and taking proactive steps to thrive in new circumstances.
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
写出我心
Natalie Goldberg
✦A practical guide offering techniques and mindset shifts to help anyone start writing freely, overcome self-doubt, and establish a lasting creative practice.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
狂野人生
Cheryl Strayed
✦A memoir chronicling a woman's transformative solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, confronting loss and embracing the healing power of nature.
Getting Things Done
搞定
David Allen
✦Presents a practical methodology for enhancing productivity by capturing all tasks, clarifying next actions, and organizing them into a trusted system to reduce mental clutter and stress.
Artist of Life
生活的艺术家
Bruce Lee
✦This collection of Bruce Lee's writings explores his martial arts philosophy and path to self-mastery, blending Eastern wisdom with practical guidance for turning daily existence into an art form.
Apology
苏格拉底的申辩
Plato
✦In this foundational philosophical text, Socrates stands trial in Athens, rejecting charges of corrupting youth and impiety while advocating for virtue, truth, and the duty to question.
新 100 个基本
Yataro Matsuura
✦Yataro Matsuura, a Japanese curator of everyday aesthetics, presents 100 brief yet profound principles to help simplify decision-making, improve daily habits, and cultivate a harmonious work-life balance.
This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism
不被定义的年龄
Ashton Applewhite
✦An exploration of age stereotypes and a manifesto against ageism, revealing the diverse possibilities of later life and encouraging readers to reassess the value of every life stage.
允许自己做自己
Cong Feicong
✦This self-help book provides practical guidance for embracing one's authentic self, letting go of the need for external approval, and building a more fulfilling life rooted in self-compassion.
知行合一王阳明
✦Drawing on the teachings of Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming, this book explains how integrating knowledge with action can lead to meaningful personal growth and greater effectiveness in daily life.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior
深夜加油站遇见苏格拉底
Dan Millman
✦A young athlete meets a wise mentor who guides him toward self-awareness, inner peace, and a deeper understanding of life through everyday lessons and spiritual practice.
Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life
时间贫困
Ashley Whillans
✦This guide draws on research to offer practical strategies for overcoming time poverty by reframing choices, prioritizing time over money, and redesigning daily habits to increase happiness.
The Talmud
塔木德
✦A foundational text in Rabbinic Judaism, the Talmud compiles rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, and customs, shaping centuries of Jewish thought and practice.
Sci-Fi & Future#
The Three-Body Problem
三体
Liu Cixin
✦A hard science fiction epic depicting humanity's first contact and ensuing conflict with an alien civilization from the Trisolaran system, exploring cosmic sociology and existential threats.
Inherit the Stars
星之继承者
James P. Hogan
✦Scientists find a 50,000-year-old human corpse on the Moon, initiating an investigation that upends theories of human evolution and suggests startling possibilities about our origins.
Dune
沙丘
Frank Herbert
✦On the desert planet Arrakis, noble houses vie for control over the spice melange, the most valuable substance in the universe, while a young heir embraces his destiny amid political intrigue and ecological struggle.
Zima Blue and Other Stories
齐马蓝
Alastair Reynolds
✦A collection of science fiction stories, the titular narrative examines an artist's radical transformation as he seeks to return to a simpler form of consciousness and the essence of his art.
The Drunken Man
醉步男
Yasumi Kobayashi
✦A Japanese science fiction thriller that intertwines time travel and puzzles of consciousness, following a man whose perception of time becomes disjointed, leading to a suspenseful and mind-bending narrative.
Harry Potter
哈利·波特
J. K. Rowling
✦An orphaned boy discovers he is a wizard and enrolls at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he makes friends, learns magic, and confronts a dark wizard.
Brief Answers to the Big Questions
十问
Stephen Hawking
✦In this posthumous book, the celebrated physicist tackles ten fundamental questions about the universe, such as how it began, whether there is other intelligent life, and what the future holds for humanity.
Pale Blue Dot
暗淡蓝点
Carl Sagan
✦Explores humanity's place in the universe from a cosmic viewpoint, emphasizing Earth's fragility and the need for stewardship.
Family & Education#
The A to Z of Children's Health: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents from Birth to Six Years
育儿百科
Michio Matsuda
✦Written by a Japanese pediatrician, this comprehensive guide systematically addresses common health, feeding, and development questions for children from birth to age six, offering practical advice.
BabyTalk
与宝宝对话
Sally Ward
✦A developmental speech therapist presents a structured approach for parents to nurture their infant's communication abilities through responsive talking, listening, and play, supporting language acquisition and cognitive growth.
The Busy Dad's Guide to Being a Great Dad
忙碌爸爸也能做好爸爸
Bruce Robinson
✦Delivers concrete techniques for overworked fathers to prioritize quality time, foster emotional connections with their children, and achieve harmony between work and family life.
Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
人生设计课
Bill Burnett
✦This book applies design thinking principles to help individuals build a fulfilling and joyful life by reframing problems, prototyping possibilities, and making intentional choices about career and personal growth.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
富兰克林自传
Benjamin Franklin
✦Benjamin Franklin's autobiography recounts his rise from humble beginnings to prominence, highlighting his pursuit of moral perfection and the practical philosophy that guided his public life and achievements.
Unconditional Parenting
无条件养育
Alfie Kohn
✦A provocative parenting guide that questions the effectiveness of rewards and punishments, instead proposing an approach rooted in unconditional love, respect, and trust to foster children's internal motivation and emotional well-being.
Finance & Investment#
The Dog That Taught Me About Money
小狗钱钱
Bodo Schäfer
✦A talking dog teaches a young girl the basics of managing money, including saving, earning, and investing, in this accessible financial guide for kids.
The Road to Financial Freedom
财务自由之路
Bodo Schäfer
✦A practical personal finance guide that outlines a step-by-step plan for building wealth, managing debt, and gradually attaining financial independence through disciplined saving, investing, and smart financial decisions.
Poor Charlie's Almanack
穷查理宝典
Charlie Munger
✦A compilation of Charlie Munger's insights and techniques for rational decision-making and successful investing, drawing on mental models from diverse disciplines.
Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook
不可撼动的财富自由
Tony Robbins
✦A straightforward guide to mastering personal finance and investing, offering practical strategies and psychological insights to build wealth and achieve financial freedom even in volatile markets.
不上班，也有钱
Zeng Wanling
✦A practical guide to achieving financial independence and early retirement through disciplined saving and strategic investing, outlining steps to accumulate wealth and design a life free from traditional employment.
The Psychology of Money
金钱心理学
Morgan Housel
✦Examines the psychological forces that shape our financial decisions, revealing that doing well with money has little to do with intelligence and a lot to do with behavior.
Rich Dad Poor Dad
穷爸爸富爸爸
Robert T. Kiyosaki
✦Compares the financial mindsets of two fathers to show how acquiring income-generating assets leads to financial independence.
Leisure & Travel#
一步一世界
Xie Tian
✦A travel essay collection documenting the author's personal journeys across continents, exploring diverse local customs, cultural traditions, and historical landmarks, and reflecting on the human experience.
Edge of Eternity
永恒的边缘
Ken Follett
✦This sweeping historical novel spans the Cold War era, chronicling the intertwined destinies of three generations of families caught in the geopolitical struggles of the time.
Four Springs
四个春天
Lu Qingyi
✦A lyrical memoir chronicling four spring seasons in the author's rural hometown, capturing the rhythms of daily life and the deep bonds of family affection.
The Colonel and the Eunuch
人生海海
Mai Jia
✦Set in a Chinese village, the narrative unravels a former colonel's hidden past of war, betrayal, and survival, as neighbors piece together his story, confronting the murky boundaries between heroism and shame, and ultimately seeking forgiveness and inner peace.
The Bitter Journey of Culture
文化苦旅
Yu Qiuyu
✦Yu Qiuyu chronicles his visits to historic Chinese landmarks, meditating on the interplay between cultural heritage and personal identity amidst the passage of time.
The Art of Travel
旅行的艺术
Alain de Botton
✦This book delves into the philosophical and aesthetic dimensions of travel, exploring how journeys can enrich our inner lives and deepen our understanding of the world through art and reflection.
Decisive Moments in History: Twelve Historical Miniatures
人类的群星闪耀时
Stefan Zweig
✦A series of dramatic historical episodes where crucial choices and fateful accidents shaped world history, portraying heroes, explorers, and artists at turning points that defined entire eras.
Why Nations Fail
国家为什么会失败
Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
✦An analysis of how political and economic institutions shape prosperity, arguing that inclusive systems foster growth while extractive ones lead to stagnation and poverty.