David Heinemeier Hansson is a Danish programmer best known for creating Ruby on Rails, an open-source web application framework released in 2004. As CTO and co-founder of Basecamp, he advocates for sustainable business practices and developer wellness. His recommendations reflect interests in philosophy, design, and challenging conventional wisdom.
27 Books Recommended by David Heinemeier Hansson
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site

The 4-Hour Workweek
27 people recommendedMy key takeaway from [this book] was the concept of lifestyle design.
Also recommended by: Eric Jorgenson, Ev Williams, Marc Andreessen, Tim Draper, Aj Jacobs, Blake Mycoskie, Caterina Fake, Charles Poliquin, Brian Dean, Daniel Pink, Derek Sivers, Eric Weinstein, Gary Keller, Jason Silva, Jodie Cook, Laura R Walker, Lewis Howes, Marc Goodman, Mark Bell, Maurice Ashley, Michael Hyatt, Mike Maples Jr, Mike Shinoda, Rolf Potts, Tristan Harris, Walter Isaacson
I almost gave up on the book immediately, but then I'd find a sentence that perked my interest, then read a little more.
Also recommended by: Changpeng Zhao, Arianna Huffington, Ashton Kutcher, Chip Conley, Daniel Pink, Gretchen Rubin, Krista Tippett, Marcus Lemonis, Michael Mauboussin, Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, Susan Cain, Tony Hsieh, Derek Sivers

A Guide to the Good Life
10 people recommendedAn easy way to learn about [Stoicism] and recognize why this resonates.
Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Marc Andreessen, Tobi Lutke, Austen Allred, Derek Sivers, Jason Fried, Jodie Cook, Mr Money Mustache, Phil Libin
Main complaint seems to be 'this is a layman's description of not-new ideas'. I'm just fine with that.
Also recommended by: Tobi Lutke, Jason Fried, Joe Rogan, Kelly Starrett, Peter Attia, Tom Bilyeu, Derek Sivers
Takes some of those same ideas about motivations and rewards and extrapolates them in a little bit.
Also recommended by: Tobi Lutke, Danny Miranda, Michael Hyatt, Derek Sivers
Maverick
4 people recommendedA fantastic book [...] that was great inspiration to me.
Also recommended by: Jason Fried, Noah Kagan, Ryan Petersen
A wonderful book about a naval [Admiral] that was running one of the worst performing U.S. nuclear submarines and turned it around to be the best performing U.S. submarine.
Also recommended by: Brian Armstrong, Jason Fried, Simon Sinek
The Road to Wigan Pier
3 people recommendedItβs amazing how much of the abusive ideology revealed in his account of the miners is still present in todayβs gig economy.
Also recommended by: Brad Delong, Jordan Peterson

Hate Inc.
3 people recommendedTelling the story of how TV, newspapers, and now the internet has reverted to the old partisan ways of the original media outlets.
Also recommended by: Balaji Srinivasan, Balaji S. Srinivasan
Don't think I've ever bought a book so quickly after seeing it released!
Also recommended by: Tobi Lutke
I and Thou
2 people recommendedTreating humans as ends in themselves, not means to an end is perhaps the defining characteristic of humanism.
Also recommended by: Osho
The Trial
2 people recommendedPerhaps my favorite novel of all time.
Also recommended by: Kara Swisher
Ruby on Rails Tutorial
2 people recommendedMuch celebrated.
Also recommended by: Derek Sivers
The Origins of Political Order
2 people recommended[This book and "Political Order and Political Decay" is] a fantastic two-part book.
Also recommended by: Mark Manson
Political Order and Political Decay
2 people recommendedTraces back nation states all the way back to 4,000 years B.C. and goes through all the case studies of the rise of China and so forth.
Also recommended by: Mark Manson
Either/Or
2 people recommended[The author]'s funny, he's straight forward (even when sarcastic), he's INTERESTING.
Also recommended by: Pewdiepie
The Myth of the Spoiled Child
A great book [...], which is even more specific about nurturing and supporting kids and so forth.
Understanding Exposure
Probably one of the first primers I read on [improving my photography].
Punished by Rewards
Outlines all the scientific research on why incentive systems don't work.
Escape from Freedom
One of my all-time top ten favorite books. Applies well in both business and politics.
A Doll’s House
Classic Danish play from the 19th century [...] Surprisingly relevant for today.
The Lost Writings
You're not here for a complete story, a narrative, but to bathe yourself in [the author]'s mind.
The Management Myth
A funny mix of stories, but it's worth the trip for the historical account of scientific management alone.
Bullshit Jobs
Essentially a victory lap of the original essay and the response it provoked.
The Pathology of Normalcy
[The author] has touched on the idea that certain types of mental illness can be looked at in part as the sane reaction to an insane world.

