Kevin Kelly is a renowned technologist, futurist, and founding executive editor of Wired Magazine. He's best known for his influential work on technology trends and internet culture, including the book The Inevitable. His reading interests reflect a deep curiosity about systems thinking, consciousness, and the relationship between order and creativity.
17 Books Recommended by Kevin Kelly
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site
The Fountainhead
17 people recommendedrecommended 2xBy the end of the book, I decided to drop out of school. I never returned. It was the best decision of my life.
By the end of the book, I decided to drop out of school. I never returned. It was the best decision of my life.
Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, Ev Williams, Ray Dalio, Travis Kalanick, Emma Watson, Fred Wilson, Jesse Williams, Jim Carrey, Noah Kagan, Shah Rukh Khan, Tim Urban, Vince Vaughn, Deep Kalra, Kalyan Krishnamurthy
Gave me a mathematical framework for my own spirituality.
Gave me a mathematical framework for my own spirituality.
Also recommended by: Tobi Lutke, Daniel Gross, Graham Duncan, Jane Mcgonigal, Patrick Oshaughnessy, Ryan Shea, Simon Sinek, Stewart Brand, Tristan Harris, Derek Sivers
GΓΆdel, Escher, Bach
7 people recommendedrecommended 2xOver the years, I kept finding myself returning to its insights, and each time I would arrive at them at a deeper level.
Over the years, I kept finding myself returning to its insights, and each time I would arrive at them at a deeper level.
Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Chris Hayes, David Deutsch, Demis Hassabis, Sahil Lavingia, Steve Jurvetson
The Essential Rumi
5 people recommendedrecommended 3xThere is nothing that I enjoy more than at night reading Rumi.
There is nothing that I enjoy more than at night reading Rumi.
There is nothing that I enjoy more than at night reading Rumi.
Also recommended by: Adam Robinson, Harry Styles, Tara Brach, Tim Oreilly
Shantaram
5 people recommendedrecommended 2xYou get an incredibly vivid, immersive, deep, and in some ways uplifting view of India and the underworld in India, into that part of Asia.
You get an incredibly vivid, immersive, deep, and in some ways uplifting view of India and the underworld in India, into that part of Asia.
Also recommended by: Richard Branson, Josh Waitzkin, Phil Jackson, Whitney Wolfe Herd
So Good They Can’t Ignore You
5 people recommendedrecommended 2xWhat you really want to do is to master something and to use your mastering of something as a way to get to your passion.
What you really want to do is to master something and to use your mastering of something as a way to get to your passion.
Also recommended by: Andrew Ng, Ben Greenfield, Jodie Cook, Derek Sivers
[This book] curiously led me to Jesus. [The author]'s stance of radical honesty prompted me to attempt the same. It started my spiritual awakening.
[This book] curiously led me to Jesus. [The author]'s stance of radical honesty prompted me to attempt the same. It started my spiritual awakening.
Also recommended by: Tim Cook, Cory Booker
Leaves of Grass
3 people recommendedrecommended 2xWhile reading this classic poetic ode to America and possibilities ('I am multitude!') my gasket blew, and I became seized with an unstoppable urge to travel.
While reading this classic poetic ode to America and possibilities ('I am multitude!') my gasket blew, and I became seized with an unstoppable urge to travel.
Also recommended by: Osho, Rolf Potts
Childhood’s End
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xThis story of a singularity always stuck with me as something to prepare for.
This story of a singularity always stuck with me as something to prepare for.
Also recommended by: Ben Shapiro
Peopleware
2 people recommendedrecommended 2xA hugely underappreciated book. I remember all kinds of things from it.
A hugely underappreciated book. I remember all kinds of things from it.
Also recommended by: Jeff Atwood
Future Shock
2 people recommendedrecommended 2x[The author] was the one who introduced the term 'future shock' which was that people would actually have like a resistance or a reaction to the future.
[The author] was the one who introduced the term 'future shock' which was that people would actually have like a resistance or a reaction to the future.
Also recommended by: Donald Glover
It’s All Too Much
recommended 2xI actually gave it a whole page [in my book 'Cool Tools'] because I thought the message was so profound.
I actually gave it a whole page [in my book 'Cool Tools'] because I thought the message was so profound.
The Sound of the One Hand
recommended 2xKevin Kelly recommended this book in the "Tools of Titans" book.
Kevin Kelly recommended this book in the "Tools of Titans" book.
The Ultimate Resource
[The author]βs clarifying insightβthat mind and intelligence can overcome any physical limitations, and are therefore the only scarce resourceβhas become a big idea that colors much of what I look at today.
The Adventures of Johnny Bunko
recommended 2xIt's a cartoon, basically, and it's aimed at young people as trying to teach them how to become indispensable.
It's a cartoon, basically, and it's aimed at young people as trying to teach them how to become indispensable.
What the Dormouse Said
recommended 2xAbout the hippy origins of the personal computer industry.
About the hippy origins of the personal computer industry.